Is it possible to Double Specialize?

[Stroszeck]

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I know there are or were some perio/prosth combined programs or even pedo/ortho...but lets say you specialize in a particular field, like prostho or something and then after a few years of work you want to add endo or something else to your practice but would like to do it at a professional level, would it then be possible to go back to an endo or perio program? Is this frowned upon and will it prevent you from even being seen as a viable applicant by programs?? Just wondering...

 

[charlestweed]

It sure is possible. I know a periodontist who gave up his 9 years old perio pratice and went back to school for ortho. My co-resident got her pedo certificate before she joined our ortho program.

In my opinion, there is no advantage of having dual specialty certificates. The reason the GPs refer patients to the specialists is the specialists don't compete against the GPs for patients. Most of the referred patients will come back to see the GPs for regular dental care. No GP would refer perio and implant cases to the perio/prosth specialists. No GP would refer the ortho cases to a pedo/ortho guy. No GP would refer the 3r molar extraction cases to pedo/OMFS or ortho/OMFS or endo/OMFS guy. No GP would refer to the specialist who does too many things…instead of specializing in just "one" area.

My practice has both both perio and ortho specialties but there are 2 different doctors. My wife is a periodontist and I am an orthodontist. And I have to be very careful. When canine exposure is necessary, I don't just refer the patient to my wife. I have to inform the GP first before I refer the patient to my wife. And vice versa, my wife doesn't just refer the patient to me for molar uprighting so she can place the implant....she must first talk to the referring GP.

 

[getlouped]

Yes, I know someone who did a pros residency then a perio residency immediatey after.

 

[Demeter]

At some point you just need to get out of school and start earning $$$. A perio/pros or perio/endo combo just does not make any sense to me. Plus you can offer all of these services at a "professional" level without a residency program.

 

[yojimbo53]

it's doable. i know people who did OMFS then Ortho (know two people who did this); Pedo then Ortho; Prosth then Ortho (know two people who did this); Perio then Ortho.

I know there are or were some perio/prosth combined programs or even pedo/ortho...but lets say you specialize in a particular field, like prostho or something and then after a few years of work you want to add endo or something else to your practice but would like to do it at a professional level, would it then be possible to go back to an endo or perio program? Is this frowned upon and will it prevent you from even being seen as a viable applicant by programs?? Just wondering...

 

[Stroszeck]

Yea but what do you say to the admissions committee on paper and if you get an interview? Won't they be like what the hell are you doing you already specialized??? Thats where it gets tricky....

 

[DrReo]

it's doable. i know people who did OMFS then Ortho (know two people who did this); Pedo then Ortho; Prosth then Ortho (know two people who did this); Perio then Ortho.

Did they do it because of a large shift of interest or to build their application for the more competitive specialty.

 

[og2]

it's doable. i know people who did OMFS then Ortho (know two people who did this); Pedo then Ortho; Prosth then Ortho (know two people who did this); Perio then Ortho.

funny that it never seems to work the other way around 🙂

 

[Guy Smiley]

funny that it never seems to work the other way around 🙂

Aren't you doing ortho do bolster your application to Radiology? You always seem to be extra interested in radiographs in clinic.

 

[og2]

Aren't you doing ortho do bolster your application to Radiology? You always seem to be extra interested in radiographs in clinic.

😀 sometimes at night i can't wait to get back to a citrix enabled computer to play with dolphins.

 

[wantorthogpa2]

funny that it never seems to work the other way around 🙂

it shouldnt.😎 Ortho is the toughest branch of Dentistry, hands down, hence the tedious work one has to endure, and the number of cases to be treated for a MSc clearly show so, let alone the PhD thesis..

 

[yojimbo53]

Shift in interest, genuine interest in both specialties, and to bolster application for ortho. But those that did the latter had more trouble getting in, for obvious reasons (weren't qualified to begin with, had to make up cheesy story during interviews, etc).

Did they do it because of a large shift of interest or to build their application for the more competitive specialty.