6 things I wish I had known before studying dentistry

Or let's put it another way: 6 things you absolutely need to know before you start your studies. Because before you start studying, none of us really know what to expect in the next few years. It's no wonder that, according to research by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, most students drop out of their studies in the first two semesters. That's tough, isn't it? This blog post brings a little order to the dentistry study jungle and makes it easier for you to start your dream of studying dentistry.

1. Survival tips for your first dental technology course

Who would have thought: Studying dentistry is quite heavy on dental technology - and you get a taste of that at most universities right in the first semester, keyword technical-preparatory course (TPK). As a freshman, you'll quickly start to sweat. Trained dental technicians, however, find the work much easier because they already have a lot more routine thanks to their training. Our tip: If you want to prepare yourself successfully for the TPK, get a taste of dental technology with an internship in a dental laboratory. It's even better if you find out about the requirements of the TPK in advance and then practice specifically in the laboratory. Some universities publish the requirements on their respective homepages. Of course, you can also ask students in higher semesters. If you didn't get accepted to your desired dentistry course on the first attempt, you could think about training as a dental technician: Then you can collect waiting semesters at the same time and always stay nice and relaxed in the dental technology courses in the first semester. Kill two birds with one stone!

2. Studying dentistry without Latin - is that possible?

"What, you want to study dentistry? You didn't even study Latin at school!" Does that sound familiar? You hear these sentences every now and then. And of course, doubts arise at first. But later it turns out that this is no problem at all: if you don't have a Latinum, you only have to get the terminology certificate before the physics exam. As part of the course, you are also introduced to the first basic anatomical terms, which will then become important again in anatomy. So it is no problem at all to start your studies without any previous knowledge of Latin. Of course, it doesn't hurt if you already have a Latinum in your pocket.

3. How expensive is studying dentistry really?

The "freshman's case" is purchased right at the beginning of the course. This contains the tools and consumables for the upcoming course. Great tip: If you want to save money, you can also buy the set second-hand from the current exam semester. These sets usually also contain some useful additional instruments that could be useful for the upcoming phantom courses. The young alumni are also happy to pass their things on to the next generation and help you to acquire missing materials. And most of the time the alumni also have super helpful tips and tricks!

The cost of the sets required for the practical courses varies from university to university. For example, some universities provide a technician's machine, while others require the student to purchase one at their own expense.
If you want all new materials, need help with your material list or need to reorder something, please contact zahnimarkt.com .

4. The preclinical phase is important

Biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry are also important areas of focus in the preclinical phase. The preclinical phase in dentistry polishes up your general medical knowledge. Especially in the subject of anatomy, you learn a lot of medical basics, some of which do not directly have anything to do with dentistry. Nevertheless, it is extremely important for prospective dentists to learn about important structures on the human body and to be able to prepare them. In most subjects, however, the lecturers make an effort to establish a connection between their topic and dentistry in order to get the students excited about their subject.

5. The exams - is studying dentistry really that demanding?

The examinations in the dental medicine course are very varied: There are written exams, mostly multiple choice exams, oral exams and tests. What exactly do you have to do for a test? In the practical courses, the work you do is tested: satisfactory work then receives a test. There are no grades.

In the theoretical subjects, such as biochemistry or physiology, exams are written, and if you pass them, you get a certificate for the respective subject. These certificates are important because they are basically a prerequisite for admission to the state exams. But what does the state exam cover? The first is the preliminary scientific examination (NVP) after the 2nd semester with chemistry, biology or zoology and physics. After the 5th semester, there is the Physikum or the preliminary dental examination with the subjects biochemistry, anatomy and physiology and a practical week in which you have to complete various dental technical work. On top of that, there is an exam in materials science. There are no traditional exams here either: the theoretical subjects of the state exams are examined orally in smaller groups. If you have struggled through preliminary exams and the Physikum, after 10 semesters of standard study you will be faced with the state examination or the dental examination, with various clinical subjects and treatments on patients.

You see – small steps are the key to success. In a course of study as diverse as dentistry, it is particularly important for your peace of mind to celebrate the little things! And in the end, everything fits together like a puzzle to form the bigger picture.

6. Mental and physical balance is more important than ever

Studying dentistry is sometimes very demanding, both mentally and physically, and can often push you to your psychological limits. During learning phases and in technical courses, there is usually a lot of pressure to perform and sometimes a blatant elbow mentality. Of course, everyone wants to keep up with their fellow students and not fall behind. This is precisely why it is all the more important to ensure that your body and brain are balanced so that you can remain productive. Of course, failures are also part of studying and are simply part of it. But in order to cope with them without any subsequent damage, you have to learn to think of other, positive things. The possibilities for this are limitless, and of course - each of you has your own recipe for success. It is also not surprising that studies even show that motivation and brain capacity work much better after an extensive exercise session.

Sources

studieren.org, “ Dentistry ”. From https://studieren.org/studienfacher/gesundheitswesen/zahnmedizin/

Süddeutsche Zeitung, “Almost one in three students drops out of college” by Matthias Kohlmaier. From https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bildung/studium-fast-jeder-dritte-bricht-das-studium-ab-1.3530420

Work life balance: more balance and serenity. From https://www.studienstrategie.de/zeitmanagement/work-life-balance-wie-kannst-du-mehr-ausgleich-und-gelassenheit-im-job-und-studium-gewinnen-das-beste-work-life-konzept/

Sport and nature as a counterbalance to university stress by Irina Kostyszyn. From https://beast.unibas.ch/sport-und-natur-als-ausgleich-zum-unistress/