How many go on to specialize?

[DATMATT]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am amazed about how many pre-dents on SDN talk of going on to specialize and selecting a school based on their ability to go on to specialize after they get their DDS degree.

I am hoping to go on to be a regular dentist but hope to keep my options open to specialize if I want. Thus, I am choosing a school where I can be prepared for general dentistry at the least. Just a thought. I know most of you SDN'ers are a cut above the rest (see the stats post newbies) and am sure those of you who want to go on will, but won't there be some of you who are disappointed?

Matt

 

[DesiDentist]

Well, I wanted to be an astronaut when I was young, but that didn't work out. Simlarily many people will think it sounds good to specialize, but when time changes and comes closer plans change. I believe 15 - 20% of graduates go on to pursue post doctorate training. I'm like you as well, I haven't had enough exposure yet to say I want to do specialize. Maybe that's what interests me about dentistry. There are so many paths I could take, but i like to take it day by day as well.

DesiDentist

 

[tinker bell]

Will know who do what after NDBE II, I guess?😛

 

[Yah-E]

Applicants for Post-Doctoral residencies should have a good idea after NBDE Part I. You usually apply to Post-Doctoral residencies with PASS and Match programs in the summer between your 3rd and 4th year and you find out if you're matched by December through January of your 4th year before you graduate. NBDE Part II you do not even take until the end of your 4th year so it wouldn't come in to play as a decision factor AS MUCH.

About people wanting to specialize....yes....it's always a good question! We always hear and see applicants and first year dental students wanting to specialize UNTIL they get hit with 15 final exams in a row at the end of their first semester first year of dental school.

Specialty residencies/programs are moving in a direction where not only they want to see the academic numbers (class rank, cumulative GPA, and NBDE scores), but they also want to sense and document an early motivation from their applicants for their specialty.

Believe me, I've heard many times from Chairs of specialty departments at NOVA that they've turn down outstanding applicants (1st in their classes, >90 on boards) because they did not sense that "motivation" for their specialty. These applicants simply applied to Post-Doctoral residencies because it was their fourth year and they thought "heck, why not? I have the numbers!"

Keeping your options open is fine, but really do your research and homework on the specialty that may interest you. For example, do not wait until your second year of dental school to find out about Endodontics because that's your first Endodontic course, research Endodontics now and check out the Endodontic association web sites as a predent or a first-year!

Another example, I'm aiming to be an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), if I waited (being passive) until I receive OMS exposure, then I wouldn't even see OMS procedures until my 3rd year of dental school because that's when OMS is integrated in the dental curriculi. Instead, I researched on the specialty as a Pre-dent by shadowing OMS surgeons, OMS departments at various dental schools, did OMS research, interacting with OMS faculty and now as a D-1, in addition to all that, I'm also exploring an OMS externship this upcoming summer which traditionally isn't even available for D-2s!

Be "ACTIVE" and not "PASSIVE" in the role of an applicant whether it's for dental schools or Post-doctoral specialty residencies.

You ask how many people do actually specialize?

I say 100% of those that are motivated from the start and active pursuing their goal to specialize, specializes!

As my high school football coach used to say to us, "WALK THE TALK!"

 

[sjdent]

I think it's important to be THINKING toward the very beginning about specializing in order to keep your grades up. Otherwise, seniors who have a 2.5 who suddenly want to specialize are frustrated they didn't get better grades. I think it's impossible sometimes to know until you've gone through a significant portion of dental school to really know if you want it. And by then, it might be too late if you slacked.

 

[rimpy823]

what if you were unable to achieve high grades to get into a specialty (ortho)...you graduate and work as a general dentist for a couple of years...can you then apply to a specialty program after and what are the chances of getting in??

 

[johndental]

With the exception of Orthodontics its possible to specialize
without a stellar class rank ( hearsay mind you )

Many people in oral surgery programs come back to school after working for a couple of years. Many of them arent even in the top twenty percent ( I know two of them who were barley in the top half of their respective classes ). Much of it had to do with connections and desire to spend all those extra years in school. The faculty at dental schools look favorably on those who COME back to school after being "out there in private practice".

However, I have heard Ortho programs are absolutely anal about stats. The others arent and look more towards experience and your personal goals etc.. Many endo programs wont even look at people right out of school and require you to apply with experience under your belt.

Shouldnt get to caught up in the class rank thing unless you want ortho from what I've heard. Even a crappy 2.5 might not necc keep you out of a specialty if you come back to school at a later date ( excepting ortho ).

In dental school there is also a difference between clinical skills and basic science stuff anyways. Those with great clinical skills and supreme talent are often not the ones with the highest grades in gross anatomy or biochemistry etc.. Since Clinical faculty are the gatekeepers of the specialites they look at a students clinical skills under a microscope.

 

[tinker bell]

Don't forget that the population age is changing, and ortho might not be as hard to get in by the time you finish d-school.
But even old people now do get braces. So, to be safe, I'm supposed that we're gonna try hard in NDBE I?
Do they look at class rank (GPA) and experience as well? Like how many braces have you done while you're in d-school? I remember Mark Lombard said that Temple has a high matching rate for ortho.
Make me want to go to Temple
🙂

 

[DesiDentist]

My neurobiology TA's brother went to Temple and he matched into Harvard's Orthodontics department this year.

DesiDentist

 

[sjdent]

Don't forget that what's popular now might not be in 4-5 years. I mean, look at Pedo....used to be you couldn't PAY people to go into it. Now, they make massive amounts of $$ and are getting tons more applicants every year.......at least at my school.

 

[Qoo]

So does anyone know about how many spots total are there each year for all the specialty programs in the states? how many ppl apply?

Thanks!

~Qoo

 

[Yah-E]

United States dental residecy availabilities per year:

Ortho: ~240 spots
OMS or OMS/MD: ~200
Endo: ~184
Perio: ~155
Pedo: ~205
Prostho: ~126
GPR: ~879
AEGD: ~520

 

[groundhog]

Dentistry itself can already be looked upon as a medical specialty. So one might want to consider how future developments will impact the practice of dentistry before choosing to enter a dental specialty program. I think new technologies will soon enable GP's to do most of the ortho, endo, and prost work as well as a significant portion of the perio and oral surgery procedures.
I can see it now. Computer driven mini robotic machines which, under the control of the dentist, are able to perform micro MRI, C-scan, and scope analytics plus all of the preventative, adjustive, and restorative procedures. Goodbye X-rays and hand tools. Anyone else share my vision?

 

[pumpkins90]

I'm one of those who really doesn't have a desire to specialize. After shadowing a general dentist for numerous hours, I am content with the idea of perfroming a variety of procedures. I don't think i want to do one particular area the rest of my life. I know general dentists can also perform the specialities, but they are held to the same liabilities as the specialist. I haven't started school yet, but for right now thats what i'm leaning towards.

 

[DesiDentist]

I agree with groundhog,

Have you seen some of the new technology. It is gonna be an exciting time for all of us in the next 5-15 years when new technological advances come out. I just can't wait. Let's hope i'm still around, cuz waiting for UW is greying my hairs.

DesiDentist

 

[tinker bell]

I'm working in a laser lab. Yeah, we use laser to diagnose dental caries, treat caries....No pain, no drill. Lots of joy from patients. The total time spend with the patient is about a few minutes. The instrument costs about $100K. Yup, I'm looking forward to line up my patients like 300 patients a day and do just that laser stuff.
😀

 

[groundhog]

Right on tinkerbell,
The new technologies will enable dentists to handle more patients and more patients will show up for such services because the new technologies will enable treatment costs per patient to be reduced. That is called economics of scale and is the real answer to making dental care available to everyone in the population irrregardless of their economic status.

 

[Neurodent]

Does anyone have an idea about what kind of GPA specialty programs require. What about dental schools like UOP, is it possible to get into a good specialty program after attending a 3 year dental school rather than a 4 year school.