How important is it to specialize?

[MaceG1]

Hi all. I was wondering about this recently. I know specializing is very competitive, but I still have to wonder if specialists enjoy a greater degree of success while in practice. To be fair, the success of any dentist is dependent on a number of factors, but do you think it is easier as a specialist? Any opinions (preferably from practicing dentists)? Thanks.

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[UCLAzy]

the success of a specialist is highly dependent on the GPs around him/her.

you'll notice that before and during dental school, ppl who want to specialize may look down on those that dont. rude awakening when they go practice and learn how it works =)

 

[ushaseos]

the success of a specialist is highly dependent on the GPs around him/her.

you'll notice that before and during dental school, ppl who want to specialize may look down on those that dont. rude awakening when they go practice and learn how it works =)

You mean that in regards to networking - referrals, good relationships, don't be an a**hole sorta thing - right? I am sure being an elitist snob is never a good thing so regardless of what you meant, I completely agree there is no point looking down upon someone else for deciding not to specialize. Is there anything else you meant by your comment though? If there are any inherent caveats to specialization I'd like to know!

@ OP: What do you define as success? The main reason I want to specialize is I genuinely love working with children and Pediatric just seems to fit me. I also like OMFS since that has doctor and dentist elements (and the trauma cases are really interesting) but I fear I might not get in to either. To me success is basically doing what I like so that is all the motivation I need to at least try my best when I get to dental school.

 

[crew09]

but I still have to wonder if specialists enjoy a greater degree of success while in practice.

'Success' has very little to do with whether you are a specialist or not. As students we are used to looking at 'success' in a very simplistic fashion such as grades, so we mistakenly think that specializing is the next 'higher' step or=more money. Not always the case. In the real world, there are no guarantees. I've met general dentists who've done extremely well, and specialists who've gone into academia by choice (taking a pay cut). I'd consider both successful.

 

[FLOSS UR TEETH]

Hi all. I was wondering about this recently. I know specializing is very competitive, but I still have to wonder if specialists enjoy a greater degree of success while in practice. To be fair, the success of any dentist is dependent on a number of factors, but do you think it is easier as a specialist? Any opinions (preferably from practicing dentists)? Thanks.

I know many specialists who enjoy their job and I know many GP's who enjoy their job. To answer your question about how important it is to specialize, it depends on how much you want to specialize. Specialize if you are interested in a specific area of dentistry, don't specialize if you like general more.

 

[Sublimazing]

On average specialists make more than GPs financially. But it's more important to do something you like. And of course there are GPs who make more than specialists. You really need to wait until you're in dental school before you see if you want to specialize.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

it all depends on what you want to do. if you want to make the most money (guaranteed), specialize

 

[DentalJedi]

I was advised by a few dentists not to specialize unless I wanted to do OMFS, because it's becoming less and less worth it. With advances in technology and more CE, GPs can do more and more endo, ortho, etc. So a GP can do a little of everything, or just stick to the basics. I haven't even started dental school yet so I might be wrong, it's just what I've heard.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

I was advised by a few dentists not to specialize unless I wanted to do OMFS, because it's becoming less and less worth it. With advances in technology and more CE, GPs can do more and more endo, ortho, etc. So a GP can do a little of everything, or just stick to the basics. I haven't even started dental school yet so I might be wrong, it's just what I've heard.

this is what i've heard as well. also think of it like this..and i'll use orthodontics as an example, bc almost everyone i know wants to get into orthodontics...would you really want to bust your behind during d-school only to pretty much not use like 95% of what you've learned?

 

[Timpson]

You mean like the same thing I did to get in to dental school?

this is what i've heard as well. also think of it like this..and i'll use orthodontics as an example, bc almost everyone i know wants to get into orthodontics...would you really want to bust your behind during d-school only to pretty much not use like 95% of whatever you learned about?

 

[Bis-GMA111]

You mean like the same thing I did to get in to dental school?

well, that is true. i suppose that applies to getting into dental school as well, but i was referring to the wide scope of procedures that you're exposed to in d school, and not being able to use what you've learned. but it's all based on personal preference at the end of the day.

 

[Sublimazing]

You should make these decisions after you figure out what you like to do. I realized right away that crown and bridge was not my cup of tea...and that immediately eliminated being a GP for me...you won't know for sure til you you spend a year in clinic

 

[MaceG1]

Good responses- thanks. I have not started dental school yet, but if I had to choose, I'd pursue general practice because of the variety of patients... Now help me understand, if a GP performs a wide variety of procedures (as a result of a GP residency), this would lessen the amount of patients referred, thereby diminishing the prospects of the local specialist.. Right?

 

[Sublimazing]

Good responses- thanks. I have not started dental school yet, but if I had to choose, I'd pursue general practice because of the variety of patients... Now help me understand, if a GP performs a wide variety of procedures (as a result of a GP residency), this would lessen the amount of patients referred, thereby diminishing the prospects of the local specialist.. Right?

The more you do...the less you have to refer...usually tho, GPs find it difficult to maintain a broad scope and stay financially viable

It's usually best to do a few things quickly and well (or just well) and focus on those. The broad scope will def prevent boredom tho.

Also I have no idea what a local specialist is

 

[antitoothache]

From what I heard from dentists in CA, to be a successful specialist in the area you need at least some degree of socializing with the GP, a.k.a. kissing their asses. In fact, I was told to start building good friendships with the dental students while I am in residency, and that is a very common thing to do for residents because you need a good amount of referrals from them. Otherwise, you can rely on your patients to do referrals for you but that will take much more time to work. So it'll comes down to your personality. Do you like mingling with people and do you mind going out and kissing people's butt? if not you're better off as a GP. I'd say if you're super interested in a subspecialty it's always worth the investment cause you'll have so much fun everyday doing what you do.

 

[periopocket]

Factor 1: (One simple formula) Time = money. What you put in, Is what you will get out of it. Fun Example: Larry the General dentist and Oscar the Periodontist, both make $300,000 a year. Larry puts in 60 hrs a week, while Oscar only works 30 hrs a week.
FYI: The oral surgeons averaging 500k a year, are working about 65 hours a week, and deal with very risky procedures, in addition to spending extra time and money in school.
Factor 2: (risk) A general dentist I shadowed, always told me that he always regretted not becoming a periodontist. However, he then went on to tell me how being a specialist is to risky for his taste, and that he would rather work longer hours to make the same amount as a specialist. He said he doesn't have to worry about severing a major nerve ending in someones mouth, leaving the patient unable to ever feel a kiss again. He would rather refer the patient out, and sleep easy. So their are perks to both.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

If you like to kiss as s then specialize.
If you want your as s kissed then be a gp.

 

[Sublimazing]

If a specialist has to "kiss a GP's ass"...then a GP has to kiss the ass of 3000 patients...and make less doing it.

 

[Predent25]

The question is, is it important to you? As predents we have no clue whether we will like the work of certain specialties. Or if we can even handle them. I suppose the answer to your question will come during dental school. For now my answer is, specializing is important if you want to be a specialist lol

 

[the toothfairy]

Hi,

I am a GP practicing for 24 years. I can tell you that at least in this economy I am doing more specialty procedures than referring out. Most of my GP friends are doing the same.
Unless you have a specialist working in your office helping you pay the bills then you wont want to refer to many cases out of your office.

The only endos I don't do is 3rd molars. My root canal specialists very rarely get patients from my office. Also, once a patient likes your office and your surrounding they don't like to go somewhere else for their treatment. This is a new office with a new doctor with new staff. Now they are nervous again.

I also do ortho. I really like doing children for their treatment is very simple and not to complicated. The good thing about being a GP is that if you don't like that patient or you don't feel confident or you can't do the case then you can refer the patient.

It is very important that you know your limitations. If anything happens they will judge you like a specialist even if you are not. SO DO NOT do anything which you can't handle! Moral to the story.

Just because you have a degree that says you are a Doctor does not mean you can do anything. It takes a lot of years and experience to get to a comfortable level where you can do these procedures.

Some people never get there!

Just my 2 cents!

the toothfairy!

 

[dantemac]

Specialization should only be for those purely interested in that line of work. Perhaps they know a family member in the profession or love it in dental school. As a specialist, lots of your patients may only ever visit you once, unlike a GP who builds a family that he sees every3-6 months ideally. Also, as a specialist you have to do the maximal quality of work. My general dentist in new jersey said he tried to make it as a periodontist, but he had such difficulty getting referrals as a new dentist. So he just is a general dentist who takes lot of perio cases/does his own implants.

Be careful. It is more time in school, more debt, and more of a burden to make your name known out there.

 

[Demps]

I was advised by a few dentists not to specialize unless I wanted to do OMFS, because it's becoming less and less worth it. With advances in technology and more CE, GPs can do more and more endo, ortho, etc. So a GP can do a little of everything, or just stick to the basics. I haven't even started dental school yet so I might be wrong, it's just what I've heard.

I work at a dental lab right now. I'm glad I got to see some light on the business end of dentistry before dental school. And I definitely agree with you. My desire to specialize currently is not like what it used to be. It looks like GPs these days can do a little of everything.

 

[Demps]

Specialization should only be for those purely interested in that line of work. Perhaps they know a family member in the profession or love it in dental school. As a specialist, lots of your patients may only ever visit you once, unlike a GP who builds a family that he sees every3-6 months ideally. Also, as a specialist you have to do the maximal quality of work. My general dentist in new jersey said he tried to make it as a periodontist, but he had such difficulty getting referrals as a new dentist. So he just is a general dentist who takes lot of perio cases/does his own implants.

Be careful. It is more time in school, more debt, and more of a burden to make your name known out there.

+1

This was also another point I wanted to mention.

 

[Sublimazing]

Specialization should only be for those purely interested in that line of work. Perhaps they know a family member in the profession or love it in dental school. As a specialist, lots of your patients may only ever visit you once, unlike a GP who builds a family that he sees every3-6 months ideally. Also, as a specialist you have to do the maximal quality of work. My general dentist in new jersey said he tried to make it as a periodontist, but he had such difficulty getting referrals as a new dentist. So he just is a general dentist who takes lot of perio cases/does his own implants.

Be careful. It is more time in school, more debt, and more of a burden to make your name known out there.

I like this post, but I definitely took a different mentality and route. I realized very quickly in dental school that I didn't want to be a GP, but didn't know what specialty/area I wanted to pursue. Throughout dental school I began to narrow down the fields I could see myself in (and once you hit dental school you'll def. be able to do this) and kept narrowing til I chose my particular route. The specialties are all so drastically different that you will be suited for some, and completely opposed to others. I liked pedo and OS...but just couldn't stand endo and ortho.

Specialization def. has its pro's and con's...and the VAST majority of dental students do not go on to specialize (the numbers are higher now than recent years but I think it tends to trend with the economy). It is for the most part, guaranteed more money...but you're sacrificing (in many cases) a lot of the best parts of general dentistry for some people (relationship building with patients, broad scope of practice, EASY money, etc).

My best advice is to take Dental School like you're going to specialize (GPA, Externships, Extra-c's), but don't make final decisions until you get into your 3rd year.

You'll also want to keep that information to yourself...it is good advice to be vague about your future with your classmates and family members even. I saw many folks in my dental school who regretted announcing their intentions early on.

Specializing is like an incoming career path/major in UG...a lot happens in 4 years...there will be small changes and big changes...you really don't know til you get there

PS - I made a lot of generalizations here...of course there are exceptions to every rule

 

[SexyMariGal]

Edit: Oops, just saw your next post about more advice.

 

[SexyMariGal]

I like this post, but I definitely took a different mentality and route. I realized very quickly in dental school that I didn't want to be a GP, but didn't know what specialty/area I wanted to pursue. Throughout dental school I began to narrow down the fields I could see myself in (and once you hit dental school you'll def. be able to do this) and kept narrowing til I chose my particular route. The specialties are all so drastically different that you will be suited for some, and completely opposed to others. I liked pedo and OS...but just couldn't stand endo and ortho.

Specialization def. has its pro's and con's...and the VAST majority of dental students do not go on to specialize (the numbers are higher now than recent years but I think it tends to trend with the economy). It is for the most part, guaranteed more money...but you're sacrificing (in many cases) a lot of the best parts of general dentistry for some people (relationship building with patients, broad scope of practice, EASY money, etc).

My best advice is to take Dental School like you're going to specialize (GPA, Externships, Extra-c's), but don't make final decisions until you get into your 3rd year.

You'll also want to keep that information to yourself...it is good advice to be vague about your future with your classmates and family members even. I saw many folks in my dental school who regretted announcing their intentions early on.

Specializing is like an incoming career path/major in UG...a lot happens in 4 years...there will be small changes and big changes...you really don't know til you get there

PS - I made a lot of generalizations here...of course there are exceptions to every rule

Hey Sublimazing, is the reason why you say people regretted announcing specialty early on, because they would be negatively labeled and stigmatized as a "gunner" or perhaps shameful if they didn't match into what they wanted?

Also does it look bad in applying to residencies if you have a lot of externships in many different specialties and not just committed to one pathway? And just curious, what specialty did you end up getting into, pedo or OS?

 

[MaceG1]

Hey Sublimazing, is the reason why you say people regretted announcing specialty early on, because they would be negatively labeled and stigmatized as a "gunner" or perhaps shameful if they didn't match into what they waned?

I have heard this many times before from Dentists. Don't announce your intentions early on, as other students may strictly see you as competition and will try to undermine you.