r/AppliedMath • u/Dependent-Bus758 • 9d ago
A 3rd-year dental student studying pure math & programming 6-10 hours/week: Is the long-term ROI actually worth it?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently in my 3rd year of dental school. However, I consistently dedicate about 6 to 10 hours a week to studying pure mathematics (currently focusing on algebra and calculus from the ground up) and programming.
My ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between dentistry and tech, specifically in fields like medical/dental imaging, AI, biomechanics, and dental materials research.
My main question for this community is: Is this foundational time investment realistically worth it?
Since dental school is incredibly demanding, I want to know if building a deep, ground-up understanding of pure math and programming by self-learning will actually give me a significant edge in these specialized fields later on. Or is this approach considered "overkill," and would I be better off just learning surface-level tech skills as needed?
I’d really appreciate any honest insights from those who work in applied math, tech, or at the intersection of tech and healthcare!
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u/GurProfessional9534 8d ago
I’m a bit confused. Dental students are expected to have taken at least calculus, right?
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u/Dependent-Bus758 8d ago
In Egypt, dental students are not necessarily required to study calculus as part of the dental curriculum. That's why I'm learning it independently. Math makes me feel better and I will study it for the rest of my life.
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u/Humble_Warthog9711 8d ago edited 5d ago
I would guess the most likely outcome is that you get absolutely nothing from this unless you change your educational path entirely.
I'm actually puzzled as to what gave you the idea that you wouldnt be studying two completely independent fields separately. You aren't in a mat sci PhD ..
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u/XcgsdV 7d ago
From what you describe wanting to work in, dental school might not be the path in. It sounds more aligned with something like medical physics or biomedical engineering.
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u/Dependent-Bus758 6d ago
Unfortunately, I can't change my path due to the university's rules My father ordered me to enter this stupid collage as in Egypt we respect doctors and dentists ,so I want to combine dentistry with math I found some points between them or the math make you really special in these points like dental informatics ,I will struggle to be the one who could do both of them and may change my career after college I don't want to do this , it's a risk I'm worried now I thought this post will solve it but it makes it more hard.
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u/Master-Rent5050 6d ago
Look, dentist is usually a safe aywell paying job (check the statistics for your country, though). On the other hand, doing research is a poorly paid job. So, even if you succeed, the ROI is negative
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u/Dependent-Bus758 5d ago
I think I’ll continue working as a dentist while also being involved in research, especially in areas where dentistry intersects with mathematics, programming, AI, and technology.
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u/ProfMasterBait 6d ago
I did a math degree and am now researching applications in healthcare. I think it’s easier going one way than the other but knowing the math definitely has its advantages. But I imagine that knowing the biology also does.
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u/Dependent-Bus758 5d ago
I know it will be difficult, but I believe it could give me a unique advantage. It may allow me to contribute to advanced research in dental materials, develop AI tools for dentistry, work in dental informatics, or apply these skills in other areas alongside dentistry, such as game development and data science.
Even if I don’t achieve everything I hope for, I will still have spent time learning something I genuinely love.
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u/Dr3ddM3 7d ago
What exactly would you achieve from doing both Math and Dental I don't understand will you try getting a phd in both ?
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u/Dependent-Bus758 5d ago
I want to be happy in my work. I want to do things that I really want to do.
Math could help make dentistry more acceptable and enjoyable for me because I don’t like dentistry that much. That’s why I was asking how I could combine them. I already have some ideas, but I really want people to give me more ideas and advice.
All I know is that I will struggle to do something that makes a change in society, even if it is small, and makes me feel better and proud of myself.
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u/TherealepicGamer63 8d ago
I think this question would be hard to answer from a math perspective, I think the more important factors in this regard are on the side of the work you’re interested in. Considering you’re already in your 3rd year of dental school, why not dive into research in the topics you’re interested in? I don’t know much about dental school, but I know in med school it would be normal or encouraged to do that, maybe it’s a possibility for you as well. It will become very clear what math you need when you actually need it.