Dental Anesthesiology or Orofacial Pain

[Futuresleepdentist14]

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I'm currently a D3 trying to decide what area to pursue. I'm interested in both dental anesthesiology and orofacial pain. I think they would be able to provide me with the flexibility to create a niche practice. In the most ideal world, I'd do both because much of the foundational knowledge overlaps and I also think it would prevent me from getting bored due to the variety it would offer me. I've talked to some of my professors at school about orofacial pain and they've told me that its possible to have career and make money in private practice. I also like that orofacial pain would provide a lot of patient interaction. I truly do like talk to my patient even the more anxious and neurotic ones. I've also been in contact with a dental anesthesiologist and plan to shadow to see what a day in the life could be like.

Do you think it would be possible for me pursue both? If so, what route should I take? Lastly, what programs would you suggest for each. I'm interested in Stony Brook and Pittsburgh for DA . My professors mentioned good things about UK, UW, USC for orofacial pain. I'd also like to know more about University of Michigan and Mass General orofacial pain residency.

Disclaimer: I'm not super interested in going into academia full time. My goal is to either operate a mobile DA practice and potentially work part time in a Pain/TMD/Sleep Medicine practice or do a mobile DA practice and work part time in academia

Thank you!

 

[lemoncurry]

I think the demand for orofacial pain is high and there aren't many out there. My state of Vermont has a total of 1 specialist in that field and he is booked way out.

 

[Sbosu]

I'm currently a D3 trying to decide what area to pursue. I'm interested in both dental anesthesiology and orofacial pain. I think they would be able to provide me with the flexibility to create a niche practice. In the most ideal world, I'd do both because much of the foundational knowledge overlaps and I also think it would prevent me from getting bored due to the variety it would offer me. I've talked to some of my professors at school about orofacial pain and they've told me that its possible to have career and make money in private practice. I also like that orofacial pain would provide a lot of patient interaction. I truly do like talk to my patient even the more anxious and neurotic ones. I've also been in contact with a dental anesthesiologist and plan to shadow to see what a day in the life could be like.

Do you think it would be possible for me pursue both? If so, what route should I take? Lastly, what programs would you suggest for each. I'm interested in Stony Brook and Pittsburgh for DA . My professors mentioned good things about UK, UW, USC for orofacial pain. I'd also like to know more about University of Michigan and Mass General orofacial pain residency.

Disclaimer: I'm not super interested in going into academia full time. My goal is to either operate a mobile DA practice and potentially work part time in a Pain/TMD/Sleep Medicine practice or do a mobile DA practice and work part time in academia

Thank you!

2 very different specialties in the real world. Anesthesia you will have fairly limited patient interaction (they're asleep), certainly more stress on a day to day basis administering drugs, monitoring patients, etc...

With orofacial pain there will be a lot of patient interaction, really the whole job is talking to patients, that's pretty much all you will be doing. Other than clinical exams and maybe administering some local every now and then to rule out odontogenic tooth pain, or nonodontogenic pain/referred pain, orofacial pain involves just talking to patients, as you will get very good at diagnosing based on history alone.

And, this is just a guess, but you can probably make more doing anesthesia. I certainly see more patients that need an anesthesiologists vs. patients that need to see an orofacial pain specialist. If you are not interested in academics, orofacial pain may be a more difficult path than anesthesia.

 

[P7898]

You can have a TMJ and Sleep Apnea clinic and limit your scope to this for orofacial pain.