Prosth, Perio, OMFS, or GP?

[happy_6523]

I’m a D4 student, and I’m interested in prosth, perio, and oral surgery. I’m interested in doing things like extraction, full mouth rehabilitation, all-on-4, implants, anesthesia, and sinus lift. I can’t decide which specialty I like the most because we can’t do these advanced procedures at dental school, so I’m planning to do a GPR first to get more experience in doing more complex cases, so that I can decide what I want to do.

Prosth: I think I may be a little more interested in prosth, but the job prospect of being a prosthodontist isn’t great because the overheads are high and they tend to get all the problematic patients with unrealistic expectations referred to them. Also, GPs can take a lot of CEs to do what prosthodontists do.

Perio: I’m interested in doing perio surgeries, but not doing SRP. They also need to compete with OS for implants. Shorter residency than OMFS

OMFS: Great income and job stability, but very long and brutal residency. I’m currently single and my family members don’t live in the States, so I don’t really have problem dedicating all my time to residency, but I don’t know if I can live frugally for another 6 years. I seemed to be able to do better in dental related classes than medical related classes, which makes me doubt my ability to do oral surgery

GP: No more schooling. Although not as much as specialists, can still make good money. Can refer out all those cases I don’t want to do. However, I like doing complex cases because they’re rewarding. I may need to refer out many challenging but interesting cases as a GP. I kind of like everything in dentistry, but I don’t think I can be an expert in everything. I’m not really interested in doing operative and hygiene. Difficult to practice GD in big cities

Which specialty should I go to, or should I just practice as a GP? In term of passion, I think I like prosth the most (but not when dealing with demanding patients), but the job prospect isn’t that great. OMFS has great job prospect while I’m interested in surgery although not as much as prosth.

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[O.M.F.S.]

Looks like you want omfs. There is a 4 year omfs residency you know, which is only 1 year longer than perio and get paid throughout the 4 years as well.

 

[happy_6523]

Looks like you want omfs. There is a 4 year omfs residency you know, which is only 1 year longer than perio and get paid throughout the 4 years as well.

Is 4 year or 6 year OMFS more competitive?

 

[rotichawal]

Is 4 year or 6 year OMFS more competitive?

Depends how you look at it. Traditionally, more people apply to 4 year programs, but the CBSE barrier to entry is higher for 6 year programs.

 

[Saddleshoes]

I’m a D4 student, and I’m interested in prosth, perio, and oral surgery. I’m interested in doing things like extraction, full mouth rehabilitation, all-on-4, implants, anesthesia, and sinus lift. I can’t decide which specialty I like the most because we can’t do these advanced procedures at dental school, so I’m planning to do a GPR first to get more experience in doing more complex cases, so that I can decide what I want to do.

It looks to me as though you have found your answer for now.
Do the GPR and see where to go from there.
However, you sound like the kind of person that could be an outstanding GP!

 

[deleted923283]

Doesn’t sound like OS is for you

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

Most prosthodontists just have their own general dental practice. So they’re still left doing the simple operative cases you don’t like.

Do your GPR. See what you like. I’m a general dentist, but did some good CE and am doing a decent amount of the more advanced procedures you seem to like. The money is great in general dentistry if you’re willing to learn and practice those things. If you don’t end up feeling a calling to any specific specialty, general dentistry is great! It’s pretty rare that I do simple operative anyway. If I do, most of the time it’s just added on to another bigger procedure so I spend an extra 10 minutes doing a filling before I place an implant or prep a crown. It blends it in, in a way, so I don’t really notice myself doing the simple restorative.

 

[happy_6523]

Most prosthodontists just have their own general dental practice. So they’re still left doing the simple operative cases you don’t like.

Do your GPR. See what you like. I’m a general dentist, but did some good CE and am doing a decent amount of the more advanced procedures you seem to like. The money is great in general dentistry if you’re willing to learn and practice those things. If you don’t end up feeling a calling to any specific specialty, general dentistry is great! It’s pretty rare that I do simple operative anyway. If I do, most of the time it’s just added on to another bigger procedure so I spend an extra 10 minutes doing a filling before I place an implant or prep a crown. It blends it in, in a way, so I don’t really notice myself doing the simple restorative.

Is it a good idea to do those advanced procedures as a general dentist financially? For example, I believe oral surgeons are compensated more than general dentists for impacted third extractions. Are you able to do those procedures at a specialist level? You’re also unlikely to get referrals for these procedures as a general dentist

 

[charlestweed]

Prosth: I think I may be a little more interested in prosth, but the job prospect of being a prosthodontist isn’t great because the overheads are high and they tend to get all the problematic patients with unrealistic expectations referred to them. Also, GPs can take a lot of CEs to do what prosthodontists do.

As a prosth, you have to deal with demanding patients who have unrealistic expectation because most GPs don’t want to treat them. If you don’t like seeing such type of patients, you won’t be busy. If you are not busy, you can’t pay the bills (repay the student loans)….and you will hate your job.

Perio: I’m interested in doing perio surgeries, but not doing SRP. They also need to compete with OS for implants. Shorter residency than OMFS

Yes, you have to compete with the OS for implants and other surgical procedures. Like the OS, you have to communicate with referring GPs and try to earn their trust. If you don’t like going door to door to meet the referring GPs and try to keep them happy, then you shouldn’t specialize. To fill your appointment book, you need the GPs. If you don’t like doing SRP, you can always hire a hygienist (if you can afford to hire one…..just remember that higher overhead = less take home income).

OMFS: Great income and job stability, but very long and brutal residency. I’m currently single and my family members don’t live in the States, so I don’t really have problem dedicating all my time to residency, but I don’t know if I can live frugally for another 6 years. I seemed to be able to do better in dental related classes than medical related classes, which makes me doubt my ability to do oral surgery.

All of these are true and that’s why OS is one of the hardest specialties to get in. The question is do you have good enough stats (high CBSE score, high class rank, good letter of recs from the OS faculty etc) to get in. From what I’ve heard (from this forum), most OS program directors only accept serious candidates who do not only do well in all the classes but have also shown serious interest in the field (volunteer, internship etc).

 

[prosth26]

May be a controversial and biased opinion, but most of all the comments I ever see about Prosth has all been quite negative, and they usually all come from people not in Prosth and have a misunderstanding about Prosth. The concerns are there for sure, but people have been saying the same concerns about Prosth since who knows how long. You can make an argument about taking CE courses for any specialty and advanced cases etc., but in reality, most specialists know that GPs won't be replacing specialists even if they do those advanced cases/procedures. If this was exclusive to Prosth, then no one would do Prosth and there would be a decline of applicants, but that just isn't the case.

Now with implants and the aging population, removable and implant/surgical Prosth is quite popular. I wouldn't count out Prosth entirely, just that it may not be for you, but there is quite a bit more that goes into Prosth than most people realize.

 

[Pablo Sanchez]

Is it a good idea to do those advanced procedures as a general dentist financially? For example, I believe oral surgeons are compensated more than general dentists for impacted third extractions. Are you able to do those procedures at a specialist level? You’re also unlikely to get referrals for these procedures as a general dentist

It all depends on the person and what procedure. If you’re able to do it efficiently, then there’s no reason it can’t be profitable as a GP.

If you are busy doing crown, bridge, endo, ortho, and implants as a GP you will have a very profitable practice. Patients will be glad they don’t have to go see a specialist.

Of course, my schedule won’t be strictly Extractions/Implants like it may be for an OS. But I have the patient base to keep me busy. So when it comes through the door I can handle it and do it efficiently.

 

[stealyoface]

Doesn’t sound like OS is for you

Agree with this guy. If you want OMFS there will be no doubt in your mind. You will be miserable otherwise

 

[Dogtreats]

I’m a D4 student, and I’m interested in prosth, perio, and oral surgery. I’m interested in doing things like extraction, full mouth rehabilitation, all-on-4, implants, anesthesia, and sinus lift. I can’t decide which specialty I like the most because we can’t do these advanced procedures at dental school, so I’m planning to do a GPR first to get more experience in doing more complex cases, so that I can decide what I want to do.

Prosth: I think I may be a little more interested in prosth, but the job prospect of being a prosthodontist isn’t great because the overheads are high and they tend to get all the problematic patients with unrealistic expectations referred to them. Also, GPs can take a lot of CEs to do what prosthodontists do.

Perio: I’m interested in doing perio surgeries, but not doing SRP. They also need to compete with OS for implants. Shorter residency than OMFS

OMFS: Great income and job stability, but very long and brutal residency. I’m currently single and my family members don’t live in the States, so I don’t really have problem dedicating all my time to residency, but I don’t know if I can live frugally for another 6 years. I seemed to be able to do better in dental related classes than medical related classes, which makes me doubt my ability to do oral surgery

GP: No more schooling. Although not as much as specialists, can still make good money. Can refer out all those cases I don’t want to do. However, I like doing complex cases because they’re rewarding. I may need to refer out many challenging but interesting cases as a GP. I kind of like everything in dentistry, but I don’t think I can be an expert in everything. I’m not really interested in doing operative and hygiene. Difficult to practice GD in big cities

Which specialty should I go to, or should I just practice as a GP? In term of passion, I think I like prosth the most (but not when dealing with demanding patients), but the job prospect isn’t that great. OMFS has great job prospect while I’m interested in surgery although not as much as prosth.

I’m a prosth resident and I love it. I’m at a program that’s more surgical so I’ve done extractions, implant placement, indirect sinus lift, and horizontal bone grafting. It’s great learning about the why’s of a treatment plan. Also, some of the patients I’ve seen have been annoying but overall they’ve been passed around so much by general dentists, they’re so thankful towards you for taking on their case. I have 60 great patients and 2 crazy ones. I’m also going to apply to OS next cycle, so you don’t just have to do one 😉😉😉 (I know, it’s crazy)

 

[yappy]

Agree with this guy. If you want OMFS there will be no doubt in your mind. You will be miserable otherwise

I disagree. I know people who have been ambivalent about OMS and still made a happy career of it.

OP, what I wish I had known in dental school was that almost all dental specialties, including general dentistry, are more alike than they are different. It makes sense, doesn't it? They're all within the field of dentistry. You're working directly with patients. You're working primarily in the oral cavity and surrounding structures. You're doing imaging. You're diagnosing and physically treating patients. That's the job.

The biggest difference between them is what your day-to-day will look like. Things like scheduling (volume, procedure time), how elective your procedures are, and whether you will employ other dental professionals like hygienists, or staff size. Some of these are dentists' biggest frustrations. I think you should try shadowing each one to see what workflow you like the most and pick that specialty.

 

[Wisetoothshucker]

I disagree. I know people who have been ambivalent about OMS and still made a happy career of it.

OP, what I wish I had known in dental school was that almost all dental specialties, including general dentistry, are more alike than they are different. It makes sense, doesn't it? They're all within the field of dentistry. You're working directly with patients. You're working primarily in the oral cavity and surrounding structures. You're doing imaging. You're diagnosing and physically treating patients. That's the job.

The biggest difference between them is what your day-to-day will look like. Things like scheduling (volume, procedure time), how elective your procedures are, and whether you will employ other dental professionals like hygienists, or staff size. Some of these are dentists' biggest frustrations. I think you should try shadowing each one to see what workflow you like the most and pick that specialty.

For OS I think a noncat will help OP really figure it out. It’s one thing to hear about OS or do a couple externships in dental school, it’s another thing to actually do it for a year

 

[yappy]

For OS I think a noncat will help OP really figure it out. It’s one thing to hear about OS or do a couple externships in dental school, it’s another thing to actually do it for a year

I agree but couldn’t the same thing be said for perio, prosth, or gp?

 

[ThirdMolarz]

If you do an AEGD or GPR, look into the good ones. I did a non cat year and I’m chillin now as a GP but there are some AEGD’s out there that have you doing everything you mentioned

 

[happy_6523]

If you do an AEGD or GPR, look into the good ones. I did a non cat year and I’m chillin now as a GP but there are some AEGD’s out there that have you doing everything you mentioned

Did you do an OMFS non cat internship and then work as a GP? I wonder if I should do a GPR or an OMFS internship. I thought OMFS internships were for those who are very determined (i.e. applied but didn’t match)

 

[ThirdMolarz]

Yeah usually. Do a non cat if you want to do OMFS, GPR otherwise. AEGD is nice cause you often don’t take call