Perio v. Endo--help deciding

[dentstudent55]

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Hi. I'm entering senior year and am trying to decide between endo and perio. I'm #12 in the class, with NDB 1 at the 50th percentile. I have some undergrad research experience.

I am trying to decide between perio and endo. I would prefer endo slightly over perio, but am interested in both. At the same time, I dont want to waste my time applying to endo if I won't get in. I am much more confident that I could get into perio.

Does anyone have input as to how to approach this decision?

 

[oms fan]

I guess it ultimately comes down to what do you want to be doing in 10 years.
There are a lot of people on these forums that think that if you want to specialize, you have to be 150% interested in that one area of dentistry and that allows for no other interests. This doesn't make sense to me. General dentists are "allowed" to like multiple facets of dentistry. But it seems that once you say you want to specialize, you can't or shouldn't possibly enjoy some other areas. Everyone on SDN who expresses multiple interests seem to be automatically regarded as some fool who just wants to be called a specialist. I can see it as possible that there are multiple areas you may want to pursue.
You need to decide what you particularly want to do. Endo and perio are totally different. You're going to be doing the same stuff over and over again in whatever specialty you choose. Personally, endo or perio would kill me.
I would not consider things like what are you more likely to get in to. I think this is the type of thing that will get you killed on these forums. Go with your gut and pick what you like...not just what you think you can get in to.

 

[Jone]

a 50 percentile NBDE1 score won't cut it for endo. is that a typo?!?!?! i would guess a low 90's board score is needed at the least, if not a mid 90's score. furthermore, many endo problems will not consider applicants straight out of dental school. i'd advise talking to the endo director at your school to get a better idea of what they look for, as it is one of the most competitive specialties to get into right now. ditto for perio - although not very competitive - it wouldn't hurt to make your interest known to the program director at your school.

also, i agree with oms fan. i don't see why some of the flamers here think it's impossible or foolish to be interested in two dissimilar specialties.

 

[Jaybe]

a 50 percentile NBDE1 score won't cut it for endo. is that a typo?!?!?! i would guess a low 90's board score is needed at the least, if not a mid 90's score. furthermore, many endo problems will not consider applicants straight out of dental school. i'd advise talking to the endo director at your school to get a better idea of what they look for, as it is one of the most competitive specialties to get into right now. ditto for perio - although not very competitive - it wouldn't hurt to make your interest known to the program director at your school.

also, i agree with oms fan. i don't see why some of the flamers here think it's impossible or foolish to be interested in two dissimilar specialties.

Actually, I have seen some total outliers get into endo from my school over the past 2 years. I really don't beleive its as competitive as people think. I saw one get in without 90's on boards, not in top 15 of the class, no research, and no extracurriculars except for getting trashed and committing "class-cest" every weekend.

That said, endo is probably still more competitive than Perio, which will take anyone with a pulse and tourist visa. 😱

And by the way, perio and endo are quite related as specialties. Both bend over backwards to save teeth, both are overly concerned with microbiology, both want to place implants now.

 

[oms fan]

...And by the way, perio and endo are quite related as specialties. Both bend over backwards to save teeth, both are overly concerned with microbiology, both want to place implants now.

That is sweet 👍

 

[Wayne Coronado]

Actually, I have seen some total outliers get into endo from my school over the past 2 years. I really don't beleive its as competitive as people think. I saw one get in without 90's on boards, not in top 15 of the class, no research, and no extracurriculars except for getting trashed and committing "class-cest" every weekend.

I agree with this. I've seen instances similar to Jaybe's at our school. Also seen a situation on the other end of the spectrum where the student was top of his class, 97 Part I, and plenty of extras but did not get in out of d-school. Madness I tell you!!!😀

 

[drhobie7]

It sounds like you just want to specialize. I don't get the feeling you are committed to getting in to either specialty. Be prepared to work or do a GPR prior to applying to endo, as this is requisite for many programs. As previously mentioned, endo and perio are so different I don't even know what to say about picking one. The foundation of periodontal therapy is scaling and root planing. The foundation of endo is canal debridement. I just don't see any similarities between the work. If you don't know which one to do you may want to do an AEGD, GPR, or just get out there and work for a year.

 

[OMFSdoc]

drhobie07 and oms fan......The two of you seem to have VERY different opinions on this post. Also, I noticed that you two put "UCLA OMS 2013" as your signatures. As co-interns next year, I hope you two get along. Sorry for getting off track.

 

[aphistis]

drhobie07 and oms fan......The two of you seem to have VERY different opinions on this post. Also, I noticed that you two put "UCLA OMS 2013" as your signatures. As co-interns next year, I hope you two get along. Sorry for getting off track.

I'm envisioning OMFS Deathmatch: "Two men go into internship...but only one comes out alive."

 

[xXCOwHoRnXx]

I'm envisioning OMFS Deathmatch: "Two men go into internship...but only one comes out alive."

what if three come out? that would be crazy

 

[drhobie7]

drhobie07 and oms fan......The two of you seem to have VERY different opinions on this post. Also, I noticed that you two put "UCLA OMS 2013" as your signatures. As co-interns next year, I hope you two get along. Sorry for getting off track.

Bill and I are totally cool. He's just about the nicest guy I've ever talked to. We're gonna have a really good group next year. The intern is a great guy as well. It'll be big fun on the A level. Now if we can just get some cute GPR residents.

p.s. I actually thought our posts were similar. 🙂

 

[oms fan]

yeah, we've talked on the phone a bunch of times and Sol is really cool. The attendings tell me they think we will get along great. Although they say he is significantly better looking than me 😉. If he's going to want to kill me, it will be after the first two weeks. I'll be sleeping on his couch until I can move into my place 😀

 

[flat4]

I'll be sleeping on his couch until I can move into my place 😀

So what you're saying is you'll be sleeping on the couch of a guy you don't really know except that he likes teddy bears with strap-ons?

 

[oms fan]

So what you're saying is you'll be sleeping on the couch of a guy you don't really know except that he likes teddy bears with strap-ons?

The bear with the strap-on is sort of comforting to me...reminds me of college. Everyone does that kind of stuff in college, right 😕.

 

[Jaybe]

The bear with the strap-on is sort of comforting to me...reminds me of college. Everyone does that kind of stuff in college, right 😕.

Sounds like you guys are "doing" your residency in San Francisco, maybe. Or Key West???

 

[drhobie7]

I was just thinking it's time to change the avatar....

btw, that's the end of a keychain I bought in Japan. Pretty sweet.

 

[Apico]

In some way I think perio and endo are similiar from the standpoint of microbiology. However, the main difference is that in perio the success of tx is left up to the pt where in endo it rests on the doc's shoulders.

OMFS FAN: are you working the summer semester or are you off to Cali?

 

[oms fan]

OMFS FAN: are you working the summer semester or are you off to Cali?

What's up Apico...
Congrats to you and your lady for passing WREB. Your class did very well as a whole.
I'm still at UNLV until the end of June. Then I move to LA.