Oral Surgery Residency

[sabdul]

Hi.

I was wondering if anyone who is familiar with the application process of medical students to the oral surgery residency could post some information up about this. Specifically, what sort of a class performance do most of the residencies require during medical school or even undergrad, and how hard is it for medical students to get accepted, since the residency is actually a dental specialty to begin with.

Thanks.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[FullBonyTony]

Hi Sabdul,

OMFS is limited to gradutes of dental school. The application requirements include passing (and crushing) National Dental Boards part I. Candidates must also pass National Dental Boards Part II before matriculation into a program. Also, the OMFS specialists in practice are governed by the board of dental examiners, and must have a valid dental license (i.e. passing dental clinical boards which is impossible without completing dental school). So, unfortuantely, if you're really interested in OMFS, you would have to go back and dental school first. Hope this is helpful... best of luck. If you are interested in Head and Neck surgery, you can always look into ENT...

 

[Yahtzee]

Those are very good questions. I have heard of instances where MD only applicants were accepted into OMFS residency with an integrated DDS/DMD much the same way that many OMFS residencies integrate the MD. However, if you pursue that route you're definitely one of the pioneers - it is rare in the US. There are certainly faculty out there who would be happy to take a good applicant out of medical school but the challenge is working out a deal with an associated dental school (yes, you would have to get the dental degree). Because this path is so new, it's difficult to integrate dental school into the residency training. Maybe there are people on this board that know of specific programs that allow this. I have only heard rumors, myself.

If I were in your position I'd call programs individually and ask if there's any way they would consider your application. Mostly you'll hear, "No - go to dental school first," but if you're an exceptional candidate you might have a shot especially at some dual-degree programs. Good luck - post again if you're successful. I'm sure we'd all be interested.

 

[BFord23]

It's not as rare as you may think. A guy in my program went to medical school first, then did about two years of dental school prior to starting residency.
Here is a thread about Harvard OMFS for MD applicants (not my program):
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=687574
Good luck if you decide to go that route.

 

[Yahtzee]

It's not as rare as you may think. A guy in my program went to medical school first, then did about two years of dental school prior to starting residency.
Here is a thread about Harvard OMFS for MD applicants (not my program):
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=687574
Good luck if you decide to go that route.

Interesting. Where are you?

 

[toofache32]

It has been done before, and pathways are available, but I wouldn't expect too many "open arms" from the oral surgery community. They all go into OMFS for the money and enter private practice with no academic contribution. We already have too many muffins in the specialty doing T&T.

 

[CanuckDDS]

It has been done before, and pathways are available, but I wouldn't expect too many "open arms" from the oral surgery community. They all go into OMFS for the money and enter private practice with no academic contribution. We already have too many muffins in the specialty doing T&T.