GP vs. specialist

[allstardentist]

do GPs have more flexibility in terms of working where they want ? or is it the specialists?

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[Dr. Dai Phan]

do GPs have more flexibility in terms of working where they want ? or is it the specialists?

GPs or specialists, they all can practice anywhere they please. DP

 

[visbimmer79]

what can't periodontologists do?

Another question is..

what options do GP's have right after graduation?


Last question is.......
pertaining to the second one...

There are AEGD and GPR programs for GP's after graduation. He/she can work at another doctor's office or hospital. What are the merits of chosing either one route instead of the other?

I think I can learn things required after graduation more in oraganized and acknowledged fashion if I choose AEFD or GPR route. On the other hand, I can start my own business earlier if I choose the latter route. Don't you think so?

Of course, I can find more about this topic and actually get more information about it soon. However, I also want to hear opinons from SDNers.

Thanks~~

 

[DrJeff]

do GPs have more flexibility in terms of working where they want ? or is it the specialists?

As Dr. Dai Phan said, you can practice wherever you want as a GP or specialist(or atleast wherever your license will let you ). As a GP, in certain areas of the country you might have a bit more freedom just based on population. A specialist will very often need a larger population base to draw from when compared to a GP for volume of business to sustain the practice. In urban/larger suburban areas, this tends to not be a problem, where very often multiple specialists per town is economically sustainable. In more rural areas, a specialist may need a 50+ mile radius, multiple town/county area to draw from to sustain a practice whereas the GP often won't need as vast an area to economically sustain the practice.

 

[Dukie]

what can't periodontologists do?

Another question is..

what options do GP's have right after graduation?


Last question is.......
pertaining to the second one...

There are AEGD and GPR programs for GP's after graduation. He/she can work at another doctor's office or hospital. What are the merits of chosing either one route instead of the other?

I think I can learn things required after graduation more in oraganized and acknowledged fashion if I choose AEFD or GPR route. On the other hand, I can start my own business earlier if I choose the latter route. Don't you think so?

Of course, I can find more about this topic and actually get more information about it soon. However, I also want to hear opinons from SDNers.

Thanks~~

1. I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say "what can't periodontologists do?" Any dentist can technically do any part of dentistry as long as he or she does it up to the specialist standard of care level.

2. Right after graduation, you can: a. go right to work in your own practice (assuming you are in a state where this is ok); b. Work as an associate for another dentist (again, as long as this is ok); c. specialize; d. GPR/AEGD; e. Public health dentistry

3. In terms of working vs. GPR, you would of course make more money immediately working; however, a GPR is often an excellent choice as it will provide you with more advanced training in difficult procedures, help you improve your speed, get more instruction from seasoned dentists, etc.

Hope that helped...

 

[Istr8nthem]

1. I'm not sure I understand what you mean when you say "what can't periodontologists do?" Any dentist can technically do any part of dentistry as long as he or she does it up to the specialist standard of care level.

Hope that helped...

I agree with most of what you said, but this statement above is not 100% correct the way it is written. If you are a dental specialist and advertise yourself as said specialist (Ortho, endo, perio, etc) you are limited to the scope of that specialty. However, if you go to specialty training, say perio, and decide you do not want to limit your practice to perio, you may advertise yourself as a general dentist and do anything you chose.

As an orthodontist, I have to limit my practice to orthodontics.

 

[allstardentist]

As Dr. Dai Phan said, you can practice wherever you want as a GP or specialist(or atleast wherever your license will let you ). As a GP, in certain areas of the country you might have a bit more freedom just based on population. A specialist will very often need a larger population base to draw from when compared to a GP for volume of business to sustain the practice. In urban/larger suburban areas, this tends to not be a problem, where very often multiple specialists per town is economically sustainable. In more rural areas, a specialist may need a 50+ mile radius, multiple town/county area to draw from to sustain a practice whereas the GP often won't need as vast an area to economically sustain the practice.

Thank you, this was the answer i was looking for.

 

[visbimmer79]

I agree with most of what you said, but this statement above is not 100% correct the way it is written. If you are a dental specialist and advertise yourself as said specialist (Ortho, endo, perio, etc) you are limited to the scope of that specialty. However, if you go to specialty training, say perio, and decide you do not want to limit your practice to perio, you may advertise yourself as a general dentist and do anything you chose.

As an orthodontist, I have to limit my practice to orthodontics.

I've seen endodontologist's offices and orthodontologist's offices quite often. However, I don't remember if I've ever seen the periodontologist's office. So, I've become wondering if periodontologists are more educated GP's who can also practice up to the scope of this specialty.

Again, it sounds like periodontologists are doing only their jobs, but not allowed to do what typical GP's are doing. Hm..........I believe there must be so many complicated periodontium related cases that are beyond the scope of GP's. However, I really can't understand why periodontologists can't do their own jobs in addition to what he/she can do as a GP. Frankly, I can't believe it yet!

Btw, thanks for the comment regarding GPR program. Does anybody know how difficult it is to be accepted to the program?

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I've seen endodontologist's offices and orthodontologist's offices quite often. However, I don't remember if I've ever seen the periodontologist's office. So, I've become wondering if periodontologists are more educated GP's who can also practice up to the scope of this specialty.

Again, it sounds like periodontologists are doing only their jobs, but not allowed to do what typical GP's are doing. Hm..........I believe there must be so many complicated periodontium related cases that are beyond the scope of GP's. However, I really can't understand why periodontologists can't do their own jobs in addition to what he/she can do as a GP. Frankly, I can't believe it yet!

Btw, thanks for the comment regarding GPR program. Does anybody know how difficult it is to be accepted to the program?

What the heck is "Periodontologists"? Must be a fancy name for "periodontists"? I guess I am "Maxillofacial Prosthodontologist" now! For the answer, no, GPR is not difficult to get a spot because there are so many of them unless you have horrible stats. DP

 

[visbimmer79]

What the heck is "Periodontologists"? Must be a fancy name for "periodontists"? I guess I am "Maxillofacial Prosthodontologist" now! For the answer, no, GPR is not difficult to get a spot because there are so many of them unless you have horrible stats. DP

Yeah~WTH is periodontologist? Right now, I am confusing between endodontologist and endodontist, too. I hope they are just synonymous. Maybe, they have slight different meaning, which I am not aware of yet.

So, it's good to hear that GPR is not difficult to get a spot. At this point, I believe the program spans 1 or 2yrs depending on the school and individual's choice. Correct me on this if I am wrong.

Btw, upon the completion of this program, are we going to obtain a new title? I would rather like to ask if there are any dentists out there without completion of this program. I'm just curious about it!

 

[Dukie]

I agree with most of what you said, but this statement above is not 100% correct the way it is written. If you are a dental specialist and advertise yourself as said specialist (Ortho, endo, perio, etc) you are limited to the scope of that specialty. However, if you go to specialty training, say perio, and decide you do not want to limit your practice to perio, you may advertise yourself as a general dentist and do anything you chose.

As an orthodontist, I have to limit my practice to orthodontics.

Out of curiosity, is that the legal standard or just what people typically do? ie- is there a law that says if you are an orthodontist, you cannot prepare a crown?

 

[charlestweed]

Out of curiosity, is that the legal standard or just what people typically do? ie- is there a law that says if you are an orthodontist, you cannot prepare a crown?

In my state, the GPs and specialists have the same dental license. So yes, an orthodontist can legally do a crown prep if he/she wants to.

 

[DrJeff]

Out of curiosity, is that the legal standard or just what people typically do? ie- is there a law that says if you are an orthodontist, you cannot prepare a crown?

In my state, the GPs and specialists have the same dental license. So yes, an orthodontist can legally do a crown prep if he/she wants to.

From the most recent complete legal interpretation of the ADA code of ethics with respect to specialists:

http://ethics.iit.edu/codes/coe/amer.dental.assoc.f.html

"5-C. Announcement of Specialization and Limitation of Practice.

This section and Section 5-D are designed to help the public make an informed selection between the practitioner who has completed an accredited program beyond the dental degree and a practitioner who has not completed such a program.

The special areas of dental practice approved by the American Dental Association and the designation for ethical specialty announcement and limitation of practice are: dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial pathology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics and prosthodontics.

Dentists who choose to announce specialization should use "specialist in" or "practice limited to" and shall limit their practice exclusively to the announced special area(s) of dental practice, provided at the time of the announcement such dentists have met in each approved specialty for which they announce the existing educational requirements and standards set forth by the American Dental Association.

Dentists who use their eligibility to announce as specialists to make the public believe that specialty services rendered in the dental office are being rendered by qualified specialists when such is not the case are engaged in unethical conduct. The burden of responsibility is on specialists to avoid any inference that general practitioners who are associated with specialists are qualified to announce themselves as specialists. "

 

[charlestweed]

Thanks, Dr. Jeff for the clarification. I totally agree with the ADA on this.

 

[DrJeff]

Thanks, Dr. Jeff for the clarification. I totally agree with the ADA on this.

No problem, this is just some of that lovely minutia that often gets glanced over during out school based dental education years, and frankly it took me about a decade of practice to really get around to actually looking up what the ADA's position was on it I figure maybe another 15-20 years of practice and I'll finally have all the nitty gritty details of this dentist thing all figured out