MD To OMFS

[capnamerica]

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Just wondering if any MD students here have applied to or know of other MD students getting into OMFS residences. Thanks!

 

[Winged Scapula]

1) you've posted this in the SURGERY RESIDENCY forum
2) there are mostly SURGERY RESIDENTS here, not students and not OMFS

So I am moving this to the Dental Forum where it is better placed.

 

[Regmata]

It is reasonably rare for an MD to enter an OMFS residency. Only a few programs offer it. For example Harvard and possibly UMich, although I believe Michigan may not offer the tract anymore. This is largely due to the difficult logistics of completing dental training in a shortened time frame. A search in the dental resident forum will be more fruitful than here.

Are you still a pre-health student deciding on what type of school to attend?

 

[Doc Smile]

Just wondering if any MD students here have applied to or know of other MD students getting into OMFS residences. Thanks!

OMFS is a dental specialty, meaning you need a DDS. There may be only 1 or 2 exceptions.

 

[capnamerica]

Yeah. I'm undecided between med school and D-school. I want to do D-school but can't really afford it and my dad doesn't want me to do it.He wants me to do medicine instead, which he is willing to pay for, which is why I'm inquiring about the MD route to OMFS. It's not looking too good for me in this regard. I did some searching and there aren't many programs that take MD applicants. At best, I suppose I would have to contact PDs at individual programs to negotiate some sort of arrangement. Thoughts?

 

[muhali3]

I don't think you should go into dental school with the intention to do OMFS only. You should be fine with general dentistry too. And if you are, then you either need to convince your dad or find some other way to make dental school possible. The easiest way is probably HPSP.

edit: nvm you're in Canada. perhaps they have an analogous military scholarship program?

 

[Doc Smile]

At best, I suppose I would have to contact PDs at individual programs to negotiate some sort of arrangement. Thoughts?

OMFS is a dental specialty.

http://www.centreoms.com/admin/storage/news/ADA Definition of OMS and Dentisry.pdf

If you want to do OMFS, go to dental school. There are no loop holes kiddo

 

[Regmata]

He is not disputing that OMFS is a dental specialty or looking for a way around getting a DDS, he is asking if there are programs who accept medically trained students opposed to dentally trained students. The answer is yes, there are. When that happens, the resident must obtain a DDS during residency training. This track is rare though and not many programs are offering it.

You can contact individual programs, but the problem is that many OMFS programs are hospital based and not associated with a dental school. Secondly, it is no small feat to design a program that will allow a student to get all the necessary pre-clinical training and clinical requirements completed in 2 years. Developing the hand skills necessary also takes time. You will be hard pressed to find a program willing to attempt to create a special spot for you within their program. Conferral of the DDS would also require approval of the truncated program by the powers that be and again, that may be problematic.

Some medical schools are cheaper than dental school, but the opposite may also be true. It depends on where you choose to attend.

Why is your father so against dental school and why are you so gung-ho for OMFS?

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Yeah. I'm undecided between med school and D-school. I want to do D-school but can't really afford it and my dad doesn't want me to do it.He wants me to do medicine instead, which he is willing to pay for, which is why I'm inquiring about the MD route to OMFS. It's not looking too good for me in this regard. I did some searching and there aren't many programs that take MD applicants. At best, I suppose I would have to contact PDs at individual programs to negotiate some sort of arrangement. Thoughts?

Greetings,

I am sorry to say but your father seems to put his own interest first rather than yours. Do what your heart desires and listen to nobody. DP

 

[supraeli]

Do ENT w/fellowship, its a pretty similar MD specialty to OMFS. Not exactly the same, but there is overlap.

If you can get out of med school with no debt, that would be amazing. It is not ideal to be carrying around the 400K of debt that DDS+OMFS would probably give you. Remember, loans are locked at 7% interest/yr.

One of my good friends is a 6 yr OMFS gunner and he said differences in OMFS and ENT are minimal, unless you are seriously interested in OMFS for the sake of placing sinus lifts/implants/3rd extractions which imo is a waste of skills.

Just my 2c.

 

[eventualOMFS]

Do ENT w/fellowship, its a pretty similar MD specialty to OMFS. Not exactly the same, but there is overlap.

If you can get out of med school with no debt, that would be amazing. It is not ideal to be carrying around the 400K of debt that DDS+OMFS would probably give you. Remember, loans are locked at 7% interest/yr.

One of my good friends is a 6 yr OMFS gunner and he said differences in OMFS and ENT are minimal, unless you are seriously interested in OMFS for the sake of placing sinus lifts/implants/3rd extractions which imo is a waste of skills.

Just my 2c.

Complex hospital surgeries can be performed by an OMFS, but I would hardly call private practice surgeries a "waste of skills." I'm not suggesting that one do only those surgeries, but you gotta be realistic.

 

[capnamerica]

Thanks for all the responses. I also like general dentistry...more so than primary care medicine. I've looked into the military option, but I don't want to go the army route. My dad thinks that making a good living as a dentist is hard now due to saturation. There's some truth to that. I don't know what to do...I'm so screwed.🙁

 

[DrTacoElf]

Do ENT w/fellowship, its a pretty similar MD specialty to OMFS. Not exactly the same, but there is overlap.

If you can get out of med school with no debt, that would be amazing. It is not ideal to be carrying around the 400K of debt that DDS+OMFS would probably give you. Remember, loans are locked at 7% interest/yr.

One of my good friends is a 6 yr OMFS gunner and he said differences in OMFS and ENT are minimal, unless you are seriously interested in OMFS for the sake of placing sinus lifts/implants/3rd extractions which imo is a waste of skills.

Just my 2c.

Are PE tubes and tonsillectomies a waste of skill 😛

 

[jay47]

Thanks for all the responses. I also like general dentistry...more so than primary care medicine. I've looked into the military option, but I don't want to go the army route. My dad thinks that making a good living as a dentist is hard now due to saturation. There's some truth to that. I don't know what to do...I'm so screwed.🙁

Of course it is if you choose to go to saturated areas. There are PLENTY of options for dentists in small rural communities across America, but no one wants to live in small towns. If you don't mind the small towns, you can do PLENTY well, let me assure you.

It's wierd; in some areas, there is a dentist on every corner (take a look at Round Rock, TX; 1 dentist per 750 people. They are practically building practices on top of each other) In my home county, there is one dentist per 8,000 people! Sure, you couldn't charge as much as someone living in a new subdivision with tons of rich folks, but you more than make up for that by doing twice as much work, with half as much marketing, and about 5 times less hassle. People from the country are simple and don't have 3 mortgages, 4 cars, and 2 kids going to Ivy league/Private overpriced colleges. They may not make as much, but they respect you if you show them respect as well (as you should).