It honestly feels like yesterday when I was a young student trying to figure out if dentistry was the right path for me. I was looking for any opportunity to step into a real practice and see what the field was really like.
Now I get to be on the other side, mentoring students who are in that same place.
That’s exactly what the Careers in Dentistry Program is all about — giving today’s brilliant young minds an opportunity to take a peek forward in their careers as dental professionals.
The Careers in Dentistry Program
We helped bring this program back in the Fall of 2022 through the 7th District Dental Society – Monroe County Chapter with a simple goal: to give students real exposure to dentistry in a way that feels hands-on, approachable, and genuine. The program had been active for years before COVID effectively put it on hold, and when the Monroe County Dental Society started looking for younger dentists to step up and re-engage with local high schools and colleges, it felt like exactly the kind of thing worth raising your hand for.
Each year, we work with around 25 to 30 students from local high schools and colleges. On the high school side, we partner with Brighton, Fairport, Penfield, Pittsford Mendon, and Pittsford Sutherland. At the college level, we work with students from the University of Rochester, St. John Fisher University, and Nazareth University. Some students come in already knowing they’re interested in dentistry, while others are simply curious about the field and looking for direction in their future careers.
That range of interest is what makes the program so valuable. A lot of students come in weighing medicine against dentistry, or they have a relative in the field but haven’t seen much beyond a general practice. One of the things the program does really well is open up the full picture of what a career in dentistry can look like, from orthodontics to oral surgery to pediatric dentistry and beyond. For many students, the variety of specialties available is something they genuinely hadn’t considered before walking through the door.
Dental Career Program Activities For Students
Throughout the year, we host a series of focused events that give students a closer look at different areas of dentistry. They spend time in an orthodontic office learning about treatment planning and the latest technology used in orthodontics.
In a pediatric setting, the experience becomes more hands-on. Students practice taking impressions, place a simulated filling, and learn how x-rays are used in diagnosis and treatment planning.
We also bring in specialists for discussions throughout the year. Past speakers have included oral surgeons, pediatric dentists, dental residents, and dental research professionals, and we intentionally mix it up each year to give students exposure to different corners of the field. We also take students to a dental lab where they can see how appliances and dentures are actually made. For many, that behind-the-scenes perspective is something they’ve never experienced before and is a foundational part of choosing dentistry as a profession.
One of the most impactful parts of the program is the annual visit to the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. Walking through the campus, meeting faculty, and seeing students in action gives a much clearer picture of what the path ahead looks like, turning an abstract idea into something real.
Outside of the structured events, many students choose to spend time shadowing doctors in the office. Each year, somewhere between 7 and 10 students come in to shadow me directly, and we also host a regular rotation from the local dental hygiene program, so there’s almost always someone new walking through the door. That’s where things tend to come together. They start to see the rhythm of a typical day, the interactions with patients, and the level of detail that goes into each decision.
Over time, those observations start to turn into confidence, giving students a clear picture of if dentistry or orthodontics is the right career for them. And some of them go all the way. The very first student I mentored through this program is now a third-year dental student at UB Dental, planning to come back to the Rochester area to practice. Watching him grow from a curious high schooler into someone about to start his own career feels surreal, especially knowing I was sitting in almost the exact same position not that long ago. He is one of three or four students from this program who are now in dental school, and that number keeps growing.
A Rewarding Program for Students & Mentors
One of the most rewarding parts of being involved in the program is staying connected with students as they move forward. Some go on to apply to dental school, some explore different areas of healthcare, and others use the experience to refine what they’re looking for in a career.
Being able to support that process, whether it’s through mentorship, one-on-one conversations, or writing letters of recommendation, has been incredibly meaningful.
Over the past few years, we’ve worked with well over 100 students, and the program continues to grow. What started as a small effort to reintroduce students to the field has become a consistent way to connect, guide, and support the next generation.
Sometimes, all it takes is the right opportunity and the right guidance to see what’s possible.
Curious about the program or interested in shadowing? We’d love to hear from you — reach out to our office anytime!