Australian Dentist looking to do OMFS/Ortho/Paeds residency or specialty in Florida, USA

[AustralianDentist]

Hi all, I am an Australian Dentist who graduated from post-grad Doctor of Dental Surgery at Melbourne University in 2017. I am looking at practicing in the US. Looking at options to do either:
- a residency course in OMFS, Ortho, Paediatrics or aesthetic dentistry in Florida.
OR
- Specialise in Orthodontics at a University in Florida

For both of the above options, what sort of exams do I need to take prior to applying? I imagine I would need to take NBDE1 and 2?

I would appreciate any help with regards to the options that provide me with the ability to stay and practice in the US as my partner lives in Orlando.
I already hold a US Green card and it would be great to know if there are any financial help options available for study too.

Looking forward to hearing from you 🙂

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[Anondds87]

im interested to see what people post as im in a similar position to you. I'm an australian dentist specialisng in north america hoping to practice in the US after.

I have no idea about the logistics of a residency course.

I do know that if you specialise you will be able to work in the US after but only in certain states (only like 4). Florida isn't one of them. Its really frustrating... even though your specialty is recognised in the US they won't recognise your aussie dental degree and that limits you being able to practice. so you can only practice in those 4 states (washington oregon? and a couple others not sure). if you want to practice in the rest of the US you will have to go back to school for 2 years doing a foreign general dentistry program at a US university.

In order to work in one of the 4 states after an approved specialty you have to pass all the american board exams too. NBDE Part 1, Part 2 and a regional. (i'm going to assume you know nothing... but part 1 and part 2 are relatively easy (part 1 you will have to study for because its general science we don't learn in aus dental school, part 2 i havne't done but should be straightforward as its knowledge about dentistry) but then you have to do the regional exam (this involves a live patient exam - doing fillings etc, this is the frustrating part).

For me personally i have done part 1, not part 2 (this doesn't worry me), and not the regional (this does worry me).

The regional exam seems the most ridiculous as it involves finding a patient to do fillings etc in an exam situation. For me this looks like it could cost 10k to pay a company to find a patient plus the stress of the exam and personally i don't feel its worth it.

very frustrating

as for what you need before applying to specialties, a general rule is part 1 before applying and part 2 before starting the course. however i did talk to some schools and they said this wasn't necessary as i was a foreign dentist and thus they didn't expect me to have done these exams. so you will have to talk to whichever uni youre looking at.