Disadvantages that Haunt Dentists

Dentists are usually very happy with their career. Often they are able to dictate their own hours and make a decent living. They are able to enhance the health and lifestyle of their patients by improving their oral health and reducing any discomfort. They also have the option of working in a group or solo independent practice. However, there are a few disadvantages and drawbacks to working with people’s mouths all day.

Dentists have to deal with poor patient hygiene. Similar to doctors, this profession deals intimately with areas of a patient’s body that can easily become diseased due to neglect or poor personal hygiene. Many people neglect their oral care and only visit the dentist when absolutely necessary. Many people find bad breath to be offensive. Imagine the plight of an oral hygiene professional that has to deal with it all day, every day.

The nature of the detailed work and position of the patient’s mouth often means that dentists have to work for long hours in uncomfortable positions. Chairs and other apparatuses are designed to keep the patient as comfortable as possible while giving the oral care professional good access to the teeth and gums. However, dental professionals still have to bend over mouths and hold their hands at odd angles for many hours at a time.

The oral cavity is a sensitive place filled with bodily fluids. Saliva and blood can readily harbor bacteria and viruses. Accidental exposure to blood within a patient’s mouth can even expose dentists to HIV and hepatitis. It is important for anyone working inside the oral cavity to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from harm.

The road to becoming a dental physician is long and arduous. It takes a long time and a lot of hard work to learn all of the anatomy and physiology required to be good at your job. Do not enter this profession if you are not willing to commit the hours and tuition payment.

Another hard thing about being a dentist is having to deal with a specific patient population that is terrified of visiting you. While many people are nervous about going to the doctor, it is much more common to be absolutely frightened about getting dental work done. This means that dentists have a unique patient population that is terrified about visiting them. As such, they usually only visit when it is absolutely necessary and do not regularly follow up on advice that is provided. This can be extremely frustrating for an oral healthcare provider that is trying to improve their patient’s oral health and hygiene.

As such, it is important to keep these factors in mind if or when you are considering a career in dentistry. Evaluate and weigh the pros and cons to determine if this type of work is suitable for your personality and professional goals.