Yes, I did. I went into the military right after school, spent a few years and then went into a residency more than 3 years later. It doesn't matter when you do a residency. It's based on your own needs and what you want out of your career. I desired to really become proficient in Oral Surgery, Removable Prosthodontics and Restorative. I definitely became more proficient during my residency, and I'm so glad I did it. It sparked my passion to work in community health and public health clinics, and I was instantly hired for more jobs once I was able to list it on my resume. I've practiced since 1998, and I'm actually thinking of doing a fellowship at this time as I am pursuing teaching. There's no special order for dentistry after you get your degree and pass your boards. Go for it, and I encourage you to do so even after a year. One good thing is that you have a better understanding of what you're doing because you have practiced and you know more than you did when you graduated fresh out of dental school.
