Pediatric Dentist Pursuing OMFS

[ImFlossy123]

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Hi all,

Second year pediatric dental resident here and am considering applying to OMFS as a second specialty. Main interest is pediatric OMFS. Unsure which program would be best, 4 year or 6 year or if my current pediatric specialization will allow my to broaden my scope in more surgical procedures ? Would it be worth it to pursue a second specialty (I am 29 y/o F)? I am a bit torn, would love feedback from those that have gone through either or both programs.

Thanks in advance

 

[ibuprofen400mg]

There is no such thing as a pediatric OMFS. OMFS treats all ages.

 

[gryffindor]

Oh but there is on mom's groups. I see moms asking for a "Pediatric Oral Surgeon" all the time.

I know it's not a real thing but the average public thinks it might be.

 

[GimmeTheScalpel]

There is no such thing as a pediatric OMFS. OMFS treats all ages.

@ImFlossy123 Typically a cleft/craniofacial surgeon will see patients with congenital anomalies that fall into the pediatric cohort that you’d like to focus on. There are 1-year fellowships available to you if that’s the route you’d like to pursue.

 

[ImFlossy123]

@ImFlossy123 Typically a cleft/craniofacial surgeon will see patients with congenital anomalies that fall into the pediatric cohort that you’d like to focus on. There are 1-year fellowships available to you if that’s the route you’d like to pursue.

Yes, by pediatric focused OMFS it would be predominately craniofacial patients that I am interested in treating. Are the fellowships open to non-OMFS/orthodontic specialists? Thanks!

 

[ImFlossy123]

There is no such thing as a pediatric OMFS. OMFS treats all ages.

Yes I understand that. My interest is craniofacial patients/clefts/structural anomalies.

 

[BlackThought]

Yes, by pediatric focused OMFS it would be predominately craniofacial patients that I am interested in treating. Are the fellowships open to non-OMFS/orthodontic specialists? Thanks!

Cleft/Craniofacial is an OMFS fellowship. So no.

Also, most Cleft/Craniofacial fellowships will require a medical degree. So you're looking at a ~7 year process at the bare minimum once you start residency. Also consider the time it will take to prepare your OMFS application. You will need to teach yourself years 1 and 2 of medical school, take and do well on the CBSE. You'll also likely need to do a couple of dedicated OMFS externships.

Are you aware of the surgical scope of these fellowships? You're doing down the road of transcranial surgery, reconstruction, distraction osteogenesis, cleft lip/palate etc in addition to trauma and path. To think you can hop into that w/o doing OMFS tells me you're not totally aware of the scope. I mean it in the most constructive way possible, but maybe do a bit more research? Good luck.

 

[schmoob]

Why not try being a pediatric dentist for a few years and then decide if you want to go back to residency?

 

[B0wMNj]

Cleft/Craniofacial is an OMFS fellowship. So no.

Also, most Cleft/Craniofacial fellowships will require a medical degree. So you're looking at a ~7 year process at the bare minimum once you start residency. Also consider the time it will take to prepare your OMFS application. You will need to teach yourself years 1 and 2 of medical school, take and do well on the CBSE. You'll also likely need to do a couple of dedicated OMFS externships.

Are you aware of the surgical scope of these fellowships? You're doing down the road of transcranial surgery, reconstruction, distraction osteogenesis, cleft lip/palate etc in addition to trauma and path. To think you can hop into that w/o doing OMFS tells me you're not totally aware of the scope. I mean it in the most constructive way possible, but maybe do a bit more research? Good luck.

Aren't OMFS externship only open to students currently in dental school. Wouldn't you have to do an internship if you are interested in residency?

 

[vellnueve]

Residency is not enough training to do clefts? It just seems training never ends haha

It technically is, but most programs don't have the volume you need to become proficient.

 

[yappy]

Aren't OMFS externship only open to students currently in dental school. Wouldn't you have to do an internship if you are interested in residency?

No. Programs will allow pretty much anyone to come by and shadow (extern).

 

[Orthofanathgnic]

Residency is not enough training to do clefts? It just seems training never ends haha

Most residents are not even doing craniofacial procedures during residency as they are rare and typically managed by fellows training for that area specifically or program attendings. The work is very delicate too. I scrubbed in on an alveolar clefting procedure and the program director did the entire thing and just had the residents suture it up. These patients also have to be managed for many years with many surgeries over the course of their childhood. It’s not like a simple wisdom tooth extraction.

 

[free99]

Why are you looking to do another specialty? Are you dissatisfied with pediatrics for some reason? Like another poster mentioned, from your posts I don't get the sense that you have a deep understanding of the admission requirements, training, and fellowship opportunities that exist in OMFS. I think your training in peds would give you a leg up in sedation/airway management, but little else. Other than sedation, simple extractions, and some trauma (sometimes OMS splints alveolar fx, sometimes we do), there isn't a ton of overlap between the specialties. That's not to say you couldn't go on to do an OMS residency after peds -- I know someone who did -- but I think it'd be worth your time to shadow and make sure you like the full scope of OMS... not likely you'd spend all of your time doing craniofacial cases, which seems to be your interest.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

After peds, apply to ortho. After ortho, apply for an ortho craniofacial fellowship.

Craniofacial Fellowship Program | School of Dental Medicine | Case Western Reserve University

Fellows accepted into the Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship Program will be provided with advanced clinical, didactic, and researc...

case.edu

You’re welcome.

Big Hoss

 

[AONLINE]

After peds, apply to ortho. After ortho, apply for an ortho craniofacial fellowship.

Craniofacial Fellowship Program | School of Dental Medicine | Case Western Reserve University

Fellows accepted into the Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics Fellowship Program will be provided with advanced clinical, didactic, and researc...

case.edu

You’re welcome.

Big Hoss

90% of current and past fellows of this program graduated from foreign dental schools. I wonder why?

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

90% of current and past fellows of this program graduated from foreign dental schools. I wonder why?

American trained orthos owe too much in student loans to let their interest accumulate for another year. Gotta get paid!

Big Hoss

 

[schmoob]

There’s also dental anesthesia after peds, I’ve seen that a few times.