Hello Kamsartipi,
I hope your day is going great and that all is well. Usually, I read posts and try my best to learn without posting, but this time, I wanted to share something that might help anyone going through a similar thought process. Everyone in this thread is driven, hardworking, and focused on getting into the specialty of their choice- orthodontics in this case. I don’t mean to write this as the only truth—just an opinion that might offer some peace of mind.
Before I say anything, I want to preface this by acknowledging that we live in a time where general dentists have access to incredible continuing education and advanced courses. This has opened doors for GPs to confidently perform procedures once considered “specialist-only.” For example, many driven general dentists now provide excellent endodontic therapy, prosthodontic work, and even complex surgical extractions. These dentists bring tremendous value to patients and play an essential role in our profession. The reality is, from a craftsmanship perspective, you no longer have to be a specialist to deliver outstanding results, if you’re willing to invest the same time, effort, and dedication that specialists do. And that’s the challenging part. As your quote says, “at the end of the day, finances are a thing.” Many people probably have similar thought as you. Not every general dentist is willing, or able, to sacrifice time that could otherwise go toward earning additional income or spending with their family. Everyone has different priorities/situations, and that’s okay.
With that being said, if your primary reason for specializing(whichever specialty that might be) is purely financial, it’s worth pausing to think twice. If you think about it, the people who worked so hard to get into a competitive specialty aren’t suddenly going to slow down. They’ll continue pushing themselves just as hard, if not harder, during and after residency. Simply getting accepted into a specialty program does not guarantee financial success. Just like how getting into dental school did not guarantee any financial success. On top of that, from a financial standpoint you’re also sacrificing 2–3 years of income during residency. So when challenging moments inevitably arise during or after training, if money is your only motivation, it will be extra difficult to go through them which can lead to regret—and that’s not a healthy place to be
However, if you can envision yourself providing outstanding orthodontic care—and that vision excites you—knowing this is the path you want to take toward financial success and personal fulfillment, then this is the right field for you. Your future colleagues will be thrilled to welcome you, whether it’s in ortho, endo, perio, or whichever specialty you choose. So think about what you truly want and go for it. With passion and drive for excellence, you will be able to have great success wherever you go. We did not work this hard just to hesitate at the most important moments of our career.
I hope you are able to find the clarity you need to choose the path that will make you happy. Have a nice day.
