What are the benefits of being an MD or a DDS/DMD?

Having been through the dilemma, along with a vast number of other dental students I would say everyone prior is dead on. Watch some M.D.'s in the fields you are interested in and get in with some dentists. Don't just go and shadow your friendly orthodontist like alot of people do! Get a feel for a gp most of anything and then go watch an O.S. or Pedo, etc. Get some real perspective. Yes, oral surgery is some raunchy stuff I would try to check it out if you can find one that will let you tag along for a day. The previous poster's warning of be sure you are ok with being a GP is 100% correct. Dental specialties are highly competitive. The deciding moment for me was working in a hospital and seeing first hand the lifestyle of doctors...that and the day my pretty much idol at the time looked me straight in the face and said "you don't want to do this." He was right! Huge benefit to dentistry = you won't get your ass sued off, malpractice is cheap, business control and you will not have to take call in most cases. The average dentist works well under 40hrs a week, go tell that to the general surgeon you shadow who makes the same cash working 70+. Countless doctors told me if they could do it again they would have gone dental.