I'd say joining a practice is just as beneficial as doing a GPR man. Go for it. If you really want to gain speed and skills, just do a year with a corporate chain
Joining Aspen is an idea for example vs doing a GPR - but a couple things you may want to consider. Whatever chain you're in is going to steer you in treating patients the way they find most profitable and predictable for them. It depends on your personality as well, are you comfortable enough with your clinical skills already to have the pressure of some practice manager on your back telling you to do this and do that..
I think joining a practice has its benefits and doing a GPR has its benefits. I used to think if classmates were going to work for their parents, that was the best situation and best mentor and any more residency was absolutely not necessary. But many of my friend's parents actually recommended their children do a GPR.
Honestly, many hospital based residencies are not another year of "school" that I know we all hear about while we're in dental school. It's meant for you to (hopefully) see volume, work on your skills and not have the pressure of making money for someone by working like a dog. Most dental schools from my experience, are not breeding GPs right out of dental school. But at the end of the day depends on your personality and your situation (ie. if you have a family and kids and location or finances or family plays a role that will certainly impact your decision)
I would not recommend AEGD/GPR and here's why:
1. You don't get paid as much as working in private practice (You'll need capital to start your own office to make more money than being an associate). If you're happy being an associate for long term, then this doesn't matter as much.
2. Another year of school/school like environment - I was sick of school by 3rd yr (depends if you love dental school or not)
3. If you're thinking of AEGD because you're not confident of your skills or afraid of messing up - you're going to mess up at some point in your career. Do it early, just not in your own office. Whether you do it in an academic setting or corporate setting, doesn't matter so much. Ultimately your confidence will come from experience and success. Might as well make a good chunk of money for overall long-term planning and success.
4. If you're thinking of GPR for more hospital based cases, extensive cases, etc... you have to make sure you're going to want to deal with phobic patients, special needs patients, full mouth reconstructions, etc... If you don't have the patience for difficult and picky patients, probably not good to deal with patients that require sedation. At least from my experience, they are not as profitable and more likely to threaten to sue you.
5. Now you may say: I get to learn a lot more procedures: That's why we have CE if you want to learn procedures beyond dental school. As a warning, a lot of these CE courses will try to sell you on the profitability of implants, sleep apnea, or other procedures; they can be more headaches than anything else and you need to make sure they go with your office workflow.
If you really want a lot of hand holding and supervision with procedures, go w/ AEGD/GPR. If you want to maximize profitability and retire quickly, go straight to private practice.
Corporate chains are a great way to gain speed and money to start your own office.
If you pick a program right, you won't pick one that is like school, but straight clinical practice. Many programs are not hand-holding, and many are. I know people who want that kind of close supervision, it's about the right fit for
you.
At the end of the day, one more year, is just a drop in the bucket. The most,
and I repeat most important thing in picking a GPR or AEGD is making sure you know the program in and out, visited it if you need to/talk to residents who are there and make sure it is
exactly what you are looking for. There is
such incredible variation in the programs that many are truly the same if not worse than another year of dental school.
Know what you're looking for, do your homework.
