At what point is it worth it to you?

[hellopeople]

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So I have decided to take the HPSP scholarship (assuming I am accepted) if I have to go to my fall back school (~400K), but what about in-state schools? If I am accepted to my in-state school (~200K) the decision is muddled. Although I have grown fond of the idea of spending a few years experiencing the military, it seems less financially wise. Not only would compensation be comparatively low, but four years of private practice competency building would be lost.

On the other hand, the military experience is once in a lifetime, dental school would be much more bearable, and with the tuition payments factored in compensation is at least comparable.

I think I have made my decision, but at what point would the scholarship make sense to you?

 

[doctor tooth]

Ultimately you have to think about the worst case scenario, ie. being deployed or living in a less than desirable location. If you are ok with this then the scholarship should make sense regardless of the cost of your school. You have to want to be in the Army first, then think about money. Otherwise I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Not everyone spends the years of their payback doing exactly what they want, when they want and where they want.

 

[dantemac]

I would not say you are losing competency. Many of the superiors I encountered loved the number and types of procedures they saw.

 

[hellopeople]

I would not say you are losing competency. Many of the superiors I encountered loved the number and types of procedures they saw.

I don't think I would be losing clinical competency. I think that's sort of an individual situation thing. I feel I would be losing competency in running a private practice / operating in a private sector environment.

Military dentistry isn't about production, but serving your branch's needs. Now this is great, but not applicable to civilian dentistry.

 

[hellopeople]

Ultimately you have to think about the worst case scenario, ie. being deployed or living in a less than desirable location. If you are ok with this then the scholarship should make sense regardless of the cost of your school. You have to want to be in the Army first, then think about money. Otherwise I think you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Not everyone spends the years of their payback doing exactly what they want, when they want and where they want.

I'm sort of assuming that I will be deployed somewhere nasty and live somewhere undesirable while in the states. I've been assuming the (near) worst case scenario for everything when considering this scholarship.

I decided that I am OK with these negatives, but being OK with it does not mean that it will be my best option. Saving oneself from excessive debt is part of what makes this scholarship worthwhile.

(I'm playing devil's advocate here. I'm fairly certain I am entering the program regardless.)

 

[vellnueve]

I don't think I would be losing clinical competency. I think that's sort of an individual situation thing. I feel I would be losing competency in running a private practice / operating in a private sector environment.

Military dentistry isn't about production, but serving your branch's needs. Now this is great, but not applicable to civilian dentistry.

Two things:

1) You don't have any competency in running a private practice or operating in the private sector and you won't once you graduate either. Either way you go, you'll have a steep learning curve whether you do an HPSP and then get out or go straight into private practice.

2) If you don't produce in the military they won't want to retain you. We most certainly do have production targets.

 

[hellopeople]

Two things:

1) You don't have any competency in running a private practice or operating in the private sector and you won't once you graduate either. Either way you go, you'll have a steep learning curve whether you do an HPSP and then get out or go straight into private practice.

2) If you don't produce in the military they won't want to retain you. We most certainly do have production targets.

I agree that there will be a sharp learning curve either way, It's just that learning will take place 4-6 years later. Rather than starting the task of learning the private practice system at 26, I would be starting at 30-32. That's not such a big deal (especially b/c I will have build up clinical competency), but it is a disadvantage. It would be particularly so if I plan to open up my own practice, because I would not be starting it as early in my life (I would need at least a few years of private practice experience after HPSP first).

As for production, I may be wrong, but I think the speed at which you must work in the military is significantly lower. Although even if it is not, production is still not linked to your profitability. This might make you a better dentist, but none-the-less does not prepare you for civilian dentistry. As you point out, the learning curve would still be substantial when you get out.

Again, I still see more advantages than disadvantages. My point is that dropping the financial benefit by 200K + initiation fee + interest makes a little bit of a difference.

 

[vellnueve]

Not sure where you're getting the idea that the military works significantly slower - and our production is directly measured in the equivalent financial value of the procedures we complete.

 

[hellopeople]

Not sure where you're getting the idea that the military works significantly slower - and our production is directly measured in the equivalent financial value of the procedures we complete.

Reading through the threads and talking to an HPSP grad led me to believe the rate of production is slower. If that is not the case, then it will be a pleasant surprise. Although you may measure production in terms of financial value, you're salary is not determined by production, and you're still not operating in a consumer market. Military dentistry is socialized, the private sector is not. I have been advised by everyone that I have talked to that my time the military would not replace my need to spend a few years as an associate.

 

[krmower]

Reading through the threads and talking to an HPSP grad led me to believe the rate of production is slower. If that is not the case, then it will be a pleasant surprise. Although you may measure production in terms of financial value, you're salary is not determined by production, and you're still not operating in a consumer market. Military dentistry is socialized, the private sector is not. I have been advised by everyone that I have talked to that my time the military would not replace my need to spend a few years as an associate.

Sounds like you have your course of action set then. Private practice sounds like it will be best for you.

 

[vellnueve]

Sounds like you have your course of action set then. Private practice sounds like it will be best for you.

Certainly seems that way. Looking at the decision from a purely financial aspect is a bad idea - you need to look at it from a lifestyle aspect.

Remember that that 200K in debt won't go away for quite a while.

 

[hellopeople]

Certainly seems that way. Looking at the decision from a purely financial aspect is a bad idea - you need to look at it from a lifestyle aspect.

Remember that that 200K in debt won't go away for quite a while.

I agree. The problem is that while I don't think I would mind the lifestyle, how enjoyable the alternative civilian life would be depends in part on what type of job I would have to get. In order to make enough to cover the costs of a 400K (450K+ after everything is said and done) student loan burden. I may have to work some pretty stressful and - quite literally- back-breaking jobs.

200K will stick around for quite a long time, but it shouldn't become unmanageable. As a result, I could start with a lower-paying but more enjoyable associate position.

You see, the lifestyle is what I am really looking at. At 400K, I feel I am comparing the military lifestyle to a stress-filled civilian life. At 200K, I am comparing the same military lifestyle to a comparatively leisurely and stress-free civilian existence.

It's not that I am deterred by the what I think my life will be like in the military. It's just that there is more than one alluring option here.

Thanks for the input everyone. It actually did prompt me to put more thought into this decision (I had been procrastinating...).

 

[hellopeople]

Also, sorry for unleashing another "is this really worth it" thread on this forum 🙂.

 

[vellnueve]

Military life isn't particularly stressful in the Navy - don't know about the Army. We work hard during the day and the hours when deployed at sea can be long, but other than that my evenings and weekends are mine to do with as I please.

 

[AFDDS]

I agree. The problem is that while I don't think I would mind the lifestyle, how enjoyable the alternative civilian life would be depends in part on what type of job I would have to get. In order to make enough to cover the costs of a 400K (450K+ after everything is said and done) student loan burden. I may have to work some pretty stressful and - quite literally- back-breaking jobs.

200K will stick around for quite a long time, but it shouldn't become unmanageable. As a result, I could start with a lower-paying but more enjoyable associate position.

You see, the lifestyle is what I am really looking at. At 400K, I feel I am comparing the military lifestyle to a stress-filled civilian life. At 200K, I am comparing the same military lifestyle to a comparatively leisurely and stress-free civilian existence.

It's not that I am deterred by the what I think my life will be like in the military. It's just that there is more than one alluring option here.

Thanks for the input everyone. It actually did prompt me to put more thought into this decision (I had been procrastinating...).

Having lived both lives that you are considering without the HPSP, I feel fairly qualifed to comment here.

1. All associateships are not stress free. Even when they appear that way in the beginning, they can go south in a hurry. I went in with a friend of my wife's family, supposedly well respected in the community, only to find that he was terrible at business. I wasn't going to learn squat from him. Changes had to be made. Had I not done some digging, I would have been saddled with a sinking practice.

2. Dental school does not prepare you to run a practice. It barely gets you ready to practice certain things.

3. When practicing in the military, you can spend your time getting better at dentistry and you can start preparing for a business by doing some research and study of your own. You can decide where you want to be and what you should be making.

4. Military AEGD residents are the highest paid residents in the nation. Where else can you go to school full time and receive full pay and benefits? Answer - No where. The ADA quotes statistics that show AEGD grads are approximately 7 years ahead of their peers in experience due to their training. Is that true? Not sure how accurate it is, but from experience teaching in 3 PGY-1 programs and attending and now teaching in a 2-year AEGD, My graduates have been greatly advanced following that year or 2 years.

Its up to you and I agree with other people above, it sounds like civilian life is the way for you, but I see common misconceptions in your posts above and just want to add my $0.02.

 

[hellopeople]

Having lived both lives that you are considering without the HPSP, I feel fairly qualifed to comment here.

1. All associateships are not stress free. Even when they appear that way in the beginning, they can go south in a hurry. I went in with a friend of my wife's family, supposedly well respected in the community, only to find that he was terrible at business. I wasn't going to learn squat from him. Changes had to be made. Had I not done some digging, I would have been saddled with a sinking practice.

2. Dental school does not prepare you to run a practice. It barely gets you ready to practice certain things.

3. When practicing in the military, you can spend your time getting better at dentistry and you can start preparing for a business by doing some research and study of your own. You can decide where you want to be and what you should be making.

4. Military AEGD residents are the highest paid residents in the nation. Where else can you go to school full time and receive full pay and benefits? Answer - No where. The ADA quotes statistics that show AEGD grads are approximately 7 years ahead of their peers in experience due to their training. Is that true? Not sure how accurate it is, but from experience teaching in 3 PGY-1 programs and attending and now teaching in a 2-year AEGD, My graduates have been greatly advanced following that year or 2 years.

Its up to you and I agree with other people above, it sounds like civilian life is the way for you, but I see common misconceptions in your posts above and just want to add my $0.02.

Thank you for taking the time to post. I will take your points into consideration.

Although concerning AEGDs (because you seem knowledgeable); do they currently add to you net active duty payback time? Some have told me that each year in an AEGD (or specialty residency) will incur an additional payback year when you are done, while others have pointed out that the payback time overlaps, resulting in no additional payback. My recruiter seems to think that the payback periods overlap, but I sensed he was hesitant.

 

[hellopeople]

Ok, so some research (exclusively on sdn) just muddled things up further. Most accounts say that the payback is concurrent, but some are saying that they either never are concurrent, or that they are only concurrent if you do not have a 20K sining bonus.

So, a better question (to anyone) might be:
Who can ask and/or where can I go to get accurate information on this program? Accounts from people in the program, and those representing it, seem conflicting, and the literature they provide is extremely superficial.

Edit: Maybe I'll just ask my recruiter to verify the information with someone who would be more likely to know...

 

[tingting]

I would be hesitant to listen to what any recruiter has to say, or anyone not in the dental corps.

An AEGD or GPR is a neutral year meaning it does not count as payback nor does it obligate you for any extra payback. So you end up with the neutral year plus the 4 years payback for 5 years.

Specialty programs incur payback years, BUT they can run concurrently with HPSP payback. This means that if you do OMFS right out of dental school you will end up with 4 years OMFS, plus 4 years payback (4years OMFS payback and 4 years HPSP payback are concurrent).

If you serve 4 years HPSP payback right out of school, THEN complete a 4 year OMFS program, you will owe another 4years payback for OMFS for a total of 12 years.

Also ortho and endo are 2 year residencies, but require 3 years payback.

 

[vellnueve]

The additional year of AEGD will reduce your IRR/reserve payback time

 

[hellopeople]

I would be hesitant to listen to what any recruiter has to say, or anyone not in the dental corps.

An AEGD or GPR is a neutral year meaning it does not count as payback nor does it obligate you for any extra payback. So you end up with the neutral year plus the 4 years payback for 5 years.

Specialty programs incur payback years, BUT they can run concurrently with HPSP payback. This means that if you do OMFS right out of dental school you will end up with 4 years OMFS, plus 4 years payback (4years OMFS payback and 4 years HPSP payback are concurrent).

If you serve 4 years HPSP payback right out of school, THEN complete a 4 year OMFS program, you will owe another 4years payback for OMFS for a total of 12 years.

Also ortho and endo are 2 year residencies, but require 3 years payback.

Thank you. How would you suggest I verify all of this if not through my recruiter? I don't really want to rely on SDN. Sorry if am missing something obvious. I do not know any HPSP graduates personally.

Also, is their any barrier that would prevent a competitive applicant from entering a residency immediately after dental school (as a civilian would)?

 

[385835]

It kind of does sound unreliable to get information from a internet message board, but SDN Military dentist has been a huge help in my career and life and I am very grateful to all of the posters here.

My parents and friends laugh at me when I talk about this forum so I don't bring it up. But I check this site nearly everyday and, as I alrready mentioned, gain life-changing information.

 

[hellopeople]

It kind of does sound unreliable to get information from a internet message board, but SDN Military dentist has been a huge help in my career and life and I am very grateful to all of the posters here.

My parents and friends laugh at me when I talk about this forum so I don't bring it up. But I check this site nearly everyday and, as I alrready mentioned, gain life-changing information.

I'm definitely not knocking the site. When I fist posted, I didn't think I would every be coming back (thus the lame, impromptu user name), but I have found this place incredibly useful. I pretty much owe my DAT score to it.

It's just that when it comes to massive contractual commitments I would like a more official source.

 

[tingting]

I understand your hesitation regarding this message board, but unfortunately it is the most legitimate source of information regarding Navy HPSP that I'm aware of. The recruiter is fine for the contractual stuff, but if you are looking for info regarding the career you need to be talking to folks in the dental corps. You can either find that here or have your recruiter put you in contact with active duty dentists.

In regards to your original question, I've never met a dentist that thinks spending time in the military is a bad way to go. It is a great way to start your career. If you want to graduate dental school and work in the same office for 30 years, don't do it. If you want to gain some rich life experiences and develop your skills in a group practice with no debt the military is a no-brainer. Private practice will always be there.

 

[del Sol DOHC]

It's just that when it comes to massive contractual commitments I would like a more official source.

BUMEDNOTE 1520 is the best official source regarding dental residencies in the Navy. It tells what programs are available each year, how to apply, and completely breaks down incurred service obligations. It is released every January, so the new announcement for FY 2013 should be released any day now. Here is the FY 2012 version, that you can use to verify tingting's info (he is correct by the way).

 

[krmower]

Ok, so some research (exclusively on sdn) just muddled things up further. Most accounts say that the payback is concurrent, but some are saying that they either never are concurrent, or that they are only concurrent if you do not have a 20K sining bonus.

So, a better question (to anyone) might be:
Who can ask and/or where can I go to get accurate information on this program? Accounts from people in the program, and those representing it, seem conflicting, and the literature they provide is extremely superficial.

Edit: Maybe I'll just ask my recruiter to verify the information with someone who would be more likely to know...

Ask to see a copy of the HPSP contract - it will spell out what you will owe. The HPSP handbook may also have other info.

 

[hellopeople]

Ask to see a copy of the HPSP contract - it will spell out what you will owe. The HPSP handbook may also have other info.

I will definitely try to get my hands on that paperwork.

One question that probably is best asked on this forum though:
How might one go about avoiding the dreaded amalgam line? Is specialization your only out (either traditional specialty or 2 year AEGD)?

It would be a shame if it turned out that I never developed complex clinical skills during my service time because I had trouble navigating through a military bureaucracy. Do your own actions have a large influence on the nature of the work you will be performing, or is it more a "luck of the draw" type scenario?

Reading the "Ask an Army dentist" thread, I got the impression that a one-year AEGD could save you from the amalgam line, but I have heard recently that the 2-year AEGDs might be the only way out.

 

[krmower]

I will definitely try to get my hands on that paperwork.

One question that probably is best asked on this forum though:
How might one go about avoiding the dreaded amalgam line? Is specialization your only out (either traditional specialty or 2 year AEGD)?

It would be a shame if it turned out that I never developed complex clinical skills during my service time because I had trouble navigating through a military bureaucracy. Do your own actions have a large influence on the nature of the work you will be performing, or is it more a "luck of the draw" type scenario?

Reading the "Ask an Army dentist" thread, I got the impression that a one-year AEGD could save you from the amalgam line, but I have heard recently that the 2-year AEGDs might be the only way out.

(Stepping up on my soap box) One thing to never forget is that the Army is paying you over $250,000 (for most people) so that you come on active duty to work for them. They want you to serve their patients and the needs that they have. Just like in private practice, a large need is for fillings. Those fillings are not done by specialists, and only make up a portion of the practice that a comprehensive dentist does (2 yr AEGD graduate). By default the majority of bread and butter operative procedures (and exams and sick call) will fall upon general dentists. That's what the Army (or any service) needs, that's what they paid for, and that's what they are going to get. Whether you do or don't want to do a lot of operative is secondary.

That being said, a good supervisor/boss will also try to make sure that you have other things as well so it's not always restorations - but by taking the Army's money - you will meet the Army's needs. If you want to do things other than operative, then you need to specialize. If you are afraid that you will not develop the skills you want to develop - don't take the scholarship.

It comes down to the Army's needs. Their needs at different bases may differ. Training bases and large combat bases are always going to have a large number of operative that needs to be done. Smaller bases may need more of other procedures in addition to operative...but because they are small your chance of going there is less.

There is no magic formula or bases to avoid list. Any base is going to be what you make of it. It's important to verbalize your desires to your supervisor but realize that the needs of the Army or of that service will always come first and that everything you want to do may not always happen. The best you can hope for is that you will have time allotted to also work in other procedures that you also find interesting (prosth, endo, OS, etc...). All of the bases I have been at have tried to work with the general dentists to give them flexibility, and I do that with the general dentists that I supervise (civilian and military). A 1 yr AEGD will give you a little more flexibility in what you can do.

 

[teeth63a]

(Stepping up on my soap box) One thing to never forget is that the Army is paying you over $250,000 (for most people) so that you come on active duty to work for them. They want you to serve their patients and the needs that they have. Just like in private practice, a large need is for fillings. Those fillings are not done by specialists, and only make up a portion of the practice that a comprehensive dentist does (2 yr AEGD graduate). By default the majority of bread and butter operative procedures (and exams and sick call) will fall upon general dentists. That's what the Army (or any service) needs, that's what they paid for, and that's what they are going to get. Whether you do or don't want to do a lot of operative is secondary.

That being said, a good supervisor/boss will also try to make sure that you have other things as well so it's not always restorations - but by taking the Army's money - you will meet the Army's needs. If you want to do things other than operative, then you need to specialize. If you are afraid that you will not develop the skills you want to develop - don't take the scholarship.

It comes down to the Army's needs. Their needs at different bases may differ. Training bases and large combat bases are always going to have a large number of operative that needs to be done. Smaller bases may need more of other procedures in addition to operative...but because they are small your chance of going there is less.

There is no magic formula or bases to avoid list. Any base is going to be what you make of it. It's important to verbalize your desires to your supervisor but realize that the needs of the Army or of that service will always come first and that everything you want to do may not always happen. The best you can hope for is that you will have time allotted to also work in other procedures that you also find interesting (prosth, endo, OS, etc...). All of the bases I have been at have tried to work with the general dentists to give them flexibility, and I do that with the general dentists that I supervise (civilian and military). A 1 yr AEGD will give you a little more flexibility in what you can do.

Well said, my friend.

 

[teeth63a]

Because the question has been asked, many many many times before, here's the breakdown of military pay and how to look at your overall reimbursement.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=620952

Bottom line to me, would be to get the sum of:
[scholarship value] + [stipend pay x #years] + [military pay x #years] and divide that by the number of HPSP years of obligation you have. If that number is close to or more than what your peers are making then it's financially worth it.

Its one way to look at it, and it not may be the best, but it puts things in perspective.

 

[hellopeople]

Because the question has been asked, many many many times before, here's the breakdown of military pay and how to look at your overall reimbursement.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=620952

Bottom line to me, would be to get the sum of:
[scholarship value] + [stipend pay x #years] + [military pay x #years] and divide that by the number of HPSP years of obligation you have. If that number is close to or more than what your peers are making then it's financially worth it.

Its one way to look at it, and it not may be the best, but it puts things in perspective.

Hey. I like the break down. It's a nice simple way to look at it. But... I already noticed that my net payout would probably be higher with the military. My question is more "How much value does the loss of private practice experience have?".
I guess I was hoping for some speculation. This forum doesn't really seem like the place for that, so I've started talking to various dentists.

I'll take a look at that link though.

 

[hellopeople]

(Stepping up on my soap box) One thing to never forget is that the Army is paying you over $250,000 (for most people) so that you come on active duty to work for them. They want you to serve their patients and the needs that they have. Just like in private practice, a large need is for fillings. Those fillings are not done by specialists, and only make up a portion of the practice that a comprehensive dentist does (2 yr AEGD graduate). By default the majority of bread and butter operative procedures (and exams and sick call) will fall upon general dentists. That's what the Army (or any service) needs, that's what they paid for, and that's what they are going to get. Whether you do or don't want to do a lot of operative is secondary.

That being said, a good supervisor/boss will also try to make sure that you have other things as well so it's not always restorations - but by taking the Army's money - you will meet the Army's needs. If you want to do things other than operative, then you need to specialize. If you are afraid that you will not develop the skills you want to develop - don't take the scholarship.

It comes down to the Army's needs. Their needs at different bases may differ. Training bases and large combat bases are always going to have a large number of operative that needs to be done. Smaller bases may need more of other procedures in addition to operative...but because they are small your chance of going there is less.

There is no magic formula or bases to avoid list. Any base is going to be what you make of it. It's important to verbalize your desires to your supervisor but realize that the needs of the Army or of that service will always come first and that everything you want to do may not always happen. The best you can hope for is that you will have time allotted to also work in other procedures that you also find interesting (prosth, endo, OS, etc...). All of the bases I have been at have tried to work with the general dentists to give them flexibility, and I do that with the general dentists that I supervise (civilian and military). A 1 yr AEGD will give you a little more flexibility in what you can do.

I realize that a military commitment would mean that they can put me wherever they want, doing whatever they want. I have heard from various people though, that there are ways to influence your position. I am looking less for a magic formula, and more for the current general guidelines by which the Army (or Air Force) chooses who will do the mindless work, and who will do the more interesting and complex work. The branch has it's needs, but I am sure there is an organized way that it chooses who fills each of those needs.

Reading between the lines though, it sort of seems like you are implying that, while a 1 year AEGD might allow you more opportunity if you are lucky, it is only specialists and the more highly trained (2 year AEGD) general dentists that stand a good chance of doing more complex procedures. Am I reading too much into your post? I don't want to put words in your mouth.

btw, teeth63a, I can see now why you chose that link. It looks useful.

 

[krmower]

I realize that a military commitment would mean that they can put me wherever they want, doing whatever they want. I have heard from various people though, that there are ways to influence your position. I am looking less for a magic formula, and more for the current general guidelines by which the Army (or Air Force) chooses who will do the mindless work, and who will do the more interesting and complex work. The branch has it's needs, but I am sure there is an organized way that it chooses who fills each of those needs.

Reading between the lines though, it sort of seems like you are implying that, while a 1 year AEGD might allow you more opportunity if you are lucky, it is only specialists and the more highly trained (2 year AEGD) general dentists that stand a good chance of doing more complex procedures. Am I reading too much into your post? I don't want to put words in your mouth.

btw, teeth63a, I can see now why you chose that link. It looks useful.

A 1 yr AEGD graduate will have more flexibility in what they can do, but because they are better trained and more efficient then some of the less experience general dentists they may be used to run a DTO (Dental Treatment Optimization) team (dentist + expanded function dental assistant + 2 assistants) to see even more operative patients in a day. They may do more surgeries and possibly more endo - it will vary. I dont' think there is a definate answer.

Specialists typically book their own patients and have more flexibility over what is coming on to it. may vary by location - but that has been my experience during the past 10 yrs.

 

[Saddleshoes]

I have just read this entire thread and have to respond as an old dentist that has equal time in civilian practice and in Air Force practice.

To the OP...
It is call military SERVICE for a reason. Your job is to SERVE others with your skills/talents/education. SERVICE means you and your needs come second in everything in the military SERVICE. If you cannot put SERVICE before self do not enter the SERVICE. There are lots of corporate clinics out there that will meet your needs!

(Sorry about the blunt approach, but it is true.)

 

[hellopeople]

I have just read this entire thread and have to respond as an old dentist that has equal time in civilian practice and in Air Force practice.

To the OP...
It is call military SERVICE for a reason. Your job is to SERVE others with your skills/talents/education. SERVICE means you and your needs come second in everything in the military SERVICE. If you cannot put SERVICE before self do not enter the SERVICE. There are lots of corporate clinics out there that will meet your needs!

(Sorry about the blunt approach, but it is true.)

I can see from your lecture that you feel strongly about this. I am actually am very glad to see that the much-talked-of sense of military selflessness is still alive and well. It is something I have always found attractive about the military.

My questions revolve around me deciding if the HPSP is the most responsible decision. I did not mean to imply that my needs outweigh those of my branch. As I said before, the military's needs will be met; it's just a matter of who is doing what job. If I best serve the military by jumping on an amalgam line, then naturally that's what I will be doing. I just want to see if building additional skill sets would help me find more a stimulating way to serve.

I sense my comments are making some people here indignant. Although to be honest, I feel that this sort of pragmatic approach to the decision is probably very common, even if rarely openly discussed.

btw, I really don't think corporate dentistry would be better for my needs than the military. This is sort of an associateship vs. military service thread.

 

[hellopeople]

A 1 yr AEGD graduate will have more flexibility in what they can do, but because they are better trained and more efficient then some of the less experience general dentists they may be used to run a DTO (Dental Treatment Optimization) team (dentist + expanded function dental assistant + 2 assistants) to see even more operative patients in a day. They may do more surgeries and possibly more endo - it will vary. I dont' think there is a definate answer.

Specialists typically book their own patients and have more flexibility over what is coming on to it. may vary by location - but that has been my experience during the past 10 yrs.

OK. I think I'm getting a general feel for the situation now.

No closer to making my decision, but still.