While some dentists knew from a young age they wanted to join the dental field, others considered alternative industries before landing on dentistry.
Five dentists recently spoke with Becker's about what career they would have chosen if they hadn't become a dentist.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.
Question: If you weren't a dentist, what would you do for your career and why?
Michael Hoffmann, DDS. The Dental Anesthesia Center (Clayton, Mo.): As a dentist anesthesiologist, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. As I always say, I never considered what I do as work as I love what I do. Medical school was a consideration back in the day, but that path would have been a mistake due to current hospital and insurance arrangements in medicine.
Looking now, I think an MBA and owning a business, or several businesses, would have been a good path.
Peter Lucchese, DDS. Hudson Valley Dental Arts (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.): If I was not a dentist, I would have gone into the music field as I was a drummer for many years. My other passions are food as I am of Italian heritage and men’s retail, so I would have gone into the restaurant business or owned a high-end men’s retail store/haberdashery. Restaurants and men’s retail both are service-oriented with a creative/artistic component.
Shaun Malek, DDS (Pasadena, Calif.): If I was not a dentist, I would have gotten a business/real estate degree and bought old houses, restored and sold them. This way, I would have stayed away from a hefty student loan and dealing with insurance companies. I could still use my talents in restoring things to their original conditions and make more money.
Roshan Parikh, DDS. Founder of DSO Strategy: When I was a kid, like many other children, I idolized my pediatrician, Dr. Sanchez. The fact that he could cure my sicknesses time and time again just blew my mind. I am sure I took up more of his clinical time than other kids, just based on my curiosity alone.
How did he know so much about so many different kids and illnesses? I mean, ear infection — he’s the guy. Measles all over my body — he’s the guy. Sprained wrist from basketball — he’s the guy. He was truly like a superhero to me.
Rick Singel, DDS. (Cincinnati): If I weren't a dentist, I'd be an insurance agent. My dad had a very nice agency and made a fine living. In fact, I grew up in a house next to a dentist. After college, I worked for [my dad] for about three years and enjoyed it, but I just wasn't cut out to be a businessman, so I became restless and applied to dental school like so many of my undergrad friends and never looked back.