Can someone shed light on pediatric dentistry?

[predentlove]

Helloo ,

I have a few questions that I was hoping anyone with experience in dental school can help me with!

1. I was wondering how competitive it was to get into pediatric dentistry. Do you have to have a certain GPA in dental school? Is it popular among students?

2. I know it varies for each dental school, but how does the program for pediatric dentistry work? Is it a few years more than the usual 4 years?

3. Do pediatric dentists normally get a lower salary (I would assume? Which I don't have a problem with because I love kids! But it might be problematic when paying off my loans)

Thanks
Take care!

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[MrWilson]

Helloo ,

I have a few questions that I was hoping anyone with experience in dental school can help me with!

1. I was wondering how competitive it was to get into pediatric dentistry. Do you have to have a certain GPA in dental school? Is it popular among students?

2. I know it varies for each dental school, but how does the program for pediatric dentistry work? Is it a few years more than the usual 4 years?

3. Do pediatric dentists normally get a lower salary (I would assume? Which I don't have a problem with because I love kids! But it might be problematic when paying off my loans)

Thanks
Take care!

I'm just starting dental school in a week, so in no way do I claim to be qualified to give an answer, as there are others on here that can give you a first hand account to your questions. However, I'm a lurker on the topic on this forum so I can offer some basic information.

1. From what others are saying, yes it is becoming very competitive as of late. I don't know of gpa's or board scores necessary to be competitve, but they're fairly high. Once you have the numbers it's all about personality in your interview, personal statement, etc. Others things that may make your application stand-out is community service, research, and leadership positions, in addition to others.

2. Most pedo residencies are 24-28 months in duration, however, there are some that last 36 months, which will award an MS or MPH.

3. No. From what others have reported, offers straight out of residency can range 180k-350k. Most seem to be around 200k. Those owning their practice can earn more, but I don't know of any specific numbers.

 

[predentlove]

Thanks Wilson!

I am surprised that pediatric dentistry would be competitive! Just because I have seen how difficult it is to make kids cooperate.

 

[mr24]

Thanks Wilson!

I am surprised that pediatric dentistry would be competitive! Just because I have seen how difficult it is to make kids cooperate.

I think its the money that makes it competitive, not the joy of working with kids... although, i want to work with kids and special needs patients.

 

[lemoncurry]

you will make more as a specialist, generally. the peds faculty keep trying to get me to apply for peds b/c they say i am good with kids, but i have 4 kids of my own and they are about all i can handle. sure, i'll treat kids, but i don't want to do only that.

 

[predentlove]

Hmmm that's very interesting. Thanks.

I just thought since you wouldn't necessarily have the big treatments (such as root canals, implants) you wouldn't make as much as you would as a general dentist.

So for pediatric dentistry the fees are higher for treatments? I just don't understand how they make more money.

I really don't care about the money aspect either... I just think I would look forward to going to work everyday if I got to work with kids! :]

 

[Demeter]

Hmmm that's very interesting. Thanks.

I just thought since you wouldn't necessarily have the big treatments (such as root canals, implants) you wouldn't make as much as you would as a general dentist.

So for pediatric dentistry the fees are higher for treatments? I just don't understand how they make more money.

I really don't care about the money aspect either... I just think I would look forward to going to work everyday if I got to work with kids! :]

Kids love candy and hate brushing their teeth. The enamel on primary teeth is thinner then on permanent teeth, which allows caries to progress at a faster rate. All of these factors result in dental caries being the most common childhood disease.
Although children do not need implants/ root canals many need pulp/ stainless steel crowns. The procedures are quick and easy, so money is made through volume. Some kids are very difficult to manage and require an sedation in additional to the necessary dental work.
A small percentage of the population have severe early childhood caries and require full mouth rehabilitation ( 8-12 SSC's) in the operating room. These are typically 1,500$-2000$ cases.

 

[lemoncurry]

there's still plenty of tx that can be done for kids. Plus, if you offer IV sedation, you can make a bundle that way. With kids, it seems like you have to do a lot of volume, but they usually go quicker.

 

[SoulPower]

Just a random thought, but for what treatments would a general dentist refer out to a pedo then? It seems that a GD would be able to do the majority of tx for these patients and if they refer out are they effectively "losing" the kid as a patient in the parent's mind?

 

[Demeter]

Just a random thought, but for what treatments would a general dentist refer out to a pedo then? It seems that a GD would be able to do the majority of tx for these patients and if they refer out are they effectively "losing" the kid as a patient in the parent's mind?

After you try to giving an injection on a crying, squirming 4 yr old, you will understand why many GP's refer kids to pedo. The procedures such as a SSC prep, or a Class II prep is the easy part. The challenging part is managing the behavior of the child and dealing with moms.

 

[Toothfairy000]

I am a dental asst. at a pediatric dentist and just helped update our fee schedule with delta dental. If he is listed in their directory as a GP, the fees are significantly higher than if he is listed as a pediatric dentist. Therefore, our office is not listed as a pedo office for delta dental so we can have higher fees. It's not fair that he went through the extra training to become a pediatric dentist and delta dental thinks the fees should be lower....

Hmmm that's very interesting. Thanks.

I just thought since you wouldn't necessarily have the big treatments (such as root canals, implants) you wouldn't make as much as you would as a general dentist.

So for pediatric dentistry the fees are higher for treatments? I just don't understand how they make more money.

I really don't care about the money aspect either... I just think I would look forward to going to work everyday if I got to work with kids! :]

 

[Demeter]

I am a dental asst. at a pediatric dentist and just helped update our fee schedule with delta dental. If he is listed in their directory as a GP, the fees are significantly higher than if he is listed as a pediatric dentist. Therefore, our office is not listed as a pedo office for delta dental so we can have higher fees. It's not fair that he went through the extra training to become a pediatric dentist and delta dental thinks the fees should be lower....

I have never heard of a specialist having a lower fee schedule then a GP if both are in network with the same insurance company.

 

[Toothfairy000]

We went back and forth with the ins company. Normally a computer system generates the accepted fee schedule but a rep at delta ran 15 common codes for us to compare gp vs pedo--child prophy, fluoride, resin composite, ss crown, etc and all of the approved fees for pedo were significantly lower. I know the accepted fees are based on the area you are located so maybe it has to do with the area we are in?

I have never heard of a specialist having a lower fee schedule then a GP if both are in network with the same insurance company.

 

[Msmouth]

We went back and forth with the ins company. Normally a computer system generates the accepted fee schedule but a rep at delta ran 15 common codes for us to compare gp vs pedo--child prophy, fluoride, resin composite, ss crown, etc and all of the approved fees for pedo were significantly lower. I know the accepted fees are based on the area you are located so maybe it has to do with the area we are in?

I'm a RDH.

I remember doing temporary work at a couple of pedo practices and it was completely draining to me. Most of the kids needed behavior management and there was always a puker around every corner. One kid puked everywhere! I mean everywhere, I was lucky to have quick reflexes and get the hell out of the way. Luckily they had a clean up crew that came to rescue. Let's not forget the overbearing parents that constantly ask if the child is ok or "does it hurt honey?"
I see kids all the time in general practice and for the most part they are fine but when the behavior becomes an issue it is not my cup of tea.

 

[Demeter]

I'm a RDH.

I remember doing temporary work at a couple of pedo practices and it was completely draining to me. Most of the kids needed behavior management and there was always a puker around every corner. One kid puked everywhere! I mean everywhere, I was lucky to have quick reflexes and get the hell out of the way. Luckily they had a clean up crew that came to rescue. Let's not forget the overbearing parents that constantly ask if the child is ok or "does it hurt honey?"
I see kids all the time in general practice and for the most part they are fine but when the behavior becomes an issue it is not my cup of tea.

That is why few of us hire hygienists. Dental assistants will gladly do the coronal polishing and they don't cost 40$/ hour. Another reason why pedo overhead is often lower then a GP.

 

[mike3kgt]

I'm a RDH.

I remember doing temporary work at a couple of pedo practices and it was completely draining to me. Most of the kids needed behavior management and there was always a puker around every corner. One kid puked everywhere! I mean everywhere, I was lucky to have quick reflexes and get the hell out of the way. Luckily they had a clean up crew that came to rescue. Let's not forget the overbearing parents that constantly ask if the child is ok or "does it hurt honey?"
I see kids all the time in general practice and for the most part they are fine but when the behavior becomes an issue it is not my cup of tea.

I'll gladly treat a winy denture patient over a winy child. Then again, the pedos say the exact opposite Hence why we invented pedodontists.

 

[PDizzle]

I'm a 1st year pedo resident so I'll chime in.

Most of the above is true.

Very competitive at the moment. On the likes of ortho and OMFS! You're part I doesn't need to be through the roof like in ortho and omfs but you need good grades, a good score (85+) and nail the interview. Personality is everything with pedo. Not just with kids but communication with the parents as well. It's a great field and honestly, I never want to treat an adult again in my life! Kids are supposed to cry...I'm cool with that. When a 30 year old freaks out from a simple filling and a needle,..now that is annoying!

Why refer to pedo? Well, why would you refer to any specialist? The answer is either one of three things: the case is beyond your knowledge/comfort level, you hate doing it or your time would be better spent doing something else. There is no magic that a pedodontist has, just a lot of experience and lot's of "tricks" up our sleeves.

Money: Peds is very lucrative because of the simplicity/speed of the restorative nature, Medicaid covers a huge portion of your patients, most parents will sell the shirt off their back for their kids while their own teeth rot, and you can see over 50 kids/day....do the math! I've shadowed pedo God's that can see 70/day.

If you take anything from this, for the love of God, yourself and children all over the planet....DO NOT go into peds for the $$. That's what ortho is for! (j/k). If you are not "built" for pedo, you will be miserable, your patients will be miserable and you will be broke!


-Dizz

 

[predentlove]

Thanks for the input everyone! Much appreciated.

 

[setdoc7]

I'm a 1st year pedo resident so I'll chime in.

Most of the above is true.

Very competitive at the moment. On the likes of ortho and OMFS! You're part I doesn't need to be through the roof like in ortho and omfs but you need good grades, a good score (85+) and nail the interview. Personality is everything with pedo. Not just with kids but communication with the parents as well. It's a great field and honestly, I never want to treat an adult again in my life! Kids are supposed to cry...I'm cool with that. When a 30 year old freaks out from a simple filling and a needle,..now that is annoying!

Why refer to pedo? Well, why would you refer to any specialist? The answer is either one of three things: the case is beyond your knowledge/comfort level, you hate doing it or your time would be better spent doing something else. There is no magic that a pedodontist has, just a lot of experience and lot's of "tricks" up our sleeves.

Money: Peds is very lucrative because of the simplicity/speed of the restorative nature, Medicaid covers a huge portion of your patients, most parents will sell the shirt off their back for their kids while their own teeth rot, and you can see over 50 kids/day....do the math! I've shadowed pedo God's that can see 70/day.

If you take anything from this, for the love of God, yourself and children all over the planet....DO NOT go into peds for the $$. That's what ortho is for! (j/k). If you are not "built" for pedo, you will be miserable, your patients will be miserable and you will be broke!


-Dizz

I agree completely. We have a pedo residency at the hospital where I am GPR director. Although the money looks good for pedo, you must "love"working with kids and dealing with parents. I am much happier restoring a bunch of implants, but that's why we are all a little different. The Pedo PD is a great friend of mine, and we collaborate on lots of cases, but he would not want my job nor I his. I will echo loudly, don't go in to pedo for the money!

 

[Contach]

I am a dental asst. at a pediatric dentist and just helped update our fee schedule with delta dental. If he is listed in their directory as a GP, the fees are significantly higher than if he is listed as a pediatric dentist. Therefore, our office is not listed as a pedo office for delta dental so we can have higher fees. It's not fair that he went through the extra training to become a pediatric dentist and delta dental thinks the fees should be lower....

That sounds like insurance fraud on the dentist's part. But I don't know much. Can someone explain how this works?

 

[twinklestar123]

can somebody please name the top most pediatric residency programs in the country?The top 5 or so?
There is Hospital based and University based pediatric programs.Which one do you think is better?

 

[ogopogodude]

Not to sound money driven, ... but there is no money in pediatric dentistry. If I was to choose a specialty, ... it certainly wouldn't be working on the worst of the worst kids all day. (Oops, .. this is my inside voice).

I love kids, .... really i do... I have two of 'em that are the centre of my universe. But to day after day (after day after day after day) provide dental needs to children? ... no thanks. I suppose it would be different if the fees were much higher...

Anyways...

Oral surgery and ortho specialities, ... THAT'S where the money is...

I have been doing general dentistry for nineteen years or so and if I had to pick a specialty it would be one of those...