Ophtho/Denitistry - Help needed !

[Ar2]

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Hello everyone !

As you can tell from the thread title, I am posting in hopes that I can gain some insight/advice as to my current situation. I have recently been accepted to both dental school and medical school (MD) , and I am finding it really hard to make my decision.
I like the field of dentistry, and what is has to offer in terms of being able to work with my hands, establish a good relationship with patients, good lifestyle, run your own clinic etc. I'm also very interested in Pedo/Ortho, although I know this is very premature. Overall, I think it is a very nice field (minus the huge debt load I will have..around 300,000. Ouch !!. This alone may not even make it worth it.

I'm also very interested in the field of Ophthalmology. I have job shadowed many, and I have really enjoyed every minute I have spent in the clinic/surgery. I like the fact that they have a very good mix of clinic and surgery, good patient interaction, I think eyes are cool (nerd I know). I also like the fact that it is more a "cleaner" field of medicine. And that is one my concerns. Ophthalmology is really the only field I am interested in/could see myself doing for the next 30 to 40 years if I pursue medicine. (I have job shadowed other physicians). In your honest opinions, is it naive/ignorant of me to pursue medical school with the sole of intent of just entering Ophtho ? Also, could you guys give me a little information on what it takes to match into Ophtho (grades, step 1 etc.). I know this varies a lot, and that there is no clear cut answer. Any ball park figures would be more than ok.

I could honestly see myself doing either career. I guess I am just struggling as to how to make my decision, or what to base my decision around. Both are very interesting to me, and both choices obviously come with down sides. Dental being the huge debt load (plus I will have to move out of state and be away from family and the girlfriend- really nervous about that), and with Ophtho, I may work hard and do everything right and still not match, so I run the risk of having to pursue a certain field of medicine I never intended on in the first place.

I understand that the only person who can ultimately answer this question is me. I guess I am just looking for some educated, mature advice from those who are in the field, and get your opinions on how you would handle the decision if you were in my position. What things you would consider ? What questions would you ask yourself ? And also looking back, what are, if any, some things you wish you had known.

I GREATLY appreciate everyone taking the time to read over my post. It really means a great deal to me, as this is a big decision I have in front of me. I look forward to hearing some responses, as I know this board has a lot of respectable, educated members who can help steer me in the right direction.

Thank you all again !
- Ar2

 

[Eyes T]

From what I've learned over the past 6 or so years applying to and completing medical school, then applying for and matching in an ophthalmology residency, I truly believe that if you can see yourself being happy doing anything besides medicine, that's what you should do. There will not be a huge difference in debt between medical school and dental school unless you're getting a scholarship to one. All of my friends who have completed dental school and now are out in practice are very happy with what they are doing and don't have to deal with half the headaches that MD's do. Plus you start paying off your debt more quickly in dentistry.

That being said, I really fell in love with ophthalmology during medical school and it seems like you already are developing a passion for it, but you seem to be realistic about it and have brought up a few good points. You are absolutely not guaranteed to become an ophthalmologist once in medical school, and this will add a lot of pressure to your experience if you don't think you'd be happy in any other medical field. Ophthalmology is one of the most competitive specialties to land a residency due to the small size of the programs and decent lifestyle compared to more general fields. Realistically you would have to be at least in the top 25% of your class, get a bunch of honors in your 3rd year, do well on step 1 (>235 is pretty safe...are you a good test-taker?), get some great recommendations, and try and get your name on some research. Although these are not all absolute requirements, if you are severely lacking in more than one it would be tough to get serious consideration.

One more thing to consider is that your interests can always change. I had no intention of going into ophthalmology when I started medical school...in fact, I actively opposed it, and now look where I am. So you never know; maybe there's a field of medicine you haven't been exposed to yet that you would fall in love with.

Sorry for the mixed messages, but life decisions aren't usually cut and dry. As much as I'd like to advocate for ophtho, I'll reiterate if you really like dentistry and can see yourself being a generalist (assuming the worst of not getting a specialty residency at the end of dental school), then I say go for that.

 

[200UL]

A medical degree will give you so many more options than a dental degree (I find it hard to believe that the only thing you can see yourself doing in medicine is ophthalmology. I would be happy doing about 10 different fields in medicine). Still, dentistry will given you an excellent life if you end up enjoying it. Both are great fields.

If money is important I personally feel dentistry is likely the more lucrative path (less debt, earlier income, less overhead, a better financial future for the field). Ophthalmology will continue to have dwindling reimbursements as our pay scale is dependent on the 99 year old medicare patients who collect over a million dollars in medicare services and only paid in $60,000(no choice but to cut payments in such a system). My children recently went to the dentist - over $200.00 paid by the insurance company for each child for teeth cleanings, x-rays, and fluoride. While I would love if ophthalmologists were paid this much per patient visit, it will never happen.

 

[eyehope]

If you will be happy as a dentist, I would choose that route. You are concerned about moving for dental school for family reasons; but, most likely, you will have to move for medical school (admissions can be fickle), internship or residency. Dental school may be more expensive, but you are in the working field at least 3-4 years earlier than any medical specialty - making the debt load a non-factor. In fact, your earning potential in dentistry may be higher than ophthalmology for many, many years.

The grass is always greener (I am not a dentist so I welcome any corrections), but some benefits of dentistry over medicine:

1. better hours (four day work week)
2. less health insurance interaction (pre-authorization, denials, etc)
3. less government dependence (ophthalmologists are subject to Medicare changes)
4. more straightforward reimbursement (see #2)
5. more cash paying patients
6. a culture where patients are expected to pay (versus the medical field where most patients expect their care to be free since they 'paid' for health insurance - patients will balk at a $40 refraction fee, but pay 20x that for a crown)
7. motivated patients. cavities hurt, patients come in. most eye conditions do not hurt, so patients wait.
8. number of teeth: 32. number of eyes: 2.
9. successful surgeries that eliminate pain and improve quality of life
10. shorter training program (can always add an MD along the way with a combined program)
11. salary probably comparable to many medical specialties
12. less malpractice concerns

If I were smarter (and liked dealing with teeth), I would have chosen the dental route.

 

[Meibomian SxN]

If you will be happy as a dentist, I would choose that route. You are concerned about moving for dental school for family reasons; but, most likely, you will have to move for medical school (admissions can be fickle), internship or residency. Dental school may be more expensive, but you are in the working field at least 3-4 years earlier than any medical specialty - making the debt load a non-factor. In fact, your earning potential in dentistry may be higher than ophthalmology for many, many years.

The grass is always greener (I am not a dentist so I welcome any corrections), but some benefits of dentistry over medicine:

1. better hours (four day work week)
2. less health insurance interaction (pre-authorization, denials, etc)
3. less government dependence (ophthalmologists are subject to Medicare changes)
4. more straightforward reimbursement (see #2)
5. more cash paying patients
6. a culture where patients are expected to pay (versus the medical field where most patients expect their care to be free since they 'paid' for health insurance - patients will balk at a $40 refraction fee, but pay 20x that for a crown)
7. motivated patients. cavities hurt, patients come in. most eye conditions do not hurt, so patients wait.
8. number of teeth: 32. number of eyes: 2.
9. successful surgeries that eliminate pain and improve quality of life
10. shorter training program (can always add an MD along the way with a combined program)
11. salary probably comparable to many medical specialties
12. less malpractice concerns

If I were smarter (and liked dealing with teeth), I would have chosen the dental route.

I was thinking the same thing with #10. You can always go back and become an oral surgeon.

If ophthalmology is the only field of medicine that you would be interested in then I would weigh more towards dentistry.