How difficult would it be for me to enter an OMFS residency?

[Utdarsenal]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys,

I'm sorry for you having to read another of these posts, I'm sure there's been many related to this topic, although my case may be a little distinct.

So, throughout dental school I've really found my passion, and that is surgery. The problem is, I'm not a dental student from within the country. I'm an American citizen, but, I studied in an international school accredited by California (basically, I'm able to work in California with my license. I graduate this semester and I'm 24 years old). I'm nearly done with all my board exams/WREB, etc., so I suppose that'd make me one of the youngest dentists in the country.

Having studied in an international school (everything was in a different language and I struggled a bit the first two years getting used to the language), I'm not at the top of my generation grade-wise; I'm probably around the middle or slightly above average. This year, I entered a 6 month advanced surgery course held by a couple of locally recognized maxillofacial surgeons, so I'm trained in doing certain impacted wisdom teeth extractions, frenectomies, biopsies, some surgical procedures, etc.. if that would help for my application (this wasn't in the U.S.).

I'm wondering how complicated it would be for me to be accepted into a residency in the U.S. (4-year) taking these things into consideration. Would I most likely have to apply for externships/internships, etc (another question: as an intern, do you actually work on patients, or are you more of an observer?) If so, are those very hard to get into?

Thanks a lot!

 

[cmcner]

According to the ADEA this is how hard it is to get in. I'd imagine your road would be even harder. Middle of the pack grades as a US student makes your odds almost none. Going to a foreign dental school makes your odds almost none. I'd say you have to call admissions of programs yourself and see if they'd ever even consider you. I could really only possibly see them considering you if you kill the test and do a 1-2 year OMFS internship and they love you and then only that program would likely consider you. The other option is doing a two year ASPID program in a US school and killing it.

 

[setdoc7]

The majority of programs accept graduates from US and Canadian schools.

 

[Racquetball3r]

I feel like the above information looks a little funny because it takes into account all of the applications submitted by individuals. (https://www.natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2016applstats.html) Here is some information from the ADA that says that of the 221 OMFS positions matched in 2016, only 8 were students from schools outside of the US. As above posters have said, these 8 people were probably at the top of their class/had great CBSE scores. So in summary if you had great grades and test scores, you would statistically have about a 4% chance of gaining entrance into a program. I think you have a long uphill battle in front of you if this is what you really want to do.

 

[CanaDMD]

I feel like the above information looks a little funny because it takes into account all of the applications submitted by individuals. (https://www.natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2016applstats.html) Here is some information from the ADA that says that of the 221 OMFS positions matched in 2016, only 8 were students from schools outside of the US. As above posters have said, these 8 people were probably at the top of their class/had great CBSE scores. So in summary if you had great grades and test scores, you would statistically have about a 4% chance of gaining entrance into a program. I think you have a long uphill battle in front of you if this is what you really want to do.

Are Canadian DS graduates included in US stats or are they part of those 8 students?

 

[CanaDMD]

I can't say for sure, but the website gives me the impression that Canadian graduates are not included in the US stats. There is no asterisk or parenthesis next to the numbers, it simply says US Dental Schools and Non US Dental Schools.

That wouldn't make much sense 😳

 

[The OMFS]

Still easier than a non-US, non-Canadian student who attends a US accredited dental school. Go for it.

 

[discensdentibus]

this looks off.... anyone wish to compare against this? https://www.natmatch.com/dentres/stats/2016applstats.html