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Is a one year AEGD pointless in the long run?
- Thread starter Incis0r
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I've kept most of my skills and have a wider scope of practice than other GPs at my duty station because I went there, got the skills, maintained the skills, and ensured that I maintained privileging to perform those procedures.
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The quality of the program and education all depends on who the program directors are - sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not, and that can change from year to year. I was stationed on DG and handled everything that was thrown my way. I'm currently at a base with all the specialties but still do the specialty procedures essentially whenever I want to take a case.
As for the last part, you don't need to worry about that yet.
As for the last part, you don't need to worry about that yet.
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I am in my first active duty year and did not do an AEGD (I am in my snowbird year waiting to begin specialty training next summer). There is another dentist in my clinic that arrived the same time I did. He just finished an AEGD. My practice is COMPLETELY limited to exams and operative. He is doing impacted third molar extractions and given an assistant who fills his preps so he can see more patients than I can. Granted, I am at a post that probably limits GPs more than any other in the Army but the point is that the AEGD is valued by commanders and probably will give you expanded privileges no matter where you end up. Additionally, when coming straight out of dental school there is a learning curve in the military (e.g. different record keeping, computer software, materials, philosophy of practice) that will take time getting used to. Learning this within the environment of an AEGD would be easier than getting thrown into it like I was, which was pretty stressful. In my mind, if you think you will remain a GP or need time to figure out if you want to specialize, an AEGD is the best path. Even if you are picked up for a specialty right out of school, the AEGD will be worth it. The fact that it is not a payback year shouldn't play into it heavily. After all, the four years of dental school weren't payback years either yet they were well worth it.
There is no doubt that the AEGD will expand your scope in the military (especially in the early years) and is the best choice professionally (I chose not to complete an AEGD for personal reasons but it definitely set me back professionally).
There is no doubt that the AEGD will expand your scope in the military (especially in the early years) and is the best choice professionally (I chose not to complete an AEGD for personal reasons but it definitely set me back professionally).
I would highly recommend doing the 1 year AEGD whether you want to specialize or remain a GP, stay in the military or leave after your initial obligation. It is a great way to improve your skills, treatment planning, diagnosis as a new graduate. There is so much that you do not know as a new grad, and you don't know what you don't know. Doing the 1 year AEGD will allow you to work 1-on-1 with specialists, sit in lectures/discussion (1 on 8 ratio), and learn from your co-residents from 7/8 different schools with different experiences.
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I think that the AEGD is a great leveler of dental schools. For instance, some schools require you do provide all treatment, while others have multiple specialty programs that steal cases. The AEGD is the greatest benefit to those who had less training overall during dental school. I came from a great clinic school and think the AEGD would have been a waste of time for me. The AEGD dentists around me do exactly all the same stuff I do (accept for crown lengthening, I have never been interested in crown lengthening).
That much being said, in the army, AEGD graduates provide a large source of the pool for most people selected to go into specialties (it seems to make up other weaknesses).
That much being said, in the army, AEGD graduates provide a large source of the pool for most people selected to go into specialties (it seems to make up other weaknesses).
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Absolutely not!! You don't know what you don't know! The 1 year is a huge bonus!
Do it. You don't know what you don't know.
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Also keep in mind that in the military you are only allowed to do the things you are credentialed to do (unlike the "free for all" on the civilian side), meaning you need to show that you were actually trained before you can do something. The 1yr AEGD can give you the training on numerous procedures and therefore, potentially, a wider scope of practice.
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I'm sure there are great civilian AEGDs out there, but ultimately it doesn't matter. When you join the military, you are only allowed to apply to military programs (and no civilians are allowed to apply to military programs). You need to understand that you made a commitment to be in the military and whatever is happening in the civilian side becomes irrelevant. Also, remember that patients in military dental clinic don't pay for their dentistry 🙂 so you do what you think is best for that patient and NOT what they can afford - "I see an edentulous area, lets consider an implant! Lets tack in a few crowns here, periodontal surgery here, etc etc, lets get started on Monday!"
