How much perio can a GP do?

[ehop24]

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I'm planning on being a GP. I love the variety, the recall patient population, and the incredible autonomy that comes with it. For more than one reason, I don't want to specialize.

However, it seems that I fall more in love with perio everyday. I mean, the nastier, the better. Sure, I'm a sick puppy. But somebody has to be. Implant placement, tissue/bone grafting, surgical flaps...It does not get any better.

But the entire "Practice Limited to Periodontics" does not appeal to me. I want it all! I'm not willing to limit myself to just these procedures and a referrel/disease only patient population.

The reason I have a question is because at our school, perio procedures are not a graduation requirement. We need only assist in a few.

That fact leads me to believe that perio procedures require a great deal of training. Too much to do in CE? I would never treat a patient without proper training. But what will it take for me to be competent enough to incorporate a significant perio capacity into my general practice?

Should I say forget about it? Should I plan on spending 2 weeks a month in CE ?

 

[DrJeff]

The answer is as much as you want to. But remember that if you're going to do advanced perio procedures as a GP that you'll be held up to the standards of you local periodontist should it come to a question of malpractice

 

[omsres]

ehop24, you are definitely a unique individual. I felt the same way in dental school except with oms. You should look more into periodontics as a specialty. You'll never be limited by what you can do as a specialist, your scope actually broadens. There are probably areas of periodontics that you don't know about without being a resident.

Just a biased opinion, if you plan on doing a lot of specialty procedures, you should probably be trained as a specialist. You can't count on CE to give you the knowledge base as well as the hands on experience that a residency provides. I'm talking about variations in the presentation of a problem and management of all the possible complications you probably wouldn't know were possible.

DrJeff said it best about being held to the standards

 

[ehop24]

thanks to all.

thats about what i figured. i just couldnt figure out how CE could provide the degree of knowledge that would make me comfortable performing advanced procedures.

realistically, if i want to do some advanced perio surgery, i should be a periodontist. i can't argue that.

oh well...sounds like i might have some decisions to think through.