Options after dental degree

Anthony16

Hi guys,
I am doing dentistry but have developed a chronic eye condition and so,my tutor has said that maybe i should look into other areas given how important eyesight is in dentistry.Id just like to know if there are any options id have if i managed to get through the course as im not too keen on anything else.Is there any scope for academia or research?Would it be viable for a dentists to work a 3 day week and still make ends meet??What about pathology?
Thanks a lot

bureau2009

Have you attended a consultant opthamologist? Have you discussed with the consultant the possibility of working as a dentist?

day dreamer

Hi

sorry to hear about your dilemma. i would get an opinion fronm an eye doctor about the career prospect

Yes there are academic and non clinical posts for dentists but they are few and usually involve a lot of clinical work before getting there. Talk it through with the course director and your eye doctor

work

Really need to know what you eye condition is. There are disadvantages but you can work as a dentist with one eye. If bith eyes are involved and you may become blind then my advice would be to look at another career. It is usually possible to transfer course and get credit for what you have done.

ballsymchugh

the dental council may have a say in this also. find out exactly what the condition is, and then contact them about their guidelines, as it'll be up to them whether or not you can practice.

Anthony16

Hi Guys,
My condition is ocular rosacea/blepharitis/mebomian gland problems.I havent spoken to my optho about a career in dentistry but may well do so.I can see things fine and have 20/20 vision but reading/writing/computers/tv make my eyes feel like there are razor blades being stroked across them.
The big worry is i dont know if i can ever find a treatment so i am looking into alternative areas but like my course and would like to stay if at all possible

btkm8unsl0w5r4

My sources say that your optho can give you best advice on your long term occular health, although all those things you mentioned are manageable. There is no point beating around the bush, Dentistry is very dependent on vision., teaching or achedemics/research is very dependent on reading and looking at computer screens.

opinion guy

Question: are your symptoms constant ? Or only come at certain times ? In other words I'm wondering if there is an environmental trigger for the inflammation.

digzy

i'm gonna take this post at face value. though i find it bizarre that you're asking about pharmacy options last november in posts and i've a vague recollection of a post re 'shaky hands' a good while back!!

Anyway, i wouldn't be deluding yourself that you can qualify as a dentist without having the necessary skills. You wont be able to dodge your way through and land into a cushty job poncing around in 'public health'.

I recall one classmate with what he described as chronic backache and missing clinics so he could see a physio. The powers that be more or less told him to be in clinics or piss off. His back wasn't too much of an issue after that.

If physically you're not able for it you ought to get out before you waste anymore time. if the experts say you're fine, get stuck into things and stop being a self consious hyperchondriac(i apologise in advance if you are diagnosed with a serious condition). I cant imagine there'd be an issue if you wanna do some practice in the lab to up manual skills-though i think ye're not in there till 2nd year.

now there's one for y'all. no holes barred!

digzy

work wrote: »

Really need to know what you eye condition is. There are disadvantages but you can work as a dentist with one eye. If bith eyes are involved and you may become blind then my advice would be to look at another career. It is usually possible to transfer course and get credit for what you have done.

No s*it sherlock???

Brilliantly insightful. :rolleyes:

Big_G

opinion guy wrote: »

Question: are your symptoms constant ? Or only come at certain times ? In other words I'm wondering if there is an environmental trigger for the inflammation.

We will not be engaging in diagnosis here. The best advice so far is access consultant opthalmologist and the dental council. I have had blepharitis in the past and it makes it difficult to wear contact lenses, but doesn't stop me working. I don't have ocular rosacea, however.

eternal

I have to say this .Pathology is not viable option from dentisty .

opinion guy

Big_G wrote: »

We will not be engaging in diagnosis here.

A fair point Big_G

tbh

digzy wrote: »

No s*it sherlock???

Brilliantly insightful. :rolleyes:

I don't accept posts like this in any sci forum. If you can't post in a more civil fashion, you're gone.

Big_G

eternal wrote: »

I have to say this .Pathology is not viable option from dentisty .

Except for the well recognised specialty of Oral Pathology.

kkth0360

Big_G wrote: »

Except for the well recognised specialty of Oral Pathology.

Yes, but you'd need to do medicine after the dental degree, and then a PhD or MD, so probably not viable for the OP if there are concerns about even being able to finish B.Dent.Sc / BDS. Also, spending your days peering down a microscope might not be the easiest thing on the eyes.