Just to give a different perspective than the above poster... I completed a decent GPR (although I wouldn’t consider it amazing in terms of application to private practice) and have worked side by side many first or second year dentists who have not (in almost every type of practice setting).
I would say that the average 1 year GPR/AEGD is going to make you a significantly better clinician than even the top 10% of associateships you’d find (maybe not the top 1-5%). There’s a reason most jobs count a GPR as 3 years of experience when interviewing. In terms of broadening your scope of practice, depending on the program, I’d venture it could put you closer to 5 years ahead or totally alter your future practice (by giving you experience in stuff like: implants, wisdom teeth, molar endo, sedation, operating room treatment, managing medically complex patients, etc). On the other hand, a low quality GPR/AEGD might be similar to the experience you’d get working a year in corporate (where the only real experience is learning to get faster and some trial and error along the way).
Unless you have a unicorn job lined up with a top notch, broad-scope dentist who is going to take you under their wing, the only reason I’d choose private practice over a residency program would be money or wanting to actually start life (which aren’t bad reasons, but if you think it’s a better clinical experience you’ve got the facts wrong). Do I think a residency is necessary? No. Do I think you’ll be a better clinician in 1-3 years because you did one instead of working at a DSO straight out? By leaps and bounds. Do I think you can’t be a top-notch clinician without a residency? Of course not, but a residency gives you a nice head start. Do I think you need to do a residency because of this Coronavirus stuff? I agree with the above poster and don’t think it will matter much (although who really knows at this point).
