670k at the end of dental school... This will easily be a million by the time you finish omfs residency. Then, maybe you have to do a 1 year fellowship as OR time is competitive at hospitals, so add on another year of low pay and interest accruing. I am 9 years out of dental school, I have earned a decent salary the whole time, nothing amazing, I've been investing, I was able to buy a house years ago when it was way cheaper, I was able to buy stocks when they were much cheaper. My friend is still on the OMFS path. When he finishes, he will have no home equity, he will have to buy a home when it is massively more expensive, start investing when stocks are much more expensive. On top of that, he will have to pay a huge school debt. At some point, the high salary isn't worth it. Now that I am 9 years out I am earning a good income, I don't think my OMFS friend will catch up to me financially for atleast 10-15 more years. This will be 20 years after graduating dental school - basically close to retirement age. At that point, it will be who can work to an older age - probably easier to do as a dentist than omfs?