I’m stuck. Continue working or go into advanced education?

[Utdarsenal]

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Hi everyone, i’m a relatively new dentist here in the U.S. (have been working for a year and a half now) and am stuck between two options. I’m at battle with myself and would love some opinions please.

So, i’m currently 27 y.o, thankfully graduated with no debt so I’ve just been saving up. I’m not sure wether to
1) just continue working, go into ownership soon, etc.. keep on saving up, taking courses here and there.
Or
2) go into specialty training (foreign country!) for a comprehensive prostho/implant program for about 3 years. Benefits of this: intense training in implants/prosth and probably no debt due to affordable tuition.

Cons would be missing three years of working, could probably already have a house, etc.. I’m not sure if learning how to do more procedures would pay off financially in the long run, or if I should just keep on doing the general dentist grind (bread and butter). I’d love to be able to do more complex cases and push myself further but Idk if it’s worth the three years off.

How do you guys see it? Has anyone done anything similar?

 

[CowboyCanine]

Dude..not sure what new dentist to the US mean.. are u a foreign trained dentist working in the US , or did you just graduate?

I have been working for a few years in Dallas. I am a US trained dentist, but am relatively new.

I love general dentistry, but I am not doing great service to my patients like I want to. My dentistry is good, but it can be a whole lot better, and am looking at two things

a. Going into residency- preferably pros at Texas A&M Baylor School of Dentistry (or another good school- UCSF, UCLA, UIC, U of Washington ETC)
b. Military- serve 1-2 years, and go into pros residency with the military

But I strongly believe I need to become a prosthodontist to do what I want in terms of dentistry. Of course, loss of income is a factor. Earning what I am earning now, and then going back to becoming a student is not ideal, but I am in my late 20s, and no kids, so I got nothing to lose I guess. I look at education as investment.

The question you need to ask is
What do you want to do with your graduate dentistry education?

 

[Utdarsenal]

Dude..not sure what new dentist to the US mean.. are u a foreign trained dentist working in the US , or did you just graduate?

I have been working for a few years in Dallas. I am a US trained dentist, but am relatively new.

I love general dentistry, but I am not doing great service to my patients like I want to. My dentistry is good, but it can be a whole lot better, and am looking at two things

a. Going into residency- preferably pros at Texas A&M Baylor School of Dentistry (or another good school- UCSF, UCLA, UIC, U of Washington ETC)
b. Military- serve 1-2 years, and go into pros residency with the military

But I strongly believe I need to become a prosthodontist to do what I want in terms of dentistry. Of course, loss of income is a factor. Earning what I am earning now, and then going back to becoming a student is not ideal, but I am in my late 20s, and no kids, so I got nothing to lose I guess. I look at education as investment.

The question you need to ask is
What do you want to do with your graduate dentistry education?

Looks like we're in a similar situation. I think my ideal scenario would be learning to be a "great" dentist procedure-wise and have a small, low over-head office. Seeing one, maybe two columns a day (nice, relaxed schedule) but putting a lot of effort into each treatment. For example, being able to rubber dam every filling. That would be the end goal.. tired of this corporate running from room to room situation. I do worry about the financial set-back this can cause though because I'm also looking to start a family/ purchase a house in the not too distant future, but, I'm thinking maybe these three years are worth it for the 30+ years of work that we may still be seeing.

 

[Svart Aske]

Why do you need to go to a foreign country for a prosth/implant training?

 

[Utdarsenal]

Why do you need to go to a foreign country for a prosth/implant training?

Just a personal decision, I'm aware of graduates who've come out of that program and they're very well prepared. Obviously, there's a downside in that I wouldn't be considered a "specialist" in the U.S.
There seems to be good options in the U.S. as well but I'm trying to stay out of debt ( as much as possible).

 

[P7898]

Just a personal decision, I'm aware of graduates who've come out of that program and they're very well prepared. Obviously, there's a downside in that I wouldn't be considered a "specialist" in the U.S.
There seems to be good options in the U.S. as well but I'm trying to stay out of debt ( as much as possible).

To the OP - why proths?

 

[Utdarsenal]

To the OP - why proths?

I've always thought of prosth as the quarterback in treatment planning. You have to know a little of everything.. You have to see the whole picture. I like prosth but I like surgery (implantology) more. Knowing how to do both would be amazing, IMO.

 

[CowboyCanine]

Just a personal decision, I'm aware of graduates who've come out of that program and they're very well prepared. Obviously, there's a downside in that I wouldn't be considered a "specialist" in the U.S.
There seems to be good options in the U.S. as well but I'm trying to stay out of debt ( as much as possible).

Dude..what foreign country are you planning to go to train in Pros?

 

[CowboyCanine]

Looks like we're in a similar situation. I think my ideal scenario would be learning to be a "great" dentist procedure-wise and have a small, low over-head office. Seeing one, maybe two columns a day (nice, relaxed schedule) but putting a lot of effort into each treatment. For example, being able to rubber dam every filling. That would be the end goal.. tired of this corporate running from room to room situation. I do worry about the financial set-back this can cause though because I'm also looking to start a family/ purchase a house in the not too distant future, but, I'm thinking maybe these three years are worth it for the 30+ years of work that we may still be seeing.

Dude..all that sounds great
but Pros practices do not have Low overheads (one of the highest ones)

I think you have the right goals, but it will take a lot of time to get there- to build your reputation, to get really good at what you do, and also lots of marketing and good business practices where you can work less to make more.

Prosthodontist actually start off mostly as super GPs, and slowly build reputation over time. The days where you have a referral based practices are slowing dying, mostly because of the corporate chains.
I really believe the three years of education is worth it, including the loss of income. After getting the degree, with lots of hard work, good mentors, and good planning, you can get to where you can do the type of dentistry you want.

I am not going outside the US to train. I believe the US has the best training, but my opinion is very (very ) biased.

The only thing I did not like about what you said about the practices is using rubber dam for every filling. hehe