General dentistry and specialization?

[FutureDent89]

I'm starting dental school in the fall, and I am trying to consider whether or not I will stick with general dentistry or go on tospecialize in pediatric dentistry (I enjoy working with children). I'm curious as to whether I could do both- get my DDS, then go on to specialize and obtain my MSc in pediatric dentistry, then combine both in a family practice. I realize that I could treat children even as a general practitioner, but I feel I would be more effective as a specialist, and I still want to treat some adults. Can you do general dentistry and specialize as well???

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[FutureDent89]

** to specialize

 

[kitejunky27]

usually not

I am not 100% sure but as far as I am aware the only specialty where you can practice general dentistry is prost.

all the other one are Dr. so so Specialist, practice limited to.

 

[Doc Smile]

usually not

I am not 100% sure but as far as I am aware the only specialty where you can practice general dentistry is prost.

all the other one are Dr. so so Specialist, practice limited to.

You can practice whatever you are competent in. I think Prosth AND peds are the specialties where you do a lot of general dentistry, but, technically, if you are 'practiced' in the art of general operative dentistry, you can do it.

 

[FutureDent89]

You can practice whatever you are competent in. I think Prosth AND peds are the specialties where you do a lot of general dentistry, but, technically, if you are 'practiced' in the art of general operative dentistry, you can do it.

So, if I were to practice general dentistry for a couple of years to build my competence, and I followed that with the peds specialization, theoretically I could practice both?

 

[dentalWorks]

So, if I were to practice general dentistry for a couple of years to build my competence, and I followed that with the peds specialization, theoretically I could practice both?

I heard otherwise..

Like once you are a specialist, thats it, you can't go "back" and do general dentistry AND the specialty (you pick one and label your business with it)... besides, your gonna piss off the local GPs and no one will refer anyone to you.

I am no where near picking a specialty, but don't you think your questions & concerns will be better answered once you hit clinical years and actually get to experience dentistry first hand? The folks who specialize say that they did it to focus on only 1 area of dentistry, they don't like doing all procedures GPs normally do.

 

[FutureDent89]

I heard otherwise..

Like once you are a specialist, thats it, you can't go "back" and do general dentistry AND the specialty (you pick one and label your business with it)... besides, your gonna piss off the local GPs and no one will refer anyone to you.

I am no where near picking a specialty, but don't you think your questions & concerns will be better answered once you hit clinical years and actually get to experience dentistry first hand? The folks who specialize say that they did it to focus on only 1 area of dentistry, they don't like doing all procedures GPs normally do.

Makes sense. I've already done a ton of shadowing at a peds clinic, so I'm pretty much 100% certain that I want to specialize in pediatrics. I just wasn't sure if I could do general practice as well in case that interested me. That's the game plan for now, but like you mentioned, things could change during clinicals

 

[Doc Smile]

I heard otherwise..

Like once you are a specialist, thats it, you can't go "back" and do general dentistry AND the specialty (you pick one and label your business with it)... besides, your gonna piss off the local GPs and no one will refer anyone to you.

I am no where near picking a specialty, but don't you think your questions & concerns will be better answered once you hit clinical years and actually get to experience dentistry first hand? The folks who specialize say that they did it to focus on only 1 area of dentistry, they don't like doing all procedures GPs normally do.

Your right:

ADA Code of Ethics and Professionalism, page 15, 5.H.3 Announcement of Specialization and Limitation of practice

"Dentists who choose to announce specialization should use 'specialist in' or 'Practice limited to' and shall limit their practice exclusively to the announced special area(s) of dental practice...

...3. The practice carried by dentists who announce as specialists shall be limited exclusively to the special area(s) of dental practice announced by the dentist"

http://www.ada.org/sections/about/pdfs/ada_code.pdf

 

[FutureDent89]

Your right:

ADA Code of Ethics and Professionalism, page 15, 5.H.3 Announcement of Specialization and Limitation of practice

"Dentists who choose to announce specialization should use 'specialist in' or 'Practice limited to' and shall limit their practice exclusively to the announced special area(s) of dental practice...

...3. The practice carried by dentists who announce as specialists shall be limited exclusively to the special area(s) of dental practice announced by the dentist"

http://www.ada.org/sections/about/pdfs/ada_code.pdf

I'm assuming the same policy exists with the CDA? (I'm Canadian and seeking licensure in Canada)?

 

[Mackchops]

Wow...

So here's the deal. First, "General Dentistry" is just that -- general. You can do anything that's within the scope of our practice -- which includes a lot these days (botox? really?). Saying that prosthodontists or pediatric dentists do "general dentistry" is false if they are, in fact, practicing as specialists. If you don't understand this beyond the simple semantics, that would be a good place to start. You might also want to research these specialties a little more. Maybe you mean "restorative" dentistry?

Second, gaining additional education is just that. Additional education. You can do whatever you want with it. But asking if a dentist who has obtained a certificate and board certification can despecialize their practice is like asking if a DDS can work as a dental assistant - you can, but your additional training wouldn't really be utilized to its full potential.

Here's the cut and dry of it. You can practice general dentistry as a specialty-trained dentist as long as you don't refer to yourself as a specialist. A pediatric dentist ONLY sees children. A general dentist whose practice is "limited to children" ONLY sees children. The difference is the credentials these two professionals possess. The general dentist who only sees kids can do whatever he wants, but his/her level of care will be held up against that of the practitioner who received that extra training/credentialling and who has earned the right to call him/herself a specialist. Make sense?

 

[armorshell]

Here's the cut and dry of it. You can practice general dentistry as a specialty-trained dentist as long as you don't refer to yourself as a specialist. A pediatric dentist ONLY sees children. A general dentist whose practice is "limited to children" ONLY sees children. The difference is the credentials these two professionals possess. The general dentist who only sees kids can do whatever he wants, but his/her level of care will be held up against that of the practitioner who received that extra training/credentialling and who has earned the right to call him/herself a specialist. Make sense?

What about a prosthodontist who maintains a hygiene department and recall, sees patients for routine and advanced restorative concerns, yet still advertises as a prosthodontist and accepts referrals. This seems to be the only real gray area I can think of.

 

[whodat4life]

I've actually heard (from a Pediatric Dentist that teaches at the dental school in my state AND a D4 at the school) that Peds is the one specialty that allows you to do both. I know that's the case in my home state, but I'm sure it could be different from state to state though.

 

[Doc Smile]

I've actually heard (from a Pediatric Dentist that teaches at the dental school in my state AND a D4 at the school) that Peds is the one specialty that allows you to do both. I know that's the case in my home state, but I'm sure it could be different from state to state though.

I worked at a private practice with a GP and a prosth. the prosth practiced general dentistry.

 

[newyorkblork]

If you like working with kids but want to treat adults...


Why can't you just be a General Dentist, pay attention in Pediatrics classes, and take some continuing education?

As I understand it, there's no need to go through specialist training unless you want a Pediatrics Practice...

 

[Mackchops]

What about a prosthodontist who maintains a hygiene department and recall, sees patients for routine and advanced restorative concerns, yet still advertises as a prosthodontist and accepts referrals. This seems to be the only real gray area I can think of.

Fair enough. I see where it can get gray. And maybe it really is semantics that we're discussing, but the way I see it calling yourself a specialist LIMITS your practice to only what you received additional training and credentialling for. Maybe when we think of general dentistry we think of restorative dentistry -- and since prosthodontists are restorative specialists I can see how that could become confusing quickly. But I would argue that a prosthodontist is legally restricted from performing dentistry outside the scope of their specialty. Hygiene is only slightly pushing the envelope, but I think you would be really hard-pressed to find a prosthodontist who advertises him/herself as such doing his/her own RCT, ortho, wizzies etc.

Same with Peds. You're a child specialist. It's an age-defined specialty. A great deal of pediatric specialty training revolves around behavior management and the treatment of children with physical or developmental disabilities -- but the dentistry you perform could be the same as a general dentist working with kids. The general dentist can see adults. The pediatric dentist can't.

As with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages to specializing. One of the disadvantages is that you limit your scope of practice. Otherwise you lose the right to call yourself a "specialist".

 

[Doc Smile]

Fair enough. I see where it can get gray. And maybe it really is semantics that we're discussing, but the way I see it calling yourself a specialist LIMITS your practice to only what you received additional training and credentialling for. Maybe when we think of general dentistry we think of restorative dentistry -- and since prosthodontists are restorative specialists I can see how that could become confusing quickly. But I would argue that a prosthodontist is legally restricted from performing dentistry outside the scope of their specialty. Hygiene is only slightly pushing the envelope, but I think you would be really hard-pressed to find a prosthodontist who advertises him/herself as such doing his/her own RCT, ortho, wizzies etc.

Same with Peds. You're a child specialist. It's an age-defined specialty. A great deal of pediatric specialty training revolves around behavior management and the treatment of children with physical or developmental disabilities -- but the dentistry you perform could be the same as a general dentist working with kids. The general dentist can see adults. The pediatric dentist can't.

As with everything, there are advantages and disadvantages to specializing. One of the disadvantages is that you limit your scope of practice. Otherwise you lose the right to call yourself a "specialist".

No. I worked for a multi-doctor practice where one was a GP and the other a prosth and the prosth did RCTs and wizzies just as much as Class I amalgams. He also did complex implants, etc, etc. . . It is what you are competent in that limits what you practice. Just like if a GP was competent enough in doing 3rd molar extractions....

 

[BombayBDS]

Its unethical.

besides, if u were a specialist seeking referrals, and it was out that you do general dentistry too..then dentists would hesitate while referring patients to you. you could loose out on your 'real' field of work.

 

[Watchyman]

I think that the so called "gray area" in the practice of Pediatric Dentistry comes from the fact that PD is the only specialty that is defined based on an age group and NOT on a specific type of treatment.
If you consider/define PD as the specialty that works with children and adolescents (Pinkham), then technically you WILL be performing some restorative work,some root canal therapy (in teenagers),some interceptive ortho (late mixed dentition), some cosmetic dentistry (in teenagers), some oral surgery (patients with special needs), etc.
IMHO it would be unethical for you to work on adults (most people assume you don't).

My two cents.

 

[Voltron2010]

I'm starting dental school in the fall, and I am trying to consider whether or not I will stick with general dentistry or go on tospecialize in pediatric dentistry (I enjoy working with children). I'm curious as to whether I could do both- get my DDS, then go on to specialize and obtain my MSc in pediatric dentistry, then combine both in a family practice. I realize that I could treat children even as a general practitioner, but I feel I would be more effective as a specialist, and I still want to treat some adults. Can you do general dentistry and specialize as well???

Most sates require you to do what you specialize in once you declared it with the state board. I mean if you want to do a little of everything than just remain a gen dentist. At the monent money wise some speaclty is the way to go. For example pathologist and oral med specialties are not lucrative, your basically going to be teaching. Ortho seems like it will remain lucrative for a long time. Pedo as well and Oral surgery. Gen dentistry income is dropping since many for profit dental schools are pumping out dentist. We already have two in my state and a new one planed for wisc. So dental diploma mills are here and more are coming. Endo is iffy at the moment rotary has hit endo very hard as many general dentist are doing the procedures and many patients are staarting to opt for implants ather than saving the tooth. Pros well most pros I know dont make much bc most general dentist dont refer. Perio is iffy too, some do well some dont. Public health, well here you wont be making much.

 

[yappy]

I dont question your knowedge, but just for clairification, I have shadowed a few endodontists. They seem to be pretty happy with the way stuff is going right now. Many told me to be open to specialization when going into dental school because they felt it provided them a leg up in terms of earning power.

The OS I shadowed also told me to look into endo; in his words OS was "not worth it".

Most sates require you to do what you specialize in once you declared it with the state board. I mean if you want to do a little of everything than just remain a gen dentist. At the monent money wise some speaclty is the way to go. For example pathologist and oral med specialties are not lucrative, your basically going to be teaching. Ortho seems like it will remain lucrative for a long time. Pedo as well and Oral surgery. Gen dentistry income is dropping since many for profit dental schools are pumping out dentist. We already have two in my state and a new one planed for wisc. So dental diploma mills are here and more are coming. Endo is iffy at the moment rotary has hit endo very hard as many general dentist are doing the procedures and many patients are staarting to opt for implants ather than saving the tooth. Pros well most pros I know dont make much bc most general dentist dont refer. Perio is iffy too, some do well some dont. Public health, well here you wont be making much.

 

[mike3kgt]

Most sates require you to do what you specialize in once you declared it with the state board. I mean if you want to do a little of everything than just remain a gen dentist. At the monent money wise some speaclty is the way to go. For example pathologist and oral med specialties are not lucrative, your basically going to be teaching. Ortho seems like it will remain lucrative for a long time. Pedo as well and Oral surgery. Gen dentistry income is dropping since many for profit dental schools are pumping out dentist. We already have two in my state and a new one planed for wisc. So dental diploma mills are here and more are coming. Endo is iffy at the moment rotary has hit endo very hard as many general dentist are doing the procedures and many patients are staarting to opt for implants ather than saving the tooth. Pros well most pros I know dont make much bc most general dentist dont refer. Perio is iffy too, some do well some dont. Public health, well here you wont be making much.

Pedo is doing very well (for now)... who knows what the future holds. With so much of their production linked to state funding/state aid and the volume of children they need to see to produce this is a good choice but has a lot of question marks for the future.

Oral surgery is doing incredibly well... and probably will for a long long time. Wisdom teeth aren't going away anytime soon and implants will be here to stay for the forseeable future. Get through your residency and you will make plenty of $$.

Endo is a sleeper choice. So many people discount endo right now because of rotary and implants but these guys are doing fantastic... especially if you choose to move where they are few endodontists. Yes, I know gp's are trained to do rotary well, but many choose to not do it in practice, even the young docs, because of fear/lack of instrumentation (microscope etc). This specialty will be around for a long time and will be very good.

Perio is a question mark. A good periodontist who places mostly implants and does cosmetic perio surgery will do very very well. If you go to a perio school that focuses on "traditional perio", you are making a mistake. Very few people are doing hemi-sections and nobody wants to go to a specialist and get full osseous surgery or SRP (and pay specialist fees for it).

Ortho is a question mark also. Many many ortho's coming out of school right now and is only increasing. Easiest job by far in dentistry, and is more cerebral than physical so is a good choice for some. Good income will always be there, especially the effort vs. reward as compared to GP.

Prostho is in the eye of the beholder. I know many who are doing incredibly well and others who are simply doing general dentistry with 3 years more education. With the right personality and skill set, these guys do incredibly well. Those that rely upon referrals can carve out a really good office, others simply choose to do general type offices but charge more. The focus right now is in implant full arch rehabs.

If you're really unsure, do a couple of years of GP prior to deciding.

Hope this helps.