Comments on: Why It’s Hard to Quit Dentistry

By: Dentist Washington DC

Dentist Washington DC — Tue, 21 May 2024 05:40:07 +0000

This article hits close to home for many who have ever felt stuck in their careers, not just in dentistry but in any field. It’s brave and refreshing to see someone openly address the struggles and mental barriers that come with wanting to make a change. The six lies outlined here are so relatable, showing that these feelings are valid and shared by others. What resonates most is the reminder that we hold the power to break free from these self-imposed limitations. The author’s honesty and encouragement to challenge these beliefs are truly inspiring. It’s a reminder that change is possible, and it’s okay to seek happiness and fulfillment outside of what’s familiar. This article has shed light on a topic that’s often overlooked, offering hope and motivation to those who may be feeling trapped. Thank you for sharing your journey and insights with such clarity and empathy.

By: rachel

rachel — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 15:15:13 +0000

In reply to Year 3 dental student. hi year 3 dental student! i'm a dental student from asia too, in my final year of dental school. just like you, mine is a bds program. i realised i hate dentistry about a year after entering dental school, but i was forbidden by my parents to leave. just wondering - how are you doing now? are you still practising? im not sure whether to stay in dentistry or to pursue something else after graduation. cheers!

By: Lolabees

Lolabees — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 14:23:57 +0000

In reply to Tom Hrbac.

Thank you for sharing your story. Through all the hardship and the triumphs, it is one that many can relate to– even if our details are different. I wonder if there is a way you could practice acknowledging how much you have accomplished and using your “failures” to recognize how strong you really are. I believe that the key to getting happier and giving yourself permission to continue to explore other career options is a by-product of building up that confidence and support for yourself. Just a thought… Keep going. You are not alone.

By: Tom Hrbac

Tom Hrbac — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 12:56:19 +0000

I am 40 years old. I had very good grades in high school. From a young age, I loved human biology apart from teeth and oral cavity. I just felt that way. That never meant anything to me. I wanted to become a general practitioner. Unfortunately, I come from a bad family background. My mother told me I wasn’t good enough to be a doctor, so maybe dentistry. In her generation, dentistry was seen as something less than general medicine. She wanted revenge on me. It’s gross, but it’s true. I don’t want to elaborate here. Unfortunately, her unresolved childhood and marriage. I was scared, no support and no money. So I went to dentistry. Dentistry was not paid for in our country. From the beginning I was unhappy at school, I loved general medicine. We have a lot of doctors in our family, but due to bad relationships, I had no contact with them. At school, I had to earn part-time jobs in order to graduate. I was alone in this and I didn’t want to give up my life. I decided that I would study it and at least I would have finances. After school, I quickly set up a practice. I worked very much, very much… The only thing I thought about from the beginning was when I would be able to get out, when I would have passive income and financial independence. I was looking forward to a family, I wanted to have a different family than the one I experienced in my childhood. I was looking forward to children that I wanted to have more of and devote myself to. After thirteen years I became financially independent. I didn’t want any more. Unfortunately, we almost lost our third child, I was totally burnt out at work and we lost our fourth child. I decided to end my practice and the desire appeared in me to study the desired general medicine. Unfortunately, another life tragedy happened to me. From total work exhaustion in the field, moreover in a field that I don’t like, I did something that I would never normally do. I put a million dollars into risky stocks. I lost them. I lost a lot of money (it’s really a lot of money in our country), I lost a child and I was unemployed. I collapsed, I have never experienced this in my life, it was a total collapse. Everything collapsed for me, I didn’t want to live. I was completely out of my mind for three months. I had to get prescribed medication. Then I had to deny myself and start a new practice. All over again. I thought I wouldn’t go back to it. I was left with debts after the exchange. Now I’ve been working for a year like I’ve never worked before. I paid off the debt, I also have the doctor’s office paid and some extra money. For me, dentistry is a lifelong suffering that I live alone. No one understands me, I am happy for this website, because I see that I am not alone in this. I was always very hardworking, I respected myself. I had plans to become a general practitioner (by the way, at 39 I did the admission process for general medicine, but I found out that with 3 small children and after a personal crash in the stock market, it was a bad way to go). Now I don’t respect myself anymore, I lost years working hard to make money that I ended up losing anyway, I didn’t have the energy to develop other things, I didn’t develop relationships,…I do everything because I have small children. I was looking forward to them, that I would have time for them and it is different. I actually wish I was 19 and didn’t let medicine discourage me. I’m not the technical type, my teeth have never told me anything. I was used to doing things with my head. Unfortunately, IT also never told me anything, because I think that today it is a very interesting job option. I am doing dentistry again to have financial support for my family. But I am unhappy and alone in this. I don’t want to live like this, it’s a nightmare and constant stress. I’m sorry for this emotional outpouring 🙂 But it’s a real trauma for me and I don’t know what profession to do next. So far I have thought of something with psychology, I like people and I think I can be empathetic. One piece of ADVICE for those reading this and deciding on a career: If you are making a decision after high school, do what you like, not what people around you tell you. If you choose a job that has meaning, do it.
I’m 40 today, I have children, it’s a bit more complicated, but certainly not impossible.
I am sorry for my english, I had to use translator, as well.

By: Lolabees

Lolabees — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:39:08 +0000

In reply to Agnese. Thank you for sharing your story. You are not alone. For me, doing dentistry in the real world was very different from school too. The first year is also the hardest. You may have to keep practicing a little longer based on your circumstances but start searching for other options now! It can take a while, so why wait, right?

By: Agnese

Agnese — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 21:11:44 +0000

So glad I did find this article and don’t feel alone in this. I can share my story.
It was my goal to get into dentistry since grade 9. So at school I worked really hard to get into this field, although it scared me too a bit.
So when I got accepted it was the happiest day of my life, I had purpose and it was like dreams actually do come true. And first 2 years was amazing, I was proud of myself and loved to drill on plastic teeth on 3D machines, and then I got the assisting job and I could work in the clininc with doctors and those were the happiest days of my life. I could be a part of something important, I could help other doctors and watch how everything is being done.
But when we had to start taking patients in clinical classes, then I understood that I can’t do it. I was really scared and always tried to escape taking patient and I tired to leave dentistry then but I got encouraged to stay..
After I graduated I tried to stay as asistant at the same clinic but it wasn’t the same, every colleague told me to be a dentist and so I left that clinic and had pretty bad month because I didn’t get the hygienist job either because of the same reason and then my classmates suggested to try working at their clinic because it has the best management and so I tried. And I am 1 year in now. I still am struggling because I don’t really care about teeth anymore I don’t want to grow in this field and spend a lot of money on the courses. On my free time I am thinking about leaving and I can’t do anything else, like all my thoughts are about leaving but I can’t decide what else I could do – sure there are some simple jobs that doesn’t require any education but the salary is very low and also I wouldn’t be proud of myself anymore.

By: Lolabees

Lolabees — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 14:56:08 +0000

In reply to Alina. Yup!

By: Alina

Alina — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 10:57:49 +0000

2013! That is an obvious sign that I did what I needed to do in the end.

By: Lolabees

Lolabees — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:31:55 +0000

In reply to Alina. I was able to go back and look, and your earliest comment was in 2013! It is hard to leave, and I'm proud of you for doing what you needed to do. And I'm so glad you feel that happiness and relief. You can now inspire others that they can do it too!

By: Alina

Alina — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 08:06:42 +0000

It’s true Laura we did spoke here through the years about it. I don’t recall the year I discovered it. Maybe it was 2016? Not sure. But it is the proof of this long journey out of dentistry. Because the truth is it was so difficult leaving it. What struck me the most on your blog was the similarity of our emotions, senzations. You can screen shot what you need for the group. I use Fb much rarely nowadays and I considered it no longer suited me to be on the group. I guess I want to leave some emotions behind. Also I think another important thing that motivated me was that while I was home with my baby I chated with a colleague from Dentistry College, same class as me, who struggled through 2 residencies, and we just talked during the pandemic and she just pop up the news( also after having a baby) : she switched to programming. I was shocked because I never knew she disliked it as much as I did and I was also totally impressed, because I think IT is difficult . I guess this gave me a lot of faith that things can change. Actually I found out about my job from another dentist who was hired before me… that is my story for now.