If you are a orthodontist can you still practice as a general dentist?

[shuja369]

Hi I'm a pre-dental student and I was wondering if
If you are a orthodontist can you still practice as a general dentist in your private practice?

I plan on opening up a practice as a general dentist while doing my residency for orthodontics. But I don't know if you can do both. Please let me know. Thanks

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[dmdluffy]

I think in most states you have to limit your practice to either GP or your specialty. As an ortho resident, I'm sure you can moonlight if the program allows though opening up a practice would seem extremely challenging.

 

[justsusan]

if you're an orthodontist doing general dentistry, you will not get any referrals...in which case you're pretty much a GP doing ortho so why bother to specialize at all?

 

[Talondriver]

if you're an orthodontist doping general dentistry, you will not get any referrals...in which case you're pretty much a GP doing ortho so why bother to specialize at all?

Great comment.

 

[The Dawgfather]

If you advertise as a specialist then you cannot practice as a general dentist

Dentists who choose to announce specialization should use “specialist in” or “practice limited to” and shall limit their practice exclusively to the announced dental specialties, provided at the time of the announcement such dentists have met in each recognized specialty for which they announce the existing educational requirements and standards set forth by the American Dental Association.

http://www.ada.org/sections/about/pdfs/code_of_ethics_2012.pdf - Page 15

If you are in a residency, then you are not a specialist and can moonlight as a general dentist. This is more applicable since you wont ACTUALLY be opening up a practice while you are in residency. If you think this is possible then you have no idea what residency is like and will not likely get accepted to one due to obvious ignorance.

 

[The Dawgfather]

Now that I doubled back at the OP, I realize that you aren't even a dental student... I immediately regret the amount of time I put in the last post given that you will likely not even get accepted to dental school until you realize what work school, residency and opening up a practice entails. I suggest you do your shadowing soon so you can get the concepts here.

 

[periopocket]

No because if you do GP's will no longer refer you patients.

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

Say I am a specialist but I want to provide comprehensive care to my close family (wife, kids, parents). Would that still be not ok legally/ethically?

 

[justsusan]

Now that I doubled back at the OP, I realize that you aren't even a dental student... I immediately regret the amount of time I put in the last post given that you will likely not even get accepted to dental school until you realize what work school, residency and opening up a practice entails. I suggest you do your shadowing soon so you can get the concepts here.

there is no need for that. very few people know what kind of work any of that entails..you can't unless you've already been through it.

 

[acgeorge]

Now that I doubled back at the OP, I realize that you aren't even a dental student... I immediately regret the amount of time I put in the last post given that you will likely not even get accepted to dental school until you realize what work school, residency and opening up a practice entails. I suggest you do your shadowing soon so you can get the concepts here.

No need to be a dick. I'm sure you were ignorant to some areas of dentistry as a predent as well.