neck problem questions

[akog]

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I am 27 and will be a D1 this fall. I was recently diagnosed with some mild neck problems: a protruding C3-C4 disc, a slightly bulging C6-C7 disc, and some very slight lower cervical arthritis. Some of this could be related to a car wreck. They could also be related to gymnastics in childhood, bad posture habits, family history, etc. None of this is immediately preventing me from performing dental tasks. But I wonder about decades down the road. A couple questions:

I used to think that oral surgery would be easier on the neck than general dentistry because of the lack of crown preps, etc. But my physical therapist is of the opinion that OS is worse on the neck because of the potential length of the procedures and the combination hunch/lean posture. Does anyone have perspective on oral surgery and back/neck issues?

And more broadly, what specialties might be the easiest on the neck? Would ortho be the obvious best choice in that regard?

And do you think it would be suicide to ever admit to faculty that you're interested in their specialty due to physical considerations like this? "Hey I would love to learn more about orthodontics because I hear it will make my neck hurt the least."

 

[BeaverLover]

Yeah I'm not a DS1 yet but I wouldn't start with that last sentence

 

[CanaDMD]

I am 27 and will be a D1 this fall. I was recently diagnosed with some mild neck problems: a protruding C3-C4 disc, a slightly bulging C6-C7 disc, and some very slight lower cervical arthritis. Some of this could be related to a car wreck. They could also be related to gymnastics in childhood, bad posture habits, family history, etc. None of this is immediately preventing me from performing dental tasks. But I wonder about decades down the road. A couple questions:

I used to think that oral surgery would be easier on the neck than general dentistry because of the lack of crown preps, etc. But my physical therapist is of the opinion that OS is worse on the neck because of the potential length of the procedures and the combination hunch/lean posture. Does anyone have perspective on oral surgery and back/neck issues?

And more broadly, what specialties might be the easiest on the neck? Would ortho be the obvious best choice in that regard?

And do you think it would be suicide to ever admit to faculty that you're interested in their specialty due to physical considerations like this? "Hey I would love to learn more about orthodontics because I hear it will make my neck hurt the least."

OS is definitely super super tiring on the neck; I spent some time with the residents. A case that usually takes 3-4 hours took us 6 hours (you must be ready for that) straight standing up in the operation room, with your neck hunched down while you're standing.

 

[LaughingGas]

Just in general, no one wants to hear that their job is less strenuous than others.
The specialties that IMO are easy on the neck are Oral path,, oral rad, anesthesiology.