3 answers
Christopher
Student
Brentwood, California
1
Question
Asked
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I'm a high school student interested in I dentistry in the bay area and was interested in how to start my journey?
Currently I'm thinking of starting an organization and myself first idea was fundraising for cleft lip to start
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3 answers
Vianne Phan
Youth Development Teacher
119
Answers
San Diego, California
Updated
Vianne’s Answer
If you're interested in dentistry in the Bay Area, a great way to start is by getting some hands-on experience. Try contacting local dental offices to see if you can shadow a dentist for a day or two. Even a few hours of observing can teach you a lot. You might also consider volunteering at community health clinics that offer dental care to people in need. The Bay Area has excellent programs linked to schools like the University of California, San Francisco, which focus on dental education and public health, so keeping an eye on those opportunities is a smart move for the future.
Starting a fundraiser for cleft lip is a wonderful idea. It shows leadership and kindness, qualities that dental schools appreciate. If starting an organization feels like too much, begin with something smaller. You could organize a single fundraiser, team up with an existing nonprofit, or run an awareness campaign at your school. Look into groups like Smile Train that support cleft lip and palate surgeries and see how you can help them locally.
For now, concentrate on doing well in science classes like biology and chemistry, get involved in community service, and explore healthcare settings. Dentistry combines science, precision, business, and connecting with patients.
Starting a fundraiser for cleft lip is a wonderful idea. It shows leadership and kindness, qualities that dental schools appreciate. If starting an organization feels like too much, begin with something smaller. You could organize a single fundraiser, team up with an existing nonprofit, or run an awareness campaign at your school. Look into groups like Smile Train that support cleft lip and palate surgeries and see how you can help them locally.
For now, concentrate on doing well in science classes like biology and chemistry, get involved in community service, and explore healthcare settings. Dentistry combines science, precision, business, and connecting with patients.
Vianne, thank you!
Christopher
Smitha Srinidhi
5
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Smitha’s Answer
Hi Christopher,
I appreciate your thoughts that you are interested in doing dentistry, that itself shows your focused in what you want to achieve. As you are in High school, you need to take up Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and English and can continue with same subjects in the college. Later you can take up DAT (Dental Admission Test) to get into Dentistry. Skills required are fine motor skills as you will working in small spaces and good communication skills.
Congrats!! for you have taken a bold step in fund raising for a cleft lip. It gives you confidence, satisfaction and help you improve interpersonal skills also. Wish you all the best!!
I appreciate your thoughts that you are interested in doing dentistry, that itself shows your focused in what you want to achieve. As you are in High school, you need to take up Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and English and can continue with same subjects in the college. Later you can take up DAT (Dental Admission Test) to get into Dentistry. Skills required are fine motor skills as you will working in small spaces and good communication skills.
Congrats!! for you have taken a bold step in fund raising for a cleft lip. It gives you confidence, satisfaction and help you improve interpersonal skills also. Wish you all the best!!
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Christopher
Andrew Gordon
Medical Student (M.D.)
4
Answers
Morgantown, West Virginia
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Christopher, it’s great that you’re thinking about dentistry as a career this early! The very first step is figuring out whether dentistry is truly a good fit for you. Start by learning what dentists actually do day to day - if possible, try to shadow a local dentist for a few days or during school breaks so you can see patient care, procedures, and office life firsthand. You can also volunteer in clinics, community health events, or dental offices to see if you enjoy working with patients, using your hands, and focusing on health and detail-oriented work. You may use e-mail to reach out to local dentists, or simply call the dental office/manager and ask if any dentists there are open to students shadowing. Finally, ask yourself if you like science, problem-solving, and helping people directly, and whether you would enjoy a career that mixes healthcare with hands-on technical skills.
Once you feel confident that dentistry interests you, your next step is to build a strong academic foundation in high school. Focus on doing well in biology, chemistry, and math, and take AP or honors science courses if they are available. Good communication skills are also important, so English and public speaking classes matter too. Outside the classroom, get involved in activities related to healthcare, such as volunteering, joining science or health clubs, or participating in community outreach programs.
Starting an organization is a thoughtful idea, especially one focused on helping patients with cleft lip and palate, since that connects directly to dentistry and healthcare. Before creating something brand new, consider partnering with an existing nonprofit or dental charity so you can learn how outreach and fundraising really work. If you do start your own group, make sure it has a clear mission, such as raising awareness about oral health, hosting free dental hygiene education events, or fundraising for cleft lip surgery through established organizations. Also, make sure to ask or recruit people with experience in starting an organization.
As you move forward, your long-term path would be college with a strong science major (like biology or chemistry), followed by dental school. But for now, your goals can be simple: explore the field through shadowing and volunteering, challenge yourself academically, and get involved in meaningful service related to healthcare.
Reach out to a local dentist to ask about shadowing through e-mail, or calling the dental office directly. Be sure to leave a professional, concise voicemail/message for them.
Reach out to a local volunteer organization, such as American Heart Assoc., local hospital system, local clinic to ask if you can serve as a student volunteer.
Take classes in your high school curriculum that include biology, chemistry, math, english, and physics (if possible), and study well!
Join a healthcare or science-related club at your high school.
Once you feel confident that dentistry interests you, your next step is to build a strong academic foundation in high school. Focus on doing well in biology, chemistry, and math, and take AP or honors science courses if they are available. Good communication skills are also important, so English and public speaking classes matter too. Outside the classroom, get involved in activities related to healthcare, such as volunteering, joining science or health clubs, or participating in community outreach programs.
Starting an organization is a thoughtful idea, especially one focused on helping patients with cleft lip and palate, since that connects directly to dentistry and healthcare. Before creating something brand new, consider partnering with an existing nonprofit or dental charity so you can learn how outreach and fundraising really work. If you do start your own group, make sure it has a clear mission, such as raising awareness about oral health, hosting free dental hygiene education events, or fundraising for cleft lip surgery through established organizations. Also, make sure to ask or recruit people with experience in starting an organization.
As you move forward, your long-term path would be college with a strong science major (like biology or chemistry), followed by dental school. But for now, your goals can be simple: explore the field through shadowing and volunteering, challenge yourself academically, and get involved in meaningful service related to healthcare.
Andrew recommends the following next steps: