True Confessions II: Students React to Stereotypes of Dentists

From left, Jason Liang, Michael Israel and Siddhi Shah.

We asked three Foresight Leaders to describe how their perspective on oral health has shifted since starting at RSDM and how they deal with the stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding dentists and dental school. This is the second in a two-part series. Read Part I here. 

Even before they apply to dental school, students are well  aware that dentistry isn’t considered a glamorous profession.

While their have been countless TV shows and films about doctors, dentists aren’t considered the most compelling or heroic protagonists (although "Dental Anatomy" has a certain ring).

“There will never be a show about dentists,’’ declares RSDM second-year student Siddhi Shah.

She remembers watching a Neflix documentary series about dentists and even she lost interest. “It was boring,’’ she explains.

Worse than the perception that dentists and dentistry are dull is the false statistic that dentists have the highest suicide rate among all professions.

When Jason Liang became a dental student, he grew all too familiar with the myth of suicidal dentists. “When you tell people you’re going to dental school, they’ll say ‘’did you know dentists have the highest suicide rate?’’’ he complains.

According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, dentists don’t even make the top five suicidal professions. Firefighters and those who work in law enforcement have the highest suicide rates. Fishermen, custodians and truck drivers are also high on the list.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health ranks office workers, lawyers and corporate executives among the most mentally unhealthy jobs in the U.S. Again, dentistry is conspicuously absent.

Another annoying misperception is that dental school is easier to get into than medical school -- in many cases, it’s actually more competitive –and that its easier, said students.

“Even medical students tell us its harder, especially in the first two years,’’ says Michael Israel. “We have all the same classes, but on top of that, we have to work on our hand skills.’’

The most insulting stereotype about dentists, however, is that they aren’t real doctors, said students.

“We are real doctors,’’ Shah points out. “And we’re pretty great.’’

“We can tell so many things about someone’s health just by examining them,’’ adds Israel. “We can make a difference.”