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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think there's something...well...just plain WEIRD about someone whose ambition is to be a dentist?

50 replies

AgentZigzag · 30/09/2011 20:33

I know they want to help mankind with their oral hygiene advice, gently chide those who smoke too many fags/drink too much coke, and frighten little children improve the nations dental health...

...but who wants to go poking about in peoples' mouths??

And possibly cause pain to them?

Maybe they get a secret thrill out of their scary reputation, and like the look of horror on peoples' faces when they're introduced as 'Vladimir the DENTIST mwahahaha' at cocktail parties.

(Can you tell I've got my check up in a couple of weeks? Grin)

OP posts:
madonnawhore · 30/09/2011 20:35

What about proctologists? Or even gynaecologists?

I wouldn't fancy rummaging in people's malfunctioning bumholes and fanjos but someone's got to do it.

Anyway, being a dentist is basically like having a licence to print money.

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 30/09/2011 20:35

It's a bit of a thread about prettypurpledaisys thread.

Brave, brave lass Smile

OP posts:
SinicalSal · 30/09/2011 20:36

great pay, great hours. could be worth it

StealthPolarBear · 30/09/2011 20:36

Well you learn something new every day. I had no idea there are doctors just for bumholes.
DH's dad is a dentist. But he always wanted to be a doctor - I think his parents told him dentistry was more secure and settled, and he regrets it slightly :(

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 30/09/2011 20:37

Mmmm, good bloody points madonna.

Baggy not me do it.

OP posts:
madonnawhore · 30/09/2011 20:38

Oh that's a weird coincidence because I went to the proctologist and the gynaecologist today for my malfunctioning bumhole and fanjo. Spooky.

Grin
madonnawhore · 30/09/2011 20:39

Oops, x posted with a few of you. Now I look like I'm over-sharing.

MurunBuchstansangur · 30/09/2011 20:39

I think I'd like it.

I have a little being a dentist fantasy.

SmilingHappyBeaver · 30/09/2011 20:39

YABU.

All the Dentists I know earn over £100k... seems a pretty sensible ambition to me. However they all wanted to be Dentists because of the money rather than for any passion for oral hygiene.

Mummawummadooda · 30/09/2011 20:40

Seriously, don't worry about those wanting to b a dentist but those who wish to be a hygienist! Cleaning teeth for a living? Good grief why people?

MonkeysToesAreTickly · 30/09/2011 20:41

YABU dentists earn a lot, and don't have the same crazy hours as hospital doctors.

Perfectly sensible, plus I'm not that icked out by mouths or teeth, so it doesn't always bother people.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 30/09/2011 20:43

I had a brilliant hygienist who counselled me back from a 20 year dentist gap and I asked him why he did such a weird job and he said it was people like me. No major dental work involved, no drills or scary stuff, but a good descale and clean made shedloads of difference to the scared. He was right :) Then he left and I got scared to go again :(

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 30/09/2011 20:44

Are you all saying you'd cause pain to other people - for a price?

Oh.

What else would you do for money?

Torturers!

OP posts:
ladywithnomanors · 30/09/2011 20:45

My DS (6) told me recently that he wanted to be a 'doctor for teeth'. I'm bloody overjoyed - great career, great money, great hours - what's not to like!

Andrewofgg · 30/09/2011 20:45

In 1968 a well-known proctologist died and the Daily Telegraph remarked in an obituary that he liked to be thought of as the Augustus John of the arsehole!

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 30/09/2011 20:46

I've always found the majority of dentists (and I've not had that many in my life) have been really sympathetic if you tell them you're a bit nervous Gwen.

Even if some of the sympathy was blatently through clenched teeth Grin

OP posts:
thefurryone · 30/09/2011 20:48

Well as all the dentists I know work less than 5 days a week and earn a fortune, I'm not sure that wanting to help mankind really enters into it.

WannaBeMarryPoppins · 30/09/2011 20:49

I always say the same and people just stare at me like I am crazy, muttering that dentists are important. Of course they are but I just wouldn't want my work place to basically be in peoples' mouths. Just looking at some peoples teeth makes me feel grossed out, not even talking about bad breath. And the whole pain thing...

Maybe they are all like the dentist in Little Shop of Horrors? (NOT for squeamish people!)

trixymalixy · 30/09/2011 20:51

YABU, I wish I'd been a dentist. The money and hours are fantastic.

exoticfruits · 30/09/2011 20:52

YABU. My DS was friends with several trainee dentists at university. They are doing wonderfully well now-have bought lovely houses and have a great lifestyle. (much better than DS who isn't a dentist).

Vallhala · 30/09/2011 20:52

YANBU. I used to know a lot of drunken pot smokers dental students. Odd lot... they learn their trade on dead bodies. [nvy]

mountaingirl · 30/09/2011 20:56

We have dentist friends who live nearby who retired in their late 40's. I wish I had listened to my old dentist who told me to consider dentistry....My dentist works a few months a year, gets a locum to replace her, and spends her free time travelling all over the world. ladywithnomanors I agree with you.

WannaBeMarryPoppins · 30/09/2011 20:56

They learn on dead bodies? Shock I would have thought they use old teeth/plastic stuff till they are ready to train on patients.
The uni here offers cheap dental treatments so the students can practice

IWantWine · 30/09/2011 21:00

I am bragging unashamedly but my dentist is really amazing. He is so gentle, and really good at his job.

People say I have nice teeth and that is all down to him, and into the bargain, he is absolutely gorgeous! If you want his name PM me! Grin

Original poster
AgentZigzag · 30/09/2011 21:00

Yeees Vallhala, the corpse practice fits in very well with my OP.

Not sure where the smoke fits in though...perhaps to calm their fears about how the afterlife will deal with their evil deeds?

Would you have been unashamed at introducing your DS to people as 'My son The Dentist' mountaingirl, or would you have just mumbled something about being in league with The Devil? Grin

OP posts: