How do Dental Residencies work?

[predentwasconfused]

I'm a high school junior right now. Before you all start saying I'm too young to worry about residencies right now, can I just say I'm pretty darn sure I want to go into dentistry?

I really wanted to be an orthodontist since I was like 8. I did some researching and asking and calling people over the years and got really detailed information on dental schools and what the career is like.

No one told me about what happens in between.

I'm not so sure I want to specialize in orthodontics anymore. Heck, I don't even know if I want to specialize. I could just do GP and be happy.

Still, I want to know in case something comes up. I haven't even experienced college aside from staying at a dorm for a summer program, so I don't know what I want to specialize in. I do want to do dentistry.

I was looking at this thing that had a list of accredited orthodontic residencies in the US (using ortho as an example) and saw they had a tuition. Now, I had done some research in medicine for a few months and considered it, and apparently, medical residents get a salary and don't pay a tuition.

So how exactly do dental residencies work?

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[toothdriller2k17]

I'm a high school junior right now. Before you all start saying I'm too young to worry about residencies right now, can I just say I'm pretty darn sure I want to go into dentistry?

I really wanted to be an orthodontist since I was like 8. I did some researching and asking and calling people over the years and got really detailed information on dental schools and what the career is like.

No one told me about what happens in between.

I'm not so sure I want to specialize in orthodontics anymore. Heck, I don't even know if I want to specialize. I could just do GP and be happy.

Still, I want to know in case something comes up. I haven't even experienced college aside from staying at a dorm for a summer program, so I don't know what I want to specialize in. I do want to do dentistry.

I was looking at this thing that had a list of accredited orthodontic residencies in the US (using ortho as an example) and saw they had a tuition. Now, I had done some research in medicine for a few months and considered it, and apparently, medical residents get a salary and don't pay a tuition.

So how exactly do dental residencies work?

you have quite a long way to go. so i'll just respond to your post with this to-do list.

1. apply to college, get into college
2. graduate high school
3. start college
4. take the required science courses first and do well. that is the first hurdle to see if you still want to do dentistry
5. if you feel like you can handle it, start shadowing/working as a dental assistant
6. junior year of college--take the DAT, do well
7. apply to dental school by the end of your junior year of college
8. interview, get accepted into dental school
9. bust your behind to do ortho. more than likely you'll need above a 3.7 to be competitive for a large majority of programs
10. while you're in dental school pursue orthodontics research, get published
11. by the end of your dental school career you'll be applying to residencies.

you may have an idea of what you want in life, but things come your way especially in college. i know plenty of people who've switched majors, and dropped out of pre-med/pre-dental programs. get to college and really explore your options.

and FYI as of now, ortho residencies are still tough to get. the boards are now P/F but by the time you start applying to residency who knows what'll be out there. we're talking almost a decade away.

unlike medical specialties where you receive pay, you have to pay to attend an ortho residency (in fact most dental residencies require a tuition).

 

[Racquetball3r]

There are several specialties within the field of dentistry including endo, pedo, perio, ortho, pros, omfs, and a few others like public health, pathology, and radiology. Most of the typical dental specialties require you to pay tuition for their program, except for omfs in which residents typically get paid for their residencies.

 

[LaughingGas]

Except if you go to 6 year route for OMFS, you pay for the medical school tuition.

 

[Loyoladentalman15]

I'm a high school junior right now. Before you all start saying I'm too young to worry about residencies right now, can I just say I'm pretty darn sure I want to go into dentistry?

I really wanted to be an orthodontist since I was like 8. I did some researching and asking and calling people over the years and got really detailed information on dental schools and what the career is like.

No one told me about what happens in between.

I'm not so sure I want to specialize in orthodontics anymore. Heck, I don't even know if I want to specialize. I could just do GP and be happy.

Still, I want to know in case something comes up. I haven't even experienced college aside from staying at a dorm for a summer program, so I don't know what I want to specialize in. I do want to do dentistry.

I was looking at this thing that had a list of accredited orthodontic residencies in the US (using ortho as an example) and saw they had a tuition. Now, I had done some research in medicine for a few months and considered it, and apparently, medical residents get a salary and don't pay a tuition.

So how exactly do dental residencies work?

I think it is absolutely awesome that you are sure that dentistry is what you want to do. Not many people know what they want in high school much less in college. I do recommend you to keep an open mind though. You are young and you WILL change as you transition to and through college. Maybe not your dreams will change...but your mindset will def change (I guess your dreams can change too ya know?). I have had many friends tell me that they wanted to specialize or be the top dentist in their state in HS. Even I thought that they could do it but all of them have given up on dentistry. Not because of grades but they realized they didnt love it as much as they though. So, just keep your mind open to different career choices as you go through college.

All my friends, heck, even a lot of dentists said that they would specialize upon entering college. That all changed when they entered dental school as most people would just say "eff it. GP ftw" which is totally not bad! The main mission of all dental schools is to train and graduate competent general dentists. Not specialists. Now ortho is a very sought after specialty and is VERY competitive. Like I said before, it is awesome that you know what you want to do but please take my advice: Don't tire yourself out about dental specialties especially when you have yet to start your senior year of hs (not trying to be rude). Enjoy life. Enjoy senior year. Get into college. Then, the real work begins.

 

[akog]

This is just one institution, but it's a good rundown of what you can expect for the costs or salaries of dental residencies:

http://dental.nyu.edu/academicprograms/advanced-education-programs/tuition.html

But everyone is different. I believe Vanderbilt Ortho pays a bigger salary, but I also believe they're closing their doors soon. I know there are several pediatric residencies that pay more than average.

As far as wanting to specialize, keep this in mind: friend of mine in an OMS residency said that he saw a survey once that indicated that 90% of incoming dental students said they wanted to specialize, and that less than 10% actually end up doing so. I don't mean to sap your enthusiasm---just know the atmosphere so you understand people's reactions when you say you want to specialize.

I think all pre-dents go through specialization phases. The more I shadow, the more I appreciate the practice style and patient relationships found in general dentistry.

 

[sjv]

The ADAT for specialty programs will probably be implemented by then...

http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/advanced-dental-admission-test/
http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/adea_adat_2015.ashx
http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/adea_update_dat_adat_2015.ashx

 

[Loyoladentalman15]

I think dentistry is a good field.
Yes, you have the ability to recognize atmosphere so you understand people's reactions when you say you want to specialize.

Recognize atmosphere? What? lol

 

[predentwasconfused]

you have quite a long way to go. so i'll just respond to your post with this to-do list.

1. apply to college, get into college
2. graduate high school
3. start college
4. take the required science courses first and do well. that is the first hurdle to see if you still want to do dentistry
5. if you feel like you can handle it, start shadowing/working as a dental assistant
6. junior year of college--take the DAT, do well
7. apply to dental school by the end of your junior year of college
8. interview, get accepted into dental school
9. bust your behind to do ortho. more than likely you'll need above a 3.7 to be competitive for a large majority of programs
10. while you're in dental school pursue orthodontics research, get published
11. by the end of your dental school career you'll be applying to residencies.

you may have an idea of what you want in life, but things come your way especially in college. i know plenty of people who've switched majors, and dropped out of pre-med/pre-dental programs. get to college and really explore your options.

and FYI as of now, ortho residencies are still tough to get. the boards are now P/F but by the time you start applying to residency who knows what'll be out there. we're talking almost a decade away.

unlike medical specialties where you receive pay, you have to pay to attend an ortho residency (in fact most dental residencies require a tuition).

Okay, I don't think I was clear enough. I really appreciate the effort you put into making this list, but I really know everything on this list already.

I'm actually applying to accelerated programs, so I have to decide on my career in November of my senior year, which is literally months from now.

I've already shadowed my dentist, and racked up 20 hours. I think I'm on my way to having a decent resume, and have pretty good grades in high school (4.0 unweighted GPA). I know high school is nothing like dental school, but I have developed excellent study habits and my undergrad studies will probably just help me furhter better them.

I love the previous replies as well! This is definitely giving me a better idea, and the more I think about it, the more GP sounds better. I haven't given up on specialization, but I'm keeping an open mind.

But yes, I am pretty darn sure I want to do dentistry. I did bounce around medicine and research for about 2 months before reverting to dentistry again. And this has happened several times. When I reconsider and jump straight back to dentistry again and again, I think it's a good sign I want to do dentistry.

 

[darknightzzz]

Okay, I don't think I was clear enough. I really appreciate the effort you put into making this list, but I really know everything on this list already.

I'm actually applying to accelerated programs, so I have to decide on my career in November of my senior year, which is literally months from now.

I've already shadowed my dentist, and racked up 20 hours. I think I'm on my way to having a decent resume, and have pretty good grades in high school (4.0 unweighted GPA). I know high school is nothing like dental school, but I have developed excellent study habits and my undergrad studies will probably just help me furhter better them.

I love the previous replies as well! This is definitely giving me a better idea, and the more I think about it, the more GP sounds better. I haven't given up on specialization, but I'm keeping an open mind.

But yes, I am pretty darn sure I want to do dentistry. I did bounce around medicine and research for about 2 months before reverting to dentistry again. And this has happened several times. When I reconsider and jump straight back to dentistry again and again, I think it's a good sign I want to do dentistry.

congratz on 4.0 high school GPA, which all students I know that go to University with have. study habits in high school most of them are sure they have good habits until distraction and real life stuff set in.

it is good that you are confident and have a plan. you can easily google how dental residence works.

 

[Incis0r]

Okay, I don't think I was clear enough. I really appreciate the effort you put into making this list, but I really know everything on this list already.

I'm actually applying to accelerated programs, so I have to decide on my career in November of my senior year, which is literally months from now.

I've already shadowed my dentist, and racked up 20 hours. I think I'm on my way to having a decent resume, and have pretty good grades in high school (4.0 unweighted GPA). I know high school is nothing like dental school, but I have developed excellent study habits and my undergrad studies will probably just help me furhter better them.

I love the previous replies as well! This is definitely giving me a better idea, and the more I think about it, the more GP sounds better. I haven't given up on specialization, but I'm keeping an open mind.

But yes, I am pretty darn sure I want to do dentistry. I did bounce around medicine and research for about 2 months before reverting to dentistry again. And this has happened several times. When I reconsider and jump straight back to dentistry again and again, I think it's a good sign I want to do dentistry.

If I had to do it again, I would apply to all the combined degree/accelerated programs I could find. Some examples:

1) UoP...3+3= 6 years after HS you're practicing dentistry
2) UDM
3) BU 7yr combined

You've got the stats for them. Just show maturity (which is visible from your posts) and you'll be golden.

Best of luck and congrats on finding what you want to do in life so early: go get 'em!

 

[Loyoladentalman15]

Okay, I don't think I was clear enough. I really appreciate the effort you put into making this list, but I really know everything on this list already.

I'm actually applying to accelerated programs, so I have to decide on my career in November of my senior year, which is literally months from now.

I've already shadowed my dentist, and racked up 20 hours. I think I'm on my way to having a decent resume, and have pretty good grades in high school (4.0 unweighted GPA). I know high school is nothing like dental school, but I have developed excellent study habits and my undergrad studies will probably just help me furhter better them.

I love the previous replies as well! This is definitely giving me a better idea, and the more I think about it, the more GP sounds better. I haven't given up on specialization, but I'm keeping an open mind.

But yes, I am pretty darn sure I want to do dentistry. I did bounce around medicine and research for about 2 months before reverting to dentistry again. And this has happened several times. When I reconsider and jump straight back to dentistry again and again, I think it's a good sign I want to do dentistry.

Oh last advice. Don't burn any bridges. Treat everyone with respect. I'm sure you know this.
Good luck!

 

[kidsaremypassion]

@SubAtomicCherry,
I think its great that you are already set on a path. Its great to aim high, because at the very least you will land among stars! I started dental school knowing for sure I wanted to work with children, and tailored my research efforts/grades towards that. I'm starting pedo residency next month. Don't rule out other options, but definetely hit the ground running so you dont shut any doors that you'd like to keep open.

 

[deleted659902]

I'm a high school junior right now. Before you all start saying I'm too young to worry about residencies right now, can I just say I'm pretty darn sure I want to go into dentistry?

I really wanted to be an orthodontist since I was like 8. I did some researching and asking and calling people over the years and got really detailed information on dental schools and what the career is like.

No one told me about what happens in between.

I'm not so sure I want to specialize in orthodontics anymore. Heck, I don't even know if I want to specialize. I could just do GP and be happy.

Still, I want to know in case something comes up. I haven't even experienced college aside from staying at a dorm for a summer program, so I don't know what I want to specialize in. I do want to do dentistry.

I was looking at this thing that had a list of accredited orthodontic residencies in the US (using ortho as an example) and saw they had a tuition. Now, I had done some research in medicine for a few months and considered it, and apparently, medical residents get a salary and don't pay a tuition.

So how exactly do dental residencies work?

I don't really have a tangible reply to your question, but I do have a trivial suggestion. Print out your posts on this page and save them somewhere. Then after about six years (before your third year of dental school), take a look at them again to see if you feel the same. Please don't forget to let us know. 🙂

 

[toothdriller2k17]

again, i'll say this. college will make an impact on you. whether or not it heightens your desire for dentistry is yet to be seen. applying to accelerated programs and attending them binds you to the programs, yes, but you can still change your major and do something else.

i myself was accepted into a pharmacy program out of high school--6 years. i dropped out after 2 and pursued dentistry. before dental school i shadowed a pediatric dentist and an oral surgeon...i was 100% set on oral surgery. fast forward to my 3rd year of dental school and i want to appreciate more of the business aspect of dentistry and i enjoy the broader scope of procedures (it keeps my day interesting)--hence the GP route.

so at this point, just try to volunteer at some dental clinics and just see what time does for you.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

General information can be found at the ADEA GoDental website: http://www.adea.org/GoDental/Career_Options/Specialty_Options.aspx . Plus I will have a presentation in the ADEA GoDental Predental Student Virtual Fair for high school predental students.