Can you specialize later in your career?

[SugarNaCl]

Does anyone here know of anybody that has taken up a specialty 5-10 years into their career? Are there limits? Thanks

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[vize]

I think it falls under the term "continuing education." A general dentist can take a seminar course in orthoclear or invisalign (orthodontic practices) and be licensed to do orthodontics, I believe. I don't think they become an Orthodontist, per say; rather, they say they're still a general dentist with their practice limited to do such and such. Same with implants, cosmetics, etc.

 

[nate28]

I shadowed a periodontist who was in general for 10 years then decided to go back to school to specialize.

 

[toofache32]

It's somewhat common for Endo.

 

[capisce?]

I think it falls under the term "continuing education." A general dentist can take a seminar course in orthoclear or invisalign (orthodontic practices) and be licensed to do orthodontics, I believe. I don't think they become an Orthodontist, per say; rather, they say they're still a general dentist with their practice limited to do such and such. Same with implants, cosmetics, etc.

There's no age limit to apply to a specialty, so if someone were 50 and wanted to apply to ortho they are welcome to. They would need to retake boards, etc but there isn't an age cap on applying to residencies.

 

[aphistis]

There's no age limit to apply to a specialty, so if someone were 50 and wanted to apply to ortho they are welcome to. They would need to retake boards, etc but there isn't an age cap on applying to residencies.

What he said. Our school's OMFS program director went back to a six-year OMFS residency after practicing general dentistry for six years.

Talk about taking a step backwards in both pay and lifestyle, but you have to follow your heart sometimes.

 

[Tarheel]

One of my fellow residents practiced general for seven years. He then went back and did a prosth residency. Now 16 years after graduating dental school he is doing an ortho residency.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

I'm sure many dentists (especially those who always wanted to specialize, but didn't right out of school for various reasons) would say it's a great idea, but just aren't willing to take the pay/time cut. This is especially true if by then you have a spouse and children...once you're comfy in your 6-figure income with your own set hours, it's tough to go back. But like everyone has said, people do it.

And to vize (and someone correct me if I'm wrong), all dentists are welcome to take con-ed credits and practice whatever aspect of dentistry they want, but you still can't use the words "practice limited to..." unless you've gone to a specialty school.

 

[S Files]

I think it falls under the term "continuing education." A general dentist can take a seminar course in orthoclear or invisalign (orthodontic practices) and be licensed to do orthodontics, I believe. I don't think they become an Orthodontist, per say; rather, they say they're still a general dentist with their practice limited to do such and such. Same with implants, cosmetics, etc.

no, there's a world of difference between continuing education and specializing. i've come across plenty of dentists who went back to specialize after 5-10 yrs.

 

[blankguy]

But isn't it harder to specialize later though? Especially since they've been out of school for so long and they've got other things going against some more schooling(family to support, etc....)

 

[Tooth]

Does anyone know, in general, how "long" your board scores last? I mean, as far as it goes for applying to specialty programs. For example, say I do an AEGD, then four years as a military dentist. By then, my Part I scores will be 7 years old and part II will be 5 years old. I really don't want to pick a specialty before I've had a chance to practice general for awhile and see what I like. But, I wouldn't want to retake the boards, especially after busting my tail get the score I've got.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

But isn't it harder to specialize later though? Especially since they've been out of school for so long and they've got other things going against some more schooling(family to support, etc....)

Harder on your life, sure. But some specialties, like endo specifically, are very unlikely to accept students UNLESS you've been practicing for a bit...so not necessarily harder in terms of acceptance.

 

[pacbum]

lots of endo programs require you to practice for 2-3 years as a gp before you specialize.

 

[DrJeff]

A GP in the town where I practice, who'd been practicing for 15 years sold his practice and went into an endo residency and is now a combibation practicing endodontist/endo residency instructor. And BTW, do toy very good planning on his part, his was able to start putting his oldest child through college during the 2nd year of his residency.

 

[Cold Front]

lots of endo programs require you to practice for 2-3 years as a gp before you specialize.

How competitive would it be to get into a specialty program (in this case endo) after few years of doing general dentistry? do you still need to have killer board scores, and be the top of your class from a decade ago? 😀

Cheers. 👍

 

[DrJeff]

How competitive would it be to get into a specialty program (in this case endo) after few years of doing general dentistry? do you still need to have killer board scores, and be the top of your class from a decade ago? 😀

Cheers. 👍

In many cases, its actually easier to get into a residency after a few years of general practice than fresh out of d-school for the following reasons:

1) Theoretically your more mature and focused, hence less likely to be a troublesome resident

2) Experience (lets use endo as an example). In d-school, in most cases if your lucky, you've done maybe 20 teeth. Now, if you've been a GP for a couple of years who likes endo, you've done 100's of teeth, seen more, had successes, and failures, and are less likely to have the "Ohhh, I've never seen this before" factor

3) Related to the experience factor, is confidence

4) Focus. If you've been a GP, you've made a few $$ and now that you're going back to the residency, you'll be focused on getting back to the making $$ situation.

On the flip side though, some residency directors may not like the fact that you've already formed your own opinions about techniques, etc, and are less "moldable" in the program

In general though, a few years experience as a GP can account for many extra points of board schools

 

[Jone]

over half the endo residents at my school came in with several years of GP experience.

ditto on one-third of the pedo residents.

 

[thehipster]

my sister just had a root canal done yesterday and the endo was telling me how he went into the navy for a couple years after dental school, did private practice, and went to endo school 5 years after dental school

 

[RICEman]

Someone asked this question already - and I find it very useful:

Do you have to be top of your class (a decade ago) to gain endo residency?

My next question is:
Wether you've been a gp or fresh D-school grad - do you have to be top 10% whatnot to get into a residency program?

God Bless

 

[butch1]

Im right now leaving a 16 year gen pract (very successful) with fam/kids/businesses to return to ortho. planning the move as we speak.........in many ways ($) its easier if youve got some footing under you.