Orofacial Pain or Dental Anesthesiology

[Futuresleepdentist14]

I'm currently a D3 trying to decide what area to pursue. I'm interested in both dental anesthesiology and orofacial pain. I think they would be able to provide me with the flexibility to create a niche practice. In the most ideal world, I'd do both because much of the foundational knowledge overlaps and I also think it would prevent me from getting bored due to the variety it would offer me. I've talked to some of my professors at school about orofacial pain and they've told me that its possible to have career and make money in private practice. I also like that orofacial pain would provide a lot of patient interaction. I truly do like talk to my patient even the more anxious and neurotic ones. I've also been in contact with a dental anesthesiologist and plan to shadow to see what a day in the life could be like.

Do you think it would be possible for me pursue both? If so, what route should I take? Lastly, what programs would you suggest for each. I'm interested in Stony Brook and Pittsburgh for DA . My professors mentioned good things about UK, UW, USC for orofacial pain. I'd also like to know more about University of Michigan and Mass General orofacial pain residency.

Disclaimer: I'm not super interested in going into academia full time. My goal is to either operate a mobile DA practice and potentially work part time in a Pain/TMD/Sleep Medicine practice or do a mobile DA practice and work part time in academia

Thank you!

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[maxillofacialradiologist]

If you are looking at Orofacial Pain programs, look for the CODA approved residency programs. Check the American academy of orofacial pain website for the full list of approved programs. I was accepted in one of them but didn't pursue it.

UK, USC, UCLA, Mass Gen, Minnesota and UNC are all established programs. I don't know about Michigan's program as I think it is pretty new.

 

[P7898]

Orofacial pain is pretty niche right now as it is not an ADA recognized specialty. It is supposed to become recognized in a year or two but that could always not happen. Dental anesthesia is a cool gig especially if you wouldn't mind traveling. The Orofacial pain providers I know are linked with universities because usually the patients have something else going on with them that needs physician eyes. But there are docs that do TMJ and Sleep Clinics and just provide oral appliances however I think this is niche as well because it is not hard to make a sleep apnea appliance or an appliance for TMJ.

 

[Futuresleepdentist14]

If you are looking at Orofacial Pain programs, look for the CODA approved residency programs. Check the American academy of orofacial pain website for the full list of approved programs. I was accepted in one of them but didn't pursue it.

UK, USC, UCLA, Mass Gen, Minnesota and UNC are all established programs. I don't know about Michigan's program as I think it is pretty new.

If you don't mind me asking but why did you choose not to pursue it. Also, what would be a good number of programs to apply?

Thank you in advance!

 

[P7898]

If you are looking at Orofacial Pain programs, look for the CODA approved residency programs. Check the American academy of orofacial pain website for the full list of approved programs. I was accepted in one of them but didn't pursue it.

UK, USC, UCLA, Mass Gen, Minnesota and UNC are all established programs. I don't know about Michigan's program as I think it is pretty new.

Pretty sure UNC doesn't have an OFP program anymore.

 

[TanMan]

I'm just curious... for those that pick OFP/DA/OMFR, is there a reason that people want to pick a combination or 2 or 3 of those choices when choosing a residency/specialty? There was a joke in our school that those who picked those don't want to practice dentistry or pick up a handpiece. Is there some truth to that?

 

[Extirpator]

Didn’t go into any of them, but seriously considered a couple. I think they’re probably the three most scientifically interesting areas you can enter within dentistry... I’d maybe include ortho in the mix. Maybe less entertaining on a day-to-day basis due to the lack of hands-on work, but all keep you moving mentally. They are all a bit niche as well, which creates a lot of opportunity for the right individual.

 

[P7898]

Didn’t go into any of them, but seriously considered a couple. I think they’re probably the three most scientifically interesting areas you can enter within dentistry... I’d maybe include ortho in the mix. Maybe less entertaining on a day-to-day basis due to the lack of hands-on work, but all keep you moving mentally. They are all a bit niche as well, which creates a lot of opportunity for the right individual.

Great points. I think that TMJ/Sleep Clinics can be very successful. If you can establish yourself as that guy in a community then you have little overhead. The problem is medical Billings. Third party medical biller is ideal versus finding staff to try and do it properly. Also like the idea of getting referrals not from just dentists but physicians as well - economically viable. Talking about OFP here. But it is a pain sometimes. You are dealing with people who have depression or people who have other issues going on so it is a lot of back and forth with physicians. The guys I know bill by consultation and treatment. But if something isn't covered by medical then the patient has to pay a lot out of pocket. Business side aside (lol) it is a very needed and rewarding field. Income though is the uncertainty.