Academic and Research Dentistry
Started by LuckyMiner
I am just an undergraduate but I have been doing research at one of the top research dental schools for a year. Academic and research dentistry is HUGE and thriving. There is tons of awesome research going on, a lot of which is only periferally related to dentistry.
My PI does research and teaches a few courses and gives seminars at the dental school. A lot of researchers at my school have DDS/PhD, but not all; some have Master's degrees.
I, too, am really interested in going into academic dentistry, but the only thing holding me back is money issues. Obviously, you are going to make more in private practice, but research is really interesting.
Hopefully, someone more experienced can chime in on this.
My PI does research and teaches a few courses and gives seminars at the dental school. A lot of researchers at my school have DDS/PhD, but not all; some have Master's degrees.
I, too, am really interested in going into academic dentistry, but the only thing holding me back is money issues. Obviously, you are going to make more in private practice, but research is really interesting.
Hopefully, someone more experienced can chime in on this.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I could be 100% wrong, but I thought that if you were crazy enough to get into a DDS/PhD program they paid for all 7 years for you...
I'm pretty sure most don't pay for your DDS, but you get a stipend for the PhD. I could be wrong. But, what I really meant was that if I did get my PhD, I would be making less money as a researcher/teacher versus private practice.
How is the job outlook in academic dentistry?
Currently, there are over 300 unfilled positions in universities across the US.
Research dentistry?
The vast majority of schools require research for tenure track positions, however, some private schools may hire a strictly clinical instructor for tenure.
Do research dentists usually work in universities, or do they also work in industry?
The majority work in universities, however, there certainly are dentists in industry.
Do research dentists also teach, or are there specific positions for research professors and teaching professors?
Already answered.
How is the pay, stress level, and job security?
As you look for a tenure track position (professor), you need to acquire federal funding to do research (most likely an R01 Grant from NIH/NIDCR), so there's some stress in the sense that you need to get your own funding. Still, stress level is super low in academia. I love the atmosphere of constant learning and exploration in academics. As for the pay, people don't go into academics for the money, that's for sure. As a beginning Assistant Professor you're looking at 80-100. You can go up to 175-185 as you approach full tenure. The good thing is you have job security for life.
How are research/academic dentists viewed by their peers?
Positively?
Would it be better to pursue a Ph.D., a DDS/DMD, or both?
While you don't need a PhD to get a tenured position at a dental school, having gone through the rigor of a dual degree will pay off, as a DDS/PhD is basically guaranteed a job in dental academia anywhere he/she desires.
I'm pretty sure most don't pay for your DDS, but you get a stipend for the PhD. I could be wrong.
As a DDS/PhD student, you are most likely supported by a NIH T32 or F30 grant, so you dont pay for DDS or have to pay very little. Its very very realistic to go through DDS/PhD without taking out any student loans. Im doing it.
Currently, there are over 300 unfilled positions in universities across the US.
Research dentistry?
The vast majority of schools require research for tenure track positions, however, some private schools may hire a strictly clinical instructor for tenure.
Do research dentists usually work in universities, or do they also work in industry?
The majority work in universities, however, there certainly are dentists in industry.
Do research dentists also teach, or are there specific positions for research professors and teaching professors?
Already answered.
How is the pay, stress level, and job security?
As you look for a tenure track position (professor), you need to acquire federal funding to do research (most likely an R01 Grant from NIH/NIDCR), so there's some stress in the sense that you need to get your own funding. Still, stress level is super low in academia. I love the atmosphere of constant learning and exploration in academics. As for the pay, people don't go into academics for the money, that's for sure. As a beginning Assistant Professor you're looking at 80-100. You can go up to 175-185 as you approach full tenure. The good thing is you have job security for life.
How are research/academic dentists viewed by their peers?
Positively?
Would it be better to pursue a Ph.D., a DDS/DMD, or both?
While you don't need a PhD to get a tenured position at a dental school, having gone through the rigor of a dual degree will pay off, as a DDS/PhD is basically guaranteed a job in dental academia anywhere he/she desires.
I'm pretty sure most don't pay for your DDS, but you get a stipend for the PhD. I could be wrong.
As a DDS/PhD student, you are most likely supported by a NIH T32 or F30 grant, so you dont pay for DDS or have to pay very little. Its very very realistic to go through DDS/PhD without taking out any student loans. Im doing it.
Laundry:
Not to rain on your parade, but I can't help to state some of my thoughts in this:
Stress Level: Actually extremely high. Thje process of getting a grant, especially in today's environment (not going to get much better in the future--the Clinton days were the Golden Age, most likely not bound to repeat), is very, very stressful. Not only the actual writing part, which is already bad enough, but the fact of the matter is that getting a grant is virtually a rat race of getting papers out, dealing with power politics, writing 1'' thick grant proposals, rinse and repeat. For your whole career. And once you start losing a grant or getting lost in a particular research direction, it will be a vicious spiral of the poor getting poorer.
Respect: First of all, I don't think there is a lot of respect given to researchers in our society. From my own experience, most people don't have a clue what a PhD is or what a researcher does. To make things worse, the stereotype given to researchers is not a healthy one. Clinical M.D.'s, and even DDS's get a heck of a lot more respect than researchers, I can tell you that.
Job security: I am not so sure either that getting a DDS/PhD is a virtual lock to get a job anywhere you desire. And I do know that most universities nowadays are trying to cut down on tenure-track jobs in favor of research assistance instructorships and the likes. This trend is likely to continue for obvious self-serving reasons.
Why the education is free: I have figured out from my own experiences why Ph.D. education is subsidized. Whenever a field is giving out perks like these, take it as a sign that something is really wrong with it, or otherwise why would they bend over backwards for you? Do medical schools, or dental schools, offer to pay for your interivew (Ph.D. programs do)? Do they offer to subsidize your education through teaching assistantships or graduate fellowships (Ph.D. programs do)? The gist of it is that Ph.D. programs do this because they need you more than you need them, and in the long term, through opportunity costs on both the financial and personal level, you'd be paying much more back than what you gain. By signing yourself to the Ph.D. program, you are virtually a slave to the system and a pawn to the professors, and you will be doing them many more favors than the other way around.
The problem with young folks (like fresh out of college) trying to talk about Science is that, virtually without exceptions, they are overly optimistic about the field without a true understanding for it. But I guess as one of my friend says, "These starry-eyed puppies have to find their own fates." Just some words of experience.
Last edited:
