How to Ask to Shadow a Dentist (With Example Scripts)

/

Learn word-for-word how to get your dream dental shadowing opportunity

A student watches a dentist examine a patient

learn how to get your dream dental shadowing opportunity

----

Part 1: Introduction

Choosing to devote several years of your life to becoming a dentist is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. But how can you really know whether the life of a dental student (and, of course, the life of a dentist) is right for you? In addition to getting good grades in your prehealth or pre-dental coursework, scoring well on the DAT, gaining meaningful research experience, and building up a strong extracurricular resume, shadowing a dentist is also a crucial part of your pre-dental journey.

Shadowing is important for students who know they want to be a dentist but aren’t yet sure what kind of dentist they want to be. It’s also crucial in helping students learn about the equipment, procedures, patient interactions, and staff dynamics that make up a dentist’s day-to-day life.

And there are plenty of places to demonstrate all you’ve gained from your shadowing hours in your dental school applications. A meaningful interaction or observation from one of your shadowing experiences might make for a compelling personal statement or secondary essay. The ADEA AADSAS (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) devotes an entire section to Professional Experience.

In admissions interviews, you’ll also have the opportunity to talk about how your shadowing experiences prepared you for the rigor of dental school and shaped your specific goals. Some of the procedures and practices you observe may even help reinforce concepts you’ll need to master for the DAT. 

With many dental schools requiring 100 hours or more of shadowing experience at the time of application, you won’t want to wait too long to get started. But where to begin? Many students find cold calling and cold emailing professionals to be an unfamiliar, intimidating process.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of securing your dream dental shadowing experience, from researching dentists to contacting them to taking full advantage of these career-building experiences.

----

Part 2: What is shadowing a dentist like?

Shadowing is an apt term, considering what it entails. During a shadowing shift, you’ll follow the dentist around the office as they go through their daily routine: checking their email, discussing upcoming appointments with their staff, greeting their patients, treating their patients, taking their lunch, completing lab work, reviewing patient files, and wrapping up for the day. You won’t be asked to complete any hands-on work, and there won’t be any exams to test your knowledge or aptitude.

Instead, you’ll spend your time in observation mode. During a patient appointment, the dentist will probably introduce you to the patient and explain your reason for being there. Some dentists may invite you to ask the patient any questions you might have.

More outgoing patients may ask you questions about yourself or include you in their conversation with the dentist, but in most cases, you won’t be expected to speak at all during the appointment. If you’re taking thorough notes and not causing any distractions, you’ll be perfectly fulfilling your duties as a shadow. 

Before your first day at any given dentist office, it’s a good idea to ask the dentist what you should wear as a shadow.They’ll likely tell you to wear either business casual (think button-up shirt, dress pants, and close-toed shoes) or scrubs and sneakers, but each office will have their own preference. If you can pull your hair back into a hair tie, you should do so. Also, be sure to avoid strong-smelling cologne, perfume, or lotion that could be unpleasant to sensitive patients. 

Taking notes

While you won’t be doing hands-on work, your role as a shadow won’t be passive, either. Always bring a notepad and make keen observations about what you witness in the office. Write down questions for the dentist and bring them up for discussion later. Some dentists may be okay with you asking questions in the presence of a patient, but it’s usually a good rule of thumb to not speak unless spoken to. This allows dentists to give full attention to their patient during the appointment. 

The more detailed and thorough your notes, the better you’ll retain valuable information you learn throughout the day and the easier it’ll be to draw on your shadowing experiences when filling out your dental school applications—especially if months or years have passed since your shadowing experience.

Perhaps most obviously, you should be taking notes on the technical aspects of the dentist’s job. For example, which tools do they use for specific procedures, and which technology is best suited for which cases? How do they maintain a sterile work environment? How do they diagnose oral health conditions and develop a treatment plan?

But don’t forget to record detailed observations about some of the less concrete aspects of the dentist’s job, too. These observations typically relate to a dentist’s chairside manner, their empathy, and their communication methods with both patients and fellow staff—all of which dental school adcoms will expect you to demonstrate a solid understanding of throughout your application.

What kind of notes should I take while shadowing?


Here are a few examples of questions to ask yourself while recording your observations:

- What kind of phrasing and tone does the dentist use when asking a patient to describe pain or discomfort?
- How do they respond when a patient questions their treatment plan?
- How do they stress the importance of brushing and flossing to a patient whose dental hygiene is lacking, without shaming or scolding them?
- What methods of communication do they use with their staff in order to keep things around the office running smoothly and efficiently?
- How do they interact with patients from underprivileged backgrounds?
- What body language and communication techniques do they use to put patients with dental anxiety at ease?

In addition, remember that shadows aren’t expected to be experts in the field. Don’t be afraid to write down lots of questions to ask the dentist later, such as:

- What’s the name of that tool you used while filling Patient A’s tooth?
- What’s the protocol for diagnosing root resorption in adults?
- Why does the dental hygienist always ask a patient before using fluoride treatment?

Finally, feel free to ask the dentist about their educational and career journey. They were once in your shoes and they’ll likely be happy to impart some hard-earned wisdom.

Note: Keep in mind that, in order to avoid breaching HIPAA laws, your notes should never include a patient’s personally-identifiable information (including name, date of birth, etc.).

Tracking your hours

You might also be wondering how many total hours of shadowing you should be aiming for before applying to dental school. Each dental school has their own criteria—so there’s no hard and fast number—but we recommend aiming for at least 150. These hours should be spread out across several shadowing opportunities, depending on how long you agree to shadow each particular dentist. You might spend just one day shadowing a few different dentists, while another dentist might let you shadow them for a few full weeks in the summer. 

No shadowing opportunity is too short, but it’s a good idea to spend a full week with at least one dentist. These longer shadowing opportunities will allow you to build a closer relationship with the dentist (which could lead to a meaningful recommendation letter) and develop a deeper understanding of how their office functions.

To give you an idea of the requirements from some of the top dental schools in the US, University of Michigan School of Dentistry requires 100 hours minimum in order for applicants to be considered at all. On the other hand, neither UCSF UCSF School of Dentistry nor NYU College of Dentistry have a minimum requirement, but both recommend at least 100 hours. 

University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine requires a mere 15 hours, but competitive applicants will have completed significantly more than that. Neither UNC Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry nor Harvard School of Dental Medicine provide even a recommended number of shadowing hours for their applicants, but Harvard is unique in that it recommends that students spend some time exploring various pre-health professions before choosing to pursue dentistry. 

As you research and begin compiling a list of dental schools you’re interested in applying to, keep track of their individual application requirements, including shadowing hours. While most top dental schools set roughly similar standards for applicants, there are some outliers. For example, The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University strongly recommends that applicants accrue around 300 shadowing hours. 

----

Part 3: How to find a dentist to shadow

Utilizing the network of your family’s personal contacts is always a great way to secure shadowing opportunities, although you should remember that family members won’t be eligible to write your letters of recommendation. Plenty of students, however, don’t have any dentists within their family’s personal network (other than their own dentist). If this is the case for you, start by reaching out to your own dentist. 

Even if you secure an opportunity with your dentist, you’ll likely want to start lining up more opportunities to diversify your experience and tally up more hours. If you’re an undergraduate student, don’t miss out on the wealth of resources offered by your pre-health advising office. Advisors often have lists of contacts to share with students seeking shadowing opportunities, and telling a contact that you were referred by your university’s pre-health office might even help demonstrate your dedication to the field. 

If these methods yield few results—or if you’re just looking for a wider variety of dentists to shadow—cold emailing and cold calling is a perfectly acceptable way to locate shadowing opportunities. Don’t hesitate to reach out to local dentist offices you’ve seen advertised on social media, local television, or billboards. Before reaching out, do a quick Google search to check their reviews and weed out offices with excessively negative reviews. 

What kind of dentist should you shadow?

Shadowing a General Dentist is a great way to get a broad survey of the field. However, if you’re interested in one or a few area(s) of specialization (such as pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, or orthodontics), shadowing a specialist will allow you to test the waters and learn about how their work differs from that of a General Dentist.

This will also clearly demonstrate to dental school adcoms that you are self-motivated and deeply invested in your future as a dentist. Some dental schools, like University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, even recommend that applicants spend time shadowing dental specialists.  

Can I shadow dentists while in high school?

If you’re a high school student with an interest in dentistry, now is a great time to explore that interest through shadowing opportunities. You don’t need to wait until you know for certain that you want to be a dentist. Some students choose to shadow professionals in various fields so that they can compare and contrast them in order to find the best fit.

As a high schooler, shadowing experience will also help you get comfortable with the essential (but often awkward-at-first) skills of cold emailing and cold calling. It may also provide interesting material for you to include in your college essays. And the earlier you begin shadowing, the more time you’ll have to dive into different areas of specialization, establish long-lasting connections with dental professionals, and explore the question of whether this is the right career for you.

While it’s never too early to start shadowing, don’t plan on getting all of your shadowing hours out of the way in high school so that you can skip them in college. Dental school adcoms might question the validity of your commitment to becoming a dentist if the majority of your shadowing hours were completed four or more years ago.

Instead, if you’d like to start shadowing in high school, go at a steadier pace; focus on exploring your options and learning all you can about the field of dentistry. That way, in college, you’ll be able to hit the ground running with shadowing experiences that will help you narrow down your interests and build a detailed roadmap for your future—including your area of specialization, the location you’d like to practice in, and whether you intend to establish your own practice someday.

----

Part 4: How to contact a dentist about shadowing opportunities

Dentists are typically happy to learn that a student is interested in following in their career footsteps and will do what they can to lend a hand to an eager student. With that in mind, don’t worry that your emails or phone calls are a bother. Be confident in the fact that you’re taking the initiative to build your future career. 

Anytime you contact a dentist to inquire about shadowing them, you’ll want to mention the following:

  • Who you are, where you go to school, and what year you are in your course of study.

  • What your career goals are and why you want to pursue them. (Mention any areas of specialization you’re interested in, as well).

  • Your interest in shadowing them, specifically. (Try to personalize this part; avoid copy/pasting the same email or phone call script for each contact. Consider mentioning things like your interest in their area of specialization, your interest in working within the particular community that they serve, or your appreciation of the positive patient reviews they’ve received). 

  • Your availability. (Mention the specific time frame and schedule you had in mind, but be flexible and willing to compromise).

Four guidelines for contacting dentists about shadowing

  1. Keep it professional, but don’t be afraid to write or speak in your own voice! Keep voicemails brief, and keep emails concise – no more than two or three paragraphs.

  2. If you get a “no,” don’t take it personally. Some small dentist offices can’t comfortably accommodate many extra people, and some dentists might just be too busy to take on the responsibility of leading around a shadow during the workday.

  3. If you get no response at all to your voicemails or emails, don’t take that to heart, either. Dentists, like most professionals, tend to have very full inboxes, and it’s possible yours just got lost in the mix. It’s always a good idea to send a brief follow-up email a week or two after the first if there’s been no response. But after that, move on down the list to your next contact. 

  4. If your first few leads don’t work out, you may need to cast a wider net; make a spreadsheet of 10-15 contacts, then keep track of when you send your first email and any follow-ups. As long as you start early enough (within at least a month or two of when you intend to start shadowing), you should have plenty of time to locate the right opportunities.  

How to ask to shadow a dentist via email

Here’s an email script template for contacting a dentist you already know (such as a relative, family friend, or your own dentist).

Dear Dr. Crawley,

I hope this message finds you well. It’s been some time since we last saw each other; I’ve grown a foot or two since then, I think! These days, I’ve been busy working toward my degree at UNC Chapel Hill, and as a Sophomore this year I’ve been taking advantage of lots of opportunities to pursue my interest in dentistry. I’m particularly interested in prosthodontics, and my mom recently reminded me that you specialize in this area.

I’m currently looking to set up some shadowing opportunities for this summer so that I can learn about what goes into a day in the life of a dentist. If you’re open to it, I would love to spend some time shadowing you and learning a little more about your journey to becoming a prosthodontic specialist. My summer schedule is wide open, and I’d be happy to chat about which days and times would work best for you when you get a chance.

Thanks so much for your time, and take care!

Florence Sing
555-555-0123 

Here’s an email script template for contacting a dentist you don’t already know:

Dear Dr. Waseme,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Florence, and I’m a Sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in Biology. I’m writing today to express my interest in shadowing you as I pursue my growing interest in dentistry. In particular, I’m interested in learning more about pediatric dentistry, as I love working with kids and hope to learn more about what a day in the life of a pediatric dentist actually looks like. 

My pre-health advisor recommended I reach out to you, as some of our recent alumni have had the pleasure of shadowing you, and I was impressed to read so many glowing Google reviews about how inviting and kid-friendly your office is. 

If you’re open to the idea, I’d be very grateful for your time. I’m hoping to devote a few days to shadowing over winter break (between December 18th and January 8th), but I’d also be happy to work out a different schedule if that would be more convenient for you. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information, and feel free to give me a call at the number below if you would prefer to communicate by phone.

Thank you,

Florence Sing
555-555-0123 

How to ask to shadow dentist via phone call 

(Note: It’s usually best to reach out by email first, but don’t hesitate to call first if it’s the only contact information you have).

Here’s a phone script template for contacting a dentist you already know:

Hi Dr. Crawley! This is Lauren Sing’s daughter, Florence. Hope you’re doing well; it’s been a while! I just wanted to reach out and see if you’d be open to letting me shadow you sometime. I’m a sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill these days, and I’ve recently gotten really interested in prosthodontics, so I’d love to see what a day in your life at the office looks like. My schedule is wide open this summer, and when you get a chance, I’d be happy to chat about which days and times might work for you. You can reach me at 555-555-0123, or f-l-o-s-i-n-g two two at gmail dot com. Thanks, Dr. Crawley! Take care.

Here’s a phone script template for contacting a dentist you don’t already know:

Hello Dr. Waseme! My name is Florence Sing, and I’m a Sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill. I’m reaching out because I’m hoping to shadow some pediatric dentists starting in December, and my pre-health advisor referred me to you. I love working with kids, and I was really impressed by all the Google reviews about how kid-friendly your office is. If you’re open to the idea, I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have, and to figure out a schedule that works best for you. When you have a moment, please give me a call back at 555-555-0123, or send me an email at f-l-o-s-i-n-g two two at gmail dot com. Thanks for your time!

----

Part 5: How to make the most of your dental shadowing experience

Once you’ve landed a dental shadowing opportunity, here are a few things to keep in mind that will help you make the most of your dental shadowing experience.

  • Ask your contact what to wear at least a week before your first shift, and make sure you have the right clothes laid out the night before.

  • Be on time; plan to arrive at least ten minutes early for every shift.

  • Keep your phone on silent and out of sight during every shift. Not only is using your phone during a shift distracting, but it can also be disrespectful to both patients and staff. In some cases, it may even be a patient confidentiality issue.

  • Most dentist offices have rules about when and where you may eat or drink. If you’re unsure, ask. 

  • At the end of your time shadowing a particular dentist, don’t hesitate to ask if they can refer you to any of their colleagues for more shadowing experience. 

  • Always send a thank-you note upon finishing a shadowing experience. Handwritten is best, as it won’t get buried in an email inbox. 

  • Don’t expect a recommendation letter from every dentist you shadow. However, if you feel like you got along particularly well or spent a lot of time with one or two of them, don’t be shy about asking if they’d be open to writing you a letter. 

----

Final thoughts

Shadowing is a crucial component of any dental school application, and while actually finding shadowing opportunities can take some time and effort, the shadowing experience itself is usually  low-stress and enjoyable . Shadowing will help you discover whether dentistry is a good fit for you, explore specialized interests, connect with expert mentors, and build a robust dental school application.

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian headshot

About the Author

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on dental school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into dental school using his exclusive approach.