Here is what I can share from my experience on the interview trail:
- Genuine interest: The directors/interview committee are looking for someone who is genuinely interested in the field (not someone who thinks of oral radiology as a backup, because he/she couldn't get into a different specialty). Experiences such as internships under an oral radiologist, or job shadowing for an extended amount of time can prove this interest. Being able to speak their language by keeping up to date with research is also important.
- Letters of Recc: Having an Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist write a detailed LOR for you will set you apart. Some applicants had their Radiology professor/dept heads write theirs.
- Valued contributor through research, education or private practice. They desire a resident who is willing to be a valued contributor to the progress of the field
- Extremely competitive (On average, 2 candidates accepted out of ~50-150 applications each program). Contrary to popular belief on SDN, OMFR is extremely competitive. There are several Prostho and Perio programs across the country, but only 10 OMFR programs. I believe Florida accepts the most number of applicants.
I hope this helps! I recommend going for it. A lot of posts that I've seen on the SDN forum show false knowledge on OMFR job outlook and earning potential, and it makes me laugh. Work-life balance is awesome and there is potential for payout similar to other specialties - it is what you make of it. Feel free to privately message me if you have further questions.