OMFS starting out

[FCIllini]

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Quick question. Trying to weigh the pros and cons of going the OMFS route once I complete dental school, or lean more towards ortho. One can finish the ortho program in approx. 2 years while OMFS takes minimum of 4.

I guess my biggest question would be, does anyone know what the starting salary would be for either of these areas. While it all balances out in the long run .... if I'm going to be in my mid-30's, trying to support my wife & little girl, I want to make sure I can well support them right when I finish - especially if they're going to have to make sacrifices while I'm attending school & the residency program.

Thanks.

 

[rrc]

Quick question. Trying to weigh the pros and cons of going the OMFS route once I complete dental school, or lean more towards ortho. One can finish the ortho program in approx. 2 years while OMFS takes minimum of 4.

I guess my biggest question would be, does anyone know what the starting salary would be for either of these areas. While it all balances out in the long run .... if I'm going to be in my mid-30's, trying to support my wife & little girl, I want to make sure I can well support them right when I finish - especially if they're going to have to make sacrifices while I'm attending school & the residency program.

Thanks.

Unless you have a true passion for OMS then I would strongly discourage this route. Four to six years of 80+ hour work weeks is tough to skate through.

 

[Yah-E]

OMFS starting out about $2.00/hr first 10 years out of residency
Ortho starting out about $2.15/hr first 10 years out of residency

After 10+ years - OMFS increases to about $2.75/hr while Ortho stays around $2.50/hr

It's great pay, I'm telling you. Definitely go with OMFS because OMFS rocks! 👍

 

[1-16-17-32]

Let's say that, over the four-year period of your OMFS residency, you could be a GP making (hypothetically, but realistic based on myself and friends):

Year 1: $90,000
Year 2: $110,000
Year 3: $150,000
Year 4: $150,000
Average: $125,000/year

Now, assume that you do a 4-year OMFS residency with an average annual stipend of $40,000. Over the 4-year period, you will lose $340,000 of potential income.

However after 4-years of residency, I'd say that $150,000 as a starting salary for someone out of OMFS is very reasonable (may even be on the lower side). Plus, you'll have the potential to make much more in the long term as an OMFS compared to a GP.

It all comes down to two things:

1. How important is money to you for the next 4-years?
2. How much do you love OMFS?

(Note: For a six-year program, just add-in the cost of med school, unless you want to go to Mayo)

You are comparing OMFS to a general dentist. I think based on the question you should compare OMFS to Ortho. IF you do the math, I dont think you will find too much of a difference in the long run. Over the first few years it can be difficult in either financially, ortho because you pay tuition in most places and OMFS because you only make 40k for about 4 years. But once you are out it varies by location and type of practice. Some OMFS make more, some orthodontists make more. Either way, you should be ok financially.

 

[toofache32]

I guess my biggest question would be, does anyone know what the starting salary would be for either of these areas.

This is incredible. The biggest question is in which specialty will you be happiest. They both make a killing financially so comparing salary is irrelevant. You obviously don't realize the difference in length of training, lifestyle, and personalities.

There's not much worse than waking up and having to do something you don't like even though it's good money. I've been there before. If all you want is money, you'll never be happy.

 

[AUG2UAG]

toofache, what about the age factor... it's hard to imagine staying motivated when you lose your 20s and half your 30s to do the omfs thing

 

[toofache32]

If you want money, ortho is better than OMFS. Even though the money may be similar, an orthodontist will have an income 1-4 years ahead of an OMFS because of the shorter training.

 

[AUG2UAG]

but you lose out on the "adventure" of residency... right? lol 😉

 

[toofache32]

but you lose out on the "adventure" of residency... right? lol 😉

Let me tell you about "adventure". When I started my OMFS residency, it was the COOLEST thing in the world to sew up faces, cut open necks, sew ears back on, drain pus by the bucket-full, etc. Believe it or not, that **** gets old real quick. I had always heard that but I didn't believe it. It just couldn't get old in my mind. But it did, and I'm not even done with residency yet.

I'll tell you what never gets old...people who make appointments instead of coming in to the ER at 3am with a toothache.

 

[tx oms]

I'll tell you what never gets old...people who make appointments instead of coming in to the ER at 3am with a toothache.

Abso-GD-lutely. Preach it brother.

 

[aphistis]

Let me tell you about "adventure". When I started my OMFS residency, it was the COOLEST thing in the world to sew up faces, cut open necks, sew ears back on, drain pus by the bucket-full, etc. Believe it or not, that **** gets old real quick. I had always heard that but I didn't believe it. It just couldn't get old in my mind. But it did, and I'm not even done with residency yet.

I'll tell you what never gets old...people who make appointments instead of coming in to the ER at 3am with a toothache.

So are you still wanting to stick with academics & cracking skulls, or are you ready to say fuggedaboutit and yank wizzies 30 hours a week to fund your hobbies?

 

[north2southOMFS]

I'll tell you what never gets old...people who make appointments instead of coming in to the ER at 3am with a toothache.

dont you mean "toofache"?


What i don't understand about this thread is the question at hand? How in the hell could you not be able to narrow it down to ortho or OMFS? There couldn't be two MORE DIFFERENT specialties. I mean....think....do you like to actually operate? Then its OMFS. Do you like to sit around and diagnose all day....then its ortho. Do you ever want to write a prescription out in your life again....then scratch ortho. Can you not stand working on trolls and having to take some free care?.....then scratch OMFS. There are so many absolutes about each specialty you gotta favor one over the other.

Oh my goodness....make a list of what you like and don't like about dentistry and I guarantee you'll fit into one specialty catagory. If you don't.....then be a GP!

 

[toofache32]

So are you still wanting to stick with academics & cracking skulls, or are you ready to say fuggedaboutit and yank wizzies 30 hours a week to fund your hobbies?

Academics is still right for me at this point. Then my residents can do all the midnight shenanagans and I can come in to the OR at 7am and say, "what are we doing today boys?"

 

[duknowme]

3 years in and I still like the satisfacition of sewing up a good lac. I like plating fx's, I like taking 3rds, I like placing implants and pretty much everything else OMFS does. Operating never gets old to me.

 

[Bereno]

3 years in and I still like the satisfacition of sewing up a good lac. I like plating fx's, I like taking 3rds, I like placing implants and pretty much everything else OMFS does. Operating never gets old to me.

Awesome! Though you did manage to dig up a 7+ year old thread lol

 

[duknowme]

So I did, how about that. That's crazy. 2005. Everything was right in the world back then. 👍

 

[runfast520]

I think orthos will struggle more in the future, because of the number of new residencies. I don't think that will happen to OMFS (at least not as severe) because of the difficulty of the residency, alot of dentists would just not want to do a OMFS residency