Dentistry with the intent of specializing?

[circulus vitios]

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I'm interested in specialization work and I don't see general dentistry as a viable career. I will make a terrible businessman so I don't want to start my own practice. Buying into an existing practice is an option, but I don't want to be tied down to one area for the rest of my life. Working at a hospital would best suit me (or maybe working as a perpetual association), but I would be making $120k/year for the rest of my life. Paying off $300-400k in dental school loans would be miserable on such an income.

Specialization means interesting work and decent money, even at a hospital. However, everything I've read tells me that specializing in dentistry is much more difficult than specializing in medicine. How true is this? Is it because most dental students don't want to be specialists, or is it because most dental students aren't competitive enough to be specialists? Are there any data sets or publications that show the selection rates for residency programs?

 

[SpaceCake]

I'm interested in specialization work and I don't see general dentistry as a viable career. I will make a terrible businessman so I don't want to start my own practice. Buying into an existing practice is an option, but I don't want to be tied down to one area for the rest of my life. Working at a hospital would best suit me (or maybe working as a perpetual association), but I would be making $120k/year for the rest of my life. Paying off $300-400k in dental school loans would be miserable on such an income.

Specialization means interesting work and decent money, even at a hospital. However, everything I've read tells me that specializing in dentistry is much more difficult than specializing in medicine. How true is this? Is it because most dental students don't want to be specialists, or is it because most dental students aren't competitive enough to be specialists? Are there any data sets or publications that show the selection rates for residency programs?

Thanks for offending general dentists. You're lack of business acumen has no bearing on the industry as a whole. Next time be nicer when asking for advice.

 

[circulus vitios]

Thanks for offending general dentists. You're lack of business acumen has no bearing on the industry as a whole. Next time be nicer when asking for advice.

I didn't mean to be offensive. If you like general dentistry, then awesome. I'm not trying to be a snob or an elitist when I say that I would be happier specializing.

Even ignoring my lack of interest in general dentistry, it doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint. I feel that I would make a terrible businessman. Making a career out of associate work or hospital employment would net me $7.5k/month. $300k in student loans on a 30 year repayment plan is $2k/month, or $1.5k/month on IBR. $5.5-6k/month take-home is equivalent to a little under $100k/year gross. That's not worth it for a $300,000 doctoral degree.

 

[SpaceCake]

I didn't mean to be offensive. If you like general dentistry, then awesome. I'm not trying to be a snob or an elitist when I say that I would be happier specializing.

Even ignoring my lack of interest in general dentistry, it doesn't make sense from a financial standpoint. I feel that I would make a terrible businessman. Making a career out of associate work or hospital employment would net me $7.5k/month. $300k in student loans on a 30 year repayment plan is $2k/month, or $1.5k/month on IBR. $5.5-6k/month take-home is equivalent to a little under $100k/year gross. That's not worth it for a $300,000 doctoral degree.

Your math is kinda of shady. 42K a year would be taken out in Stafford at 6.8% and the remainder at 7.8%, with a 10 year repayment cycle and a capitalization rate, you'd owe around $3,800 a month. That still leaves you with half your monthly salary, assuming you want a wife and family, $3,700 a month is still a lot of money to live off. That also excludes any income your wife makes. This sounds pretty reasonable to me.

 

[circulus vitios]

Your math is kinda of shady. 42K a year would be taken out in Stafford at 6.8% and the remainder at 7.8%, with a 10 year repayment cycle and a capitalization rate, you'd owe around $3,800 a month. That still leaves you with half your monthly salary, assuming you want a wife and family, $3,700 a month is still a lot of money to live off. That also excludes any income your wife makes. This sounds pretty reasonable to me.

I think Grad PLUS loans offer up to a 30 year repayment plan. Going general dentistry with my goals is terrible money either way you look at it.

Anyway, back to my original question. 😳

 

[SpaceCake]

I think Grad PLUS loans offer up to a 30 year repayment plan. Going general dentistry with my goals is terrible money either way you look at it.

Anyway, back to my original question. 😳

Why would you stretch your loans out to 30 years and increase the amount of $$$ spent versus paying it off in 10 years? General dentistry is more than enough for everyone.

 

[FaithBuild18]

With all due respect, you are actually complaining about pocketing $100k/year? The overwhelming majority of human beings on this planet would fight the remainder of the population to the death just to have a shot at that kind of money. Only in America (assuming you're an American) can people complain about their economics when they are taking home $100k every year. My parents, dad and mom combined, raised three children and put all three of us through college without any student loans, with a salary that was half of what you'll be taking home.

My idea: Take your $100k with a smile and live a comfortable life without being disgustfully wasteful or flashy.

 

[circulus vitios]

With all due respect, you are actually complaining about pocketing $100k/year? The overwhelming majority of human beings on this planet would fight the remainder of the population to the death just to have a shot at that kind of money. Only in America (assuming you're an American) can people complain about their economics when they are taking home $100k every year. My parents, dad and mom combined, raised three children and put all three of us through college without any student loans, with a salary that was half of what you'll be taking home.

My idea: Take your $100k with a smile and live a comfortable life without being disgustfully wasteful or flashy.

$100k/year after a doctoral degree that will cost me a projected third of a million dollars.

 

[segura11]

Dude, if you are fretting about money so much, pick a different occupation.Priority one as a dentist is to help patients, not pocket money. If that is allyou can think about, be a lawyer. General dentistry makes plenty, if you are competentwith your money.

 

[circulus vitios]

Dude, if you are fretting about money so much, pick a different occupation.Priority one as a dentist is to help patients, not pocket money. If that is allyou can think about, be a lawyer. General dentistry makes plenty, if you are competentwith your money.

I'd be happy with a 'meager' $120k/year if dental school wasn't so ridiculously expensive.

To make this easier, just forget that I mentioned money. Does dentistry make sense if I have my mind set on specializing? Are most dentists not specialists because they aren't competitive for specialization, or because they don't want to be specialists? Are there any data sets or publications showing the selection rates for residencies?

 

[lemoncurry]

So have you worked the numbers to include the cost of specializing on top of your dental loans?

Some people know from the beginning what they want to do in terms of specializing. Most of those people have spent a lot of time in their field of choice. For those who, like you and like me, are not sure what specialty you would decide on, it is best to wait and see. Your interests will change as you go through dental school, and if you're really not sure, you should do a GPR or practice for a few years until you figure out what you really like. It seems most common for students who are interested in specializing right off the bat to be interested in ortho or OMFS. Very few go into dental school wanting to be a prosthodontist or periodontist or endodontist. The people who decide to go into those fields are more likely to come to enjoy it during their time in dental school or after practicing.

If you think specializing is what you really want to do, then be prepared to work your butt off so you can maintain a standing in the top 10-15% of the class. Believe me, it is nothing like being the tops of your undergraduate class. But is hard to maintain that level of performance if you don't have a clear goal in mind.

 

[iDentastic]

So have you worked the numbers to include the cost of specializing on top of your dental loans?

Some people know from the beginning what they want to do in terms of specializing. Most of those people have spent a lot of time in their field of choice. For those who, like you and like me, are not sure what specialty you would decide on, it is best to wait and see. Your interests will change as you go through dental school, and if you're really not sure, you should do a GPR or practice for a few years until you figure out what you really like. It seems most common for students who are interested in specializing right off the bat to be interested in ortho or OMFS. Very few go into dental school wanting to be a prosthodontist or periodontist or endodontist. The people who decide to go into those fields are more likely to come to enjoy it during their time in dental school or after practicing.

If you think specializing is what you really want to do, then be prepared to work your butt off so you can maintain a standing in the top 10-15% of the class. Believe me, it is nothing like being the tops of your undergraduate class. But is hard to maintain that level of performance if you don't have a clear goal in mind.

👍

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

Oral maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics are considered the 2 most competitive specialties. There are around ~5000 graduating students every year, and there are around 500 spots total for OMFS and ortho. This is where the top 10% comes from.

Like lemoncurry stated, getting top 10% of your dental school class is easier said than done.

Most people who go into dentistry are comfortable with the fact that they will become a general dentist. If you would rather do family medicine than general dentistry, then you should go into medicine. I understand that money is a motivating factor in any decision, but if you're doing dentistry for just the money, you'll hate every minute of your life.

But, here's what you're looking for:

http://www.natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2012sumstats.html

 

[UCSD6]

@circulus vitios

I think you are comparing the specialties of dentistry to the specialties of medicine. They are nothing alike. As a general dentist your scope of practice includes the same scope as most dental specialties. For example a general dentist can do ortho, endo, perio, oral surgery, etc. Yes there are some difficult procedures that are out of the scope of practice of a dentist, but in general all the specialties of dentistry are included in general dentistry. This is what makes general dentistry so attractive, you can choose to do all ur own root canals or u can choose to do none, or u can choose to do easy ones, etc. You can choose to extract third molars or refer out to OS. So, it doesn't make much sense to enter dentistry assuming you would be unhappy with general dentistry.

There are multiple reasons why most dentist aren't specialist, first reason being they dont want to be, second being competitiveness, but the reality is if you really want to specialize you will find a way to. Remember that there are GP's capable of doing procedures at the standard of care of a specialist. If you are worried about money, on average certain specialties earn more than GP's, but there are also plenty of GP's that earn more than specialists.

Dental specialties are much different then medical specialities, a primary care physician scope of practice is very narrow and defined, they are not to perform heart surgeries, brain surgery etc. In dentistry a general dentist may attempt pretty much any procedure with the caveat that it is to the standard of care that a specialist can do it at. If you want to work in a hospital you should become a physician not a dentist.

 

[MaceG1]

You can still make a ton of money doing General Dentistry. Nonetheless, it's important to note that the viability of certain specialties is dependent on the economy and discretionary spending. For example, a family won't feel inclined to spend 4k on braces for Junior, if they don't have a lot of money in their pocket during a recession.

 

[Trilby]

OP-I have similar concerns as you.

I think you should pick dentistry if you're content on doing general dentistry. I bet a lot of people go into dental school planing on specializing but don't make the cut. One simply doesn't know how they will stack up against their peers.

Likewise, I think someone should pick medicine if they can stomach not specializing and doing primary care. For me, general dentistry>>>>primary care so that's why I'm a predent. IMHO, it's more straightforward to assess if you'll be able to specialize in medicine because you need to succeed in class, Step I, and clinic which are entirely based on your cognitive abilities and basic social skills. In dental school, manual dexterity factors into your class rank which throws a moncky wrench into the equation. Plus ~50% of med students specialize while ~10-15% of dental students do.

Med schools are cheaper than dental school and physicians make more as employees than general dentists. I think across the board it's easy to succeed in medicine with terrible business acumen, though this may change in the Obamacare era.

BTW, do you live in the Rust Belt? If you practice in a rural area you'll probably get a lot of patients whether you are a doctor or a dentist. Why do you think you can't run a successful practice? Do you have poor acumen or a toxic personality? If it's the latter you're probably better off avoiding healthcare professions and leveraging your math background to become an actuary.

 

[dentalWorks]

I'm interested in specialization work and I don't see general dentistry as a viable career. I will make a terrible businessman so I don't want to start my own practice. Buying into an existing practice is an option, but I don't want to be tied down to one area for the rest of my life. Working at a hospital would best suit me (or maybe working as a perpetual association), but I would be making $120k/year for the rest of my life. Paying off $300-400k in dental school loans would be miserable on such an income.

Specialization means interesting work and decent money, even at a hospital. However, everything I've read tells me that specializing in dentistry is much more difficult than specializing in medicine. How true is this? Is it because most dental students don't want to be specialists, or is it because most dental students aren't competitive enough to be specialists? Are there any data sets or publications that show the selection rates for residency programs?

I can tell your very young and inexperienced... so let me shed some light

#1) every pre-dent wants to specialize before & during first semester dental school (its a rule).... those whom tell you otherwise are flat out lying. Eventually, many of them (myself included) gas out and continue with dental education with passing marks. Ofc, thats not always the case, there are some whom work hard, earn high marks and specialize however.... read #2 bellow

#2) only 20% of graduates end up specializing (yes even the gun-hoe gunners of many classes do NOT specialize).

#3) how do you know you have no business skills? have you ever owned a business? managed people? and eventually sucked at it? You'll never know how well you can swim are until you jump in.

#4) what makes you think GPs only make 120k a year? thats most likely true for a new graduate (hell, 120k in today's times is actually pretty good ~ thats about $450 a day).... but come 5-10 years later, you SHOULD be able to pull in 180k+ (if you can't manage that as GP, you'll never make it as a general dentist, orthodontist, heart surgeon, or any other career ~ because the problem lies with your lack of negotiation / business skills)

#5) fyi, not every specialist makes "the big bux"... the same ofc applies to general dentist. The potential in income from dentistry (and its specializing positions) mostly lies with business & negotiation skills, if you lack both and ARE NOT WILLING TO LEARN, you won't make much with either option you go. Just becuase you see specialist averages are much higher than GPs, that does NOT mean every specialist will make more than a GP. Infact, a GP with a good business head on his/her shoulder will lay the smack down on any income figures you see published on ADA (and ofc the same applies to specialists)..... This is a business / customer service / negotiation field, you must develop these skills.

#6) "Specialization means interesting work and decent money"..... I laugh at this statement.... how many years have you worked as a specialist to make this comment?

 

[euphaire]

Do you really think specializing will make you that better off financially? It's another 3 years on top of the 4 year DDS/DMD of lost income.

 

[321931]

I'm interested in specialization work and I don't see general dentistry as a viable career. I will make a terrible businessman so I don't want to start my own practice. Buying into an existing practice is an option, but I don't want to be tied down to one area for the rest of my life. Working at a hospital would best suit me (or maybe working as a perpetual association), but I would be making $120k/year for the rest of my life. Paying off $300-400k in dental school loans would be miserable on such an income.

Specialization means interesting work and decent money, even at a hospital. However, everything I've read tells me that specializing in dentistry is much more difficult than specializing in medicine. How true is this? Is it because most dental students don't want to be specialists, or is it because most dental students aren't competitive enough to be specialists? Are there any data sets or publications that show the selection rates for residency programs?

1) 120k/year? That maybe starting out, but with business sense, experience, and knowledge comes an unlimited potential.

2) Interesting work? Specializing means you do the same thing pretty much every single day. It isn't like oncology or ER surgeon where you see so much variety that it keeps it fresh. You see the same old root canals (although sometimes crazy ones), or you do the same old perio work as a periodontist. The cases you get are cases that aren't "different" in a sense as compared to medicine. So its not interesting. It's actually rather quite boring.

3) Specializing is tough as nails. Be prepared for a reality check of how "average" you really are amongst the brightest. Simply put, you aren't as smart as you think you are.

4) Being tied down into one area is something you don't want? Then do medicine. Dentists rely on customers, connections and word of mouth.

Simply put. Don't do Dentistry. YOU aren't cut out for it nor mature enough. Any pre-dent who says "I'm interested in specialization work and I don't see general dentistry as a viable career," does not belong in this field. You have to go into dental school accepting that you maybe a general dentist and be fine with it. You have to understand that not everyone can do ortho, and not everyone can be a heart surgeon. Finally, the lack of understanding of anything really is the nail in the coffin.

Therefore my recommendations are:
1) Go shadow some more Dentistry to see if its for you.
2) Go shadow some other profession to see if its for you.
3) Go get a hard working dead-end 9-5 minimum wage job. It will open your eyes just to see how lucky you are to even have the option of going to dental school, making 'only" 120k with UNLIMITED potential.

 

[NDPitch]

You go to dental school to be a general dentist. It is incredibly unwise to attend dental school and not like general dentistry. It seems that you are only in it for the money. This is not the career for you, my friend. It's as simple as that!

The new dentists of our generation will eventually live comfortable lives, but we will never be loaded and blow our noses with 100 dollar bills. You are right, it is insanely expensive to go to dental school now. This is why most people now go into it for the love of the work, NOT the money. The people that do go into it for the money will be disappointed when they get out of school.

 

[SpaceCake]

You go to dental school to be a general dentist. It is incredibly unwise to attend dental school and not like general dentistry. It seems that you are only in it for the money. This is not the career for you, my friend. It's as simple as that!

The new dentists of our generation will eventually live comfortable lives, but we will never be loaded and blow our noses with 100 dollar bills. You are right, it is insanely expensive to go to dental school now. This is why most people now go into it for the love of the work, NOT the money. The people that do go into it for the money will be disappointed when they get out of school.

That's not necessarily true, I think everyone keeps their finances private and enough students get help from their family to keep their loan debt quite low. If you take out 150K or so for school that's not bad at all when you come out earning 120K. The profession can be quite lucrative for those students who go to cheap in state schools and/or get help from family. Taking out less than 200K will yield a very sizable monthly income and a very good lifestyle, even as a general dentist. I agree with all the above posters about specializing and I think that's a choice one should make, if they have it as a choice i.e. high grades and a realistic shot at specializing. Going in to dentistry while taking out the full boat aka 400K in loans is a very risky gamble, even if you love dentistry.

 

[Trilby]

That's not necessarily true, I think everyone keeps their finances private and enough students get help from their family to keep their loan debt quite low. If you take out 150K or so for school that's not bad at all when you come out earning 120K. The profession can be quite lucrative for those students who go to cheap in state schools and/or get help from family. Taking out less than 200K will yield a very sizable monthly income and a very good lifestyle, even as a general dentist. I agree with all the above posters about specializing and I think that's a choice one should make, if they have it as a choice i.e. high grades and a realistic shot at specializing. Going in to dentistry while taking out the full boat aka 400K in loans is a very risky gamble, even if you love dentistry.

👍

I'd probably apply the rule of 3 used for buying houses. I wouldn't take up in loans more than 3 times my expected income. If I had to take 300k in loans for dental school with the knowledge I was doing general dentistry I'd probably go the military route.

 

[Bis-GMA111]

I'm interested in specialization work and I don't see general dentistry as a viable career. I will make a terrible businessman so I don't want to start my own practice. Buying into an existing practice is an option, but I don't want to be tied down to one area for the rest of my life. Working at a hospital would best suit me (or maybe working as a perpetual association), but I would be making $120k/year for the rest of my life. Paying off $300-400k in dental school loans would be miserable on such an income.

Specialization means interesting work and decent money, even at a hospital. However, everything I've read tells me that specializing in dentistry is much more difficult than specializing in medicine. How true is this? Is it because most dental students don't want to be specialists, or is it because most dental students aren't competitive enough to be specialists? Are there any data sets or publications that show the selection rates for residency programs?

how can you even say that? have you at least tried to learn the business aspect of dentistry? don't sell yourself short dude

business skills are acquired through hard work, dedication, and networking. every dentist that i've talked to said it took a great deal to learn the ins and outs of the business aspect, but they eventually got the swing of things.

specialization is difficult. from what i've heard, while there are programs for specialization, spots are limited.

 

[circulus vitios]

I can tell your very young and inexperienced... so let me shed some light

#1) every pre-dent wants to specialize before & during first semester dental school (its a rule).... those whom tell you otherwise are flat out lying. Eventually, many of them (myself included) gas out and continue with dental education with passing marks. Ofc, thats not always the case, there are some whom work hard, earn high marks and specialize however.... read #2 bellow

#2) only 20% of graduates end up specializing (yes even the gun-hoe gunners of many classes do NOT specialize).

#3) how do you know you have no business skills? have you ever owned a business? managed people? and eventually sucked at it? You'll never know how well you can swim are until you jump in.

#4) what makes you think GPs only make 120k a year? thats most likely true for a new graduate (hell, 120k in today's times is actually pretty good ~ thats about $450 a day).... but come 5-10 years later, you SHOULD be able to pull in 180k+ (if you can't manage that as GP, you'll never make it as a general dentist, orthodontist, heart surgeon, or any other career ~ because the problem lies with your lack of negotiation / business skills)

#5) fyi, not every specialist makes "the big bux"... the same ofc applies to general dentist. The potential in income from dentistry (and its specializing positions) mostly lies with business & negotiation skills, if you lack both and ARE NOT WILLING TO LEARN, you won't make much with either option you go. Just becuase you see specialist averages are much higher than GPs, that does NOT mean every specialist will make more than a GP. Infact, a GP with a good business head on his/her shoulder will lay the smack down on any income figures you see published on ADA (and ofc the same applies to specialists)..... This is a business / customer service / negotiation field, you must develop these skills.

#6) "Specialization means interesting work and decent money"..... I laugh at this statement.... how many years have you worked as a specialist to make this comment?

#3. I've never run a serious business but I doubt that I'll be good at it. And even if I was a good businessman, I don't want to run a business or have a stake in one. I'd rather be an employee.

#4. I've read that associates and hospital employees generally make $120k/year. From my understanding, GP dentists make $180k when they own a practice or have a stake in one.

#6. Interesting working is debatable from my green perspective. ADA averages show specialists making more money.

 

[finchy86]

If you want to make a very good living you're going to have to have a stake in a business whether you run it or someone else does. Specializing is going to require business skills for the most part. Working for someone else most likely won't give you the salary you wish to make.

 

[yappers2009]

I think this kind of ridiculous... lol If you really want to be a dentist it shouldn't ALL be about the money. And if you want to specialize, then you FIRST need to be a GREAT dentist since that is what dental school prepares you to be and only the BEST are able to make it into a specialization program. Focus on one thing before jumping too far ahead of yourself.

 

[Heller123]

I also want to specialize. I've been shadowing various dentists at my local VA (ie, Oral surgeons, maxillo-facial surgeons, periodontists) and I too want to specialize. The oral surgeon often gives me advice and I told him I wanted to specialize and he did mention to me that matching for residency is quite difficult and some might have to wait a year if they don't get accepted. As long as you work hard throughout dental school you should be able to do it! good luck!

 

[circulus vitios]

I also want to specialize. I've been shadowing various dentists at my local VA (ie, Oral surgeons, maxillo-facial surgeons, periodontists) and I too want to specialize. The oral surgeon often gives me advice and I told him I wanted to specialize and he did mention to me that matching for residency is quite difficult and some might have to wait a year if they don't get accepted. As long as you work hard throughout dental school you should be able to do it! good luck!

If dentists can re-apply to the match, then I take it there is a way to improve residency apps outside of dental school?

 

[agb2782]

It is a serious mistake to go into dental school not wanting to be a general dentist. As has been previously mentioned, a minority of dental students continue on to specialize.

Don't invest that much in your education if you aren't willing to accept the probable endpoint.

 

[SpaceCake]

Seems like this guy was interested in being an MD... no offense but I think you're interested in dentistry for the money. Not cool man. 👎

 

[dentalprodigy]

lol wow this was a beating

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

 

[dentalWorks]

Seems like this guy was interested in being an MD... no offense but I think you're interested in dentistry for the money. Not cool man. 👎

yes? and whats wrong with that?

 

[preOMFS]

I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that anyone can specialize from any dental school if they want it bad enough. Now if making money is your main goal, it may be more difficult to do well in dental school to be competitive.

 

[circulus vitios]

Seems like this guy was interested in being an MD... no offense but I think you're interested in dentistry for the money. Not cool man. 👎

Physicians make more money.

I see dentistry as a good compromise. Not as much money as medicine, but the hours are better and dentists still do some really cool stuff.

But even if I was in it just for the money, what's wrong with that? 🙄

 

[premolar9]

If you were just in it for the money, wouldn't you end up hating what you do eventually? Dentistry is special. I think you have to be a certain kind of person to enjoy dentistry 🙂 Just a thought I guess.

 

[circulus vitios]

If you were just in it for the money, wouldn't you end up hating what you do eventually? Dentistry is special. I think you have to be a certain kind of person to enjoy dentistry 🙂 Just a thought I guess.

Educated professionals are no different from office workers or blue collar workers. They don't have to enjoy their job, they just have to tolerate it.

 

[premolar9]

that's a horrible way to look at it. Why not pursue something you love and pays well? Pick something that you love doing and you'll never work a day in your life 🙂

 

[circulus vitios]

that's a horrible way to look at it. Why not pursue something you love and pays well? Pick something that you love doing and you'll never work a day in your life 🙂

I'm not going to hate dentistry. Prior to starting this thread I didn't know that general dentists could do so many different things (it's just that they choose not to.) Given my desire to not own a practice, I think I might be happier as a specialist since specialists seem to make more money at all levels. I'll just have to do some more research. 🙂

 

[Sunspear]

If you finished dental school, and then did not continue in a specialty, would you view your life as a failure? Would you regret going to dental school in the first place? Just something to think about! Perhaps do some more shadowing of a general dentist, and good luck with your quest.

 

[SpaceCake]

I'm not going to hate dentistry. Prior to starting this thread I didn't know that general dentists could do so many different things (it's just that they choose not to.) Given my desire to not own a practice, I think I might be happier as a specialist since specialists seem to make more money at all levels. I'll just have to do some more research. 🙂

Why don't you shadow a dentist and see if you like it. Picking a career solely based on money is like marrying a very hot girl, only to figure out 4 years into the relationship that her looks faded and you're no longer happy If you ask me, your outlook on this profession is based on a small amount of information, I see tons of assumptions that will ultimately lead to a very unhappy lifestyle and career choice.

 

[circulus vitios]

yes? and whats wrong with that?

👍

 

[KittySquared]

If specializing is your only goal then going to dental school is probably not a good idea. The "risk" of having to "settle" for being a general dentist is pretty high, considering the others who want to specialize will study just as hard, if not more, and probably smarter as well. You never know.

It's not that dental students aren't "competitive" compared to medical students who specialize. Most are expected to be general practitioners. Spots for residency and the market for specialists are quite limited versus in medicine, majority of the people will specialize because the demand and supply of patient pool and residency spots are available. In dentistry, it's not the same.

I think an ideal job for you is a few specialties in medicine. The money is thick enough for you to swim in. e.g. Gastroenterology: lots of in-office short procedures that really bring in $$$. Dentistry doesn't even scratch the surface of the costs of medical procedures. The real money is in medicine, not dentistry.

 

[thejamespark]

With all due respect, you are actually complaining about pocketing $100k/year? The overwhelming majority of human beings on this planet would fight the remainder of the population to the death just to have a shot at that kind of money. Only in America (assuming you're an American) can people complain about their economics when they are taking home $100k every year. My parents, dad and mom combined, raised three children and put all three of us through college without any student loans, with a salary that was half of what you'll be taking home.

My idea: Take your $100k with a smile and live a comfortable life without being disgustfully wasteful or flashy.

agreed.

 

[JohnnnyD]

Is it an option to attend dental school to become a GP, work as a GP for a handful of years and not only pay off some debt, but also see which aspect of dentistry you truly enjoy, then go back and specialize? Let's assume you didnt marry and have a handful of kids right after dental school and all that...

 

[321931]

Educated professionals are no different from office workers or blue collar workers. They don't have to enjoy their job, they just have to tolerate it.

Wrong. Dental professionals have to "really really really tolerate" their job to be "happy."

Most jobs work in a macroscopic setting; however, dentistry is so specialized. You are working in a field that is literally 5x5 inches. All you do is stare inside the mouth and fix it. In addition, the stress of messing up, unpredictable outcomes etc, doesn't help.

It isn't like a typical white collar job where you work, can go on reddit, browse the net, play with your phone, take a dump for 30 minutes, and then go back to working.

It isn't like a typical blue collar job where you hammer some nails in, bs with the dudes, sit back relax, go smoke one, and then go back to work.

Tolerating your job in other professions is much easier in my opinion. Dentistry is just so specialized that, in my opinion, you HAVE to have SOME interest in it, or else you are just asking for a miserable life.

But that being said, the comments/responses that have come from the OP seems like you're set on it. Good luck. If you truly mean what you say then you'll regret your choice. Just go to medical school. Trust me. You aren't cut out for Dentistry.

 

[dentalWorks]

If specializing is your only goal then going to dental school is probably not a good idea. The "risk" of having to "settle" for being a general dentist is pretty high, considering the others who want to specialize will study just as hard, if not more, and probably smarter as well. You never know.

It's not that dental students aren't "competitive" compared to medical students who specialize. Most are expected to be general practitioners. Spots for residency and the market for specialists are quite limited versus in medicine, majority of the people will specialize because the demand and supply of patient pool and residency spots are available. In dentistry, it's not the same.

I think an ideal job for you is a few specialties in medicine. The money is thick enough for you to swim in. e.g. Gastroenterology: lots of in-office short procedures that really bring in $$$. Dentistry doesn't even scratch the surface of the costs of medical procedures. The real money is in medicine, not dentistry.

If I had a penny for every misinformed comment made on SDN, i'd have my dental tuition paid in full and then some.

First of all, your comparing gastroenterology to "dentistry" (ie. general dentistry), thats like comparing earth (a planet) to a swimming pool (fun, small, sunny). Considering Gastero is going to require (I think) 5-6 years AFTER medical school in residency, I think a more relative (and fair) comparison is gastero vs OMFS (I assure you, surfaces will be scratched)

if your going to compare general dentistry to a medical field, be fair, and look at primary care of both positions..... Every national average I've look'd at, General dentists make more than primary care (when comparing hourly).

Don't be mistaken into thinking medicine is where the moneys at. There is some serious money to be made in dentistry, its a field that requires no residency, keep that in mind.

 

[SmilingTooth]

yes? and whats wrong with that?

😱
Do u agree with that? If yes, then I am very disappointed.

 

[dentalWorks]

😱
Do u agree with that? If yes, then I am very disappointed.

Oh no.... your approval means what?

 

[periopocket]

Check this out: http://www.cnbc.com/id/47984925?slide=8

 

[KittySquared]

If I had a penny for every misinformed comment made on SDN, i'd have my dental tuition paid in full and then some.

First of all, your comparing gastroenterology to "dentistry" (ie. general dentistry), thats like comparing earth (a planet) to a swimming pool (fun, small, sunny). Considering Gastero is going to require (I think) 5-6 years AFTER medical school in residency, I think a more relative (and fair) comparison is gastero vs OMFS (I assure you, surfaces will be scratched)

if your going to compare general dentistry to a medical field, be fair, and look at primary care of both positions..... Every national average I've look'd at, General dentists make more than primary care (when comparing hourly).

Don't be mistaken into thinking medicine is where the moneys at. There is some serious money to be made in dentistry, its a field that requires no residency, keep that in mind.

Lol health insurance = big money, not dental insurance in the current state of politics. If you really think dental costs are really comparable to everything out of the mouth are comparable then you're the one who's misinformed. Dentistry isn't really big money compared to medicine. I have docs in the family. It doesn't take a genius to figure out top specialists in medicine make more money than dentists ever will. Dentist "serious" money is not even close to being comparable with certain medical specialties. That.. you can disagree all you want, but it doesn't change that fact. You want to talk about OMFS? How many percent of dentists are oral surgeons? How many specialists are there in medicine? Do the math.

Gosh I feel so dirty playing devil's advocate talking about money.