Dental School Advice

10 things I wish I told the Dental Student (younger) Me
1 What is meant for you, no one can take from you.Seriously.
2 Don't worry so much. It really is all going to workout. And if it hasn't yet, it's not over. Life always turns out so funny and surprising.
3 When situations repeat themselves, it's a clue from the Universe of what it is that you need to heal. Once those patterns or people stop repeating themselves,
you've learned your lesson.
4 You're not missing out. The party isn't leaving. Focus on what you have to do and don't let what others do disturb you.
5 Trust the timing of your life. Work hard now, play hard later.
6 If it's not a strong yes, it's a no. Stop saying yes to things that don't make you feel fire.. don't settle because you're bored or impatient.
7 It's ok to say No. Most people will easily forget your eagerness and you will be stuck with things that don't serve you.
8 The real friends, are the ones that show up during the hard times, they are the ones that support your sacrifices for your future.
9 Invest more in yourself, keep all the good habits up they would amount to so much in the future. Don't let the bad habits creep in. Otherwise you'll be doing 10x the work later to reverse it. And soon, the that will be here.
10 Be careful with what you say to yourself. The universe is really listening and you're going to make it all come true.
~Dr Vida

Hi! My name is Kelsey and I’m a D4 at UCLA School of Dentistry. After graduating I am pursuing general dentistry!

My biggest piece of advice is to take time to appreciate where you’re at. In dental school, it can be easy to focus on the stress of studying for subjects, but for me, I like to rephrase this state of mind. Just have an appreciation to be surrounded by equally bright and interesting people, be grateful for having frequent vacations to travel, and embrace the privilege of learning complex concepts.

One thing I am constantly reminding myself is that everything works out in the end. What is meant to be will happen. So stop saying you’ll be happier or have more time to read that book you’ve been wanting to read until after that hard quarter or after D1 year or after you get into your speciality. There will always be another life event that makes it difficult but I encourage you to enjoy life right now. Live in the moment and don’t wear yourself out. Xoxo LT/Dr. Smith 🦷❤️

kk.smith

Learn as much as you can while you’re in school. Learn how to be the best dentist you can be rather than worrying about your test scores. When you’re out of school, there’s no test to pass anymore. What matters is your ability to do good work and problem solve! So do the perio, endo, etc. clerkships that’s interest you! Enjoy the rotations you go on and don’t treat them as another thing to check off your list. You’ll be surprised how these experiences will help you in the future. Enjoy the journey because dental school is a fun place to be where you see your best friends everyday!

Check out if you’re interested in following my journey too!

My advice would be to take excellent records, and analyse your post treatment records in the short and long term. Only then will you learn what mistakes you are making and how to improve. Always put patients before profit, and treat every patient as if they were your own children.
Be honest, ethical and say sorry when you stuff up. Remember no one is perfect 👍

jamesandrews

Hi guys!
My name is Dr. Shenilee Hazell and I’m a dentist from Trinidad and Tobago

The advice that I would give to anyone studying dentistry is to TRUST the process of success and believe that you deserve it!
It’s easy to feel discouraged especially in a world where we compare ourselves to others. We all deserve to be successful we just have to put in the hard work 🙂

Strive to be the best version of yourself- for your future patients and team!

whitneywhite

My piece of advice would be to make time for yourself during dental school. Dental school can definitely be hard at times so it is important to make sure you are doing things you enjoy whether that is going to the gym, hanging out with friends, or watching Netflix.. taking some time off can really help relax and de stress you! Good luck everyone!

Hello, my name is Joel Guzman, better known as Dr. Guzzi, Biological Dentist. My practice is located in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

My advice is: Be kind to everyone. Practice empathy. Connect with your patients. Give your best even when there are times when you get nothing in return, true satisfaction lies in service done with love. All good things comes as a result.

Hi Everyone!
I’m Dr. Jessica Emery.
What an EXCITING time! Although stressful at times, know that your hard work will pay off. Your life will ALWAYS be about learning through continuing education but it will be on your terms. Start dreaming now about your future. Create that vision board and start documenting and developing your brand. NOW. This will help to build a life and business you love.
Find yourself a MENTOR early. I love the saying 'if you are offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask which seat, just GET ON.’ Remember that. ☺️
It can be a lonely profession if you are own your own, so link arms with others and learn all the things! 💖
Know that there are people like us out there that have been there and done that. We are here if you need anything along the way!

Wishing you all the BEST!

Ride the wave of life and keep chasing your dreams. With work and perseverance, they will all come true!
Just keep 👉 doing YOU! ✨

Hi 👋! I’m Dr. Aimee, board certified pediatric dentist, & I’m Dr. Frank, board certified orthodontist & together we created our pedo/ortho practice Oceans! Fun fact we are dental school sweethearts & were in the same class at Columbia University!!!

Dental students our advice to you:

💙 Study hard, but find a way to carve out time for the things you enjoy so you don’t lose sight of yourself.

💙 Make sure you take the time to figure out a vision for your career as far as what type of dentistry & style of practice you prefer.

Even though we practice together, what we do daily could not be more different. Our activities, stresses, types of procedures are completely unalike. Figure out if there’s a specialty that speaks to you or if you prefer general dentistry. Also try & get a feel for what type of environment you would thrive in — high/low patient volume, ownership/associateship, doctor focused/team driven. Shadowing a wide variety of different doctors is a wonderful way to help you figure this out!

💙 Never be afraid to question things. Ask why. Try to understand fully because someday soon you’ll be the one doing all the explaining.

My name is Nathaly and I’m a foreign- trained Dentist from the Dominican Republic. I just passed my Dental Board exams, and I’m continuing the process to make my dreams
of helping foreign Dentist in the US come true !

"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."

For this reason I decided to help people like me to follow their dreams and pass the INBDE! With love and gratitude I created
Never stop dreaming!

the best advice I ever had

-The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward.