Theoretically yes, you can practice with a degree from a dental school, but that would be next to impossible to manage a practice while attempting to put in the necessary hours to specialize.
Sure, if you plan on practicing in your own practice after 5 pm. If you decide to specialize, you are in school again, and will be working in clinic and learning new things every day. Its not a part time situation, it is full time.
While you are in school, I am not sure that you would have the time but i do know for a fact that once you finish your residency program you are not aloud to practice general dentistry. We had someone ask the pedo department about this and it was a clear no go. Once you have completed your residency you surrender you general practicing rights.
For real? That seems backwards to me if that is really true. Every graduate is trained to be a general dentist first and foremost. I mean, sure once you do a specialty program, you likely have no desire to be a general dentist anyway, but still...
