Dentist or doctor?

Hey im debating and pondering over whether I should become a dentist or doctor. Im a very good science and math student and go to a competitive school in nyc. Many of my family members are planning to become doctors but Im not sure if its the right field for me. I want to get a pretty good salary, enough for me to dine alot, buy a lot of expensive stuff, go on vacation a lot and give a good life to my family. Buttt studying medicine is not really my goal in life... im not really sure about it. I have the potential to do either if I try enough, but Im not sure if medicine is worth it. Im not the type of person who only studies and goes to work just to work for some insurance company and be a selfish doctor... I want to have a good life, and i believe that is what dentists have. Besides going into dentistry distinguishes me from my family members. Who needs another doctor in the family?? I dont kno what i should do. I would really appreciate some good advice! Thanks!

Dentist or doctor?
i heard there is a great need of doctors so they offer more money. but if being a doctor or dentist is not for you, think about physical therapy or something like that. they get paid well too.
Reply:I wanted to be a doctor, but then I realized "hey.. I want to get married and have a family some day"





If you want to be a doctor, that is AT LEAST 10 years of school... not for me





Also, I get attached to people so if one of my patients died on me, I would be devastated.





Besides, doctors are always "on call." You would never have a life even though you would be rich.





Dentist go for 4 years of college and 4 years of dental school. That is great for me!





They make good money and have time to enjoy life! You never hear about people dying while at the dentist so I don't have to worry about that.





Dentistry is working out great for me!
Reply:Well, while I think dental is a great field, dentists have the highest suicide rate. Probably b/c nobody wants to go see a dentist. Also, dental school is very expensive along with very expensive instruements and very expensive office supplies to get started. You are in debt up to your eyeballs before ever starting or hiring employees (this may be the same with medical docs I don't know). Then there is all the overhead costs of dentistry and on and on. It takes some time before ever making money in detistry.
Reply:Getting paid well and living a good life should not be your only motivations for choosing either. You should have some sort of benevolent reason, like wanting to help people, as well.
Reply:I'M A DENTIST AND MY DIPLOMA READS "DOCTOR OF DENTAL MEDICINE."


BOTH REQUIRE EXTENSIVE TRAINING AND SKILL.
Reply:A dentist, because they get paid more and it's fun to look at teeth =]
Reply:Dentists don't have the highest suicide rate... Horrible myth. I don't know one dentist that has killed himself/herself, but there's no arguing with made-up facts! See links below for more info. What a giant C-word above...





I went through the same decision process while I was in college, and I'm glad that I went to dental school. Some of my friends went to med school at it would not have been for me-FAR too much studying (not that dental school is easy). Neither field is bad, but it just depends on what you want to do. There are MDs that aren't on call and there are DMD/DDS that are on call. Try following around both to see which job you would prefer.

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