As an OMFS hopeful, i often think about how well prepared dental students are to function as a medical residents. Even though our didactics are "theoretically" the same as med school counterparts (we all know most of our curriculum is a bit watered down), we dont have medical rotations. So how can a dental student handle being on medicine and trauma rotations in OMFS residency? Do you have the knowledge/clinical skills necessary to treat medically complex patients? Or is it alot of self learning? Just wanted to get some perspective from a resident, and any advice you have to better prepare for residency
Question for OMFS residents/interns- how was the transition to residency?
- Thread starter Jumpman26
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2009
- Messages
- 208
- Reaction score
- 540
The best thing that you could do is to do well in dental school. Everything builds on what you’ve done before. You will not get into an oral and maxillofacial surgery residency unless you do well in the dental school courses.
In residency, you’ll do fine, no matter what your degree is. First call for trauma always falls on the first year resident. And they do not have medical degrees.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have done this well for the last 75-100 years. I will never forget that when I was in dental school, the intern in the neuro ICU at the local Level I trauma center was a second year OMS resident, who did not have a medical degree. And he was exceptional.
If you look at the big-name programs today, they were typically built by single-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
I have posted in a previous thread about the chief that I had during my intern year. He made all the difference for me. He only had a dental degree, but he knew as much medicine as most third-year internal medicine residents.
I would suggest finding a local oral and maxillofacial surgeon in your community who will be your mentor. Seek someone out. It is OK to ask if they will be your mentor.
And you can always PM me if you have questions.
In residency, you’ll do fine, no matter what your degree is. First call for trauma always falls on the first year resident. And they do not have medical degrees.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have done this well for the last 75-100 years. I will never forget that when I was in dental school, the intern in the neuro ICU at the local Level I trauma center was a second year OMS resident, who did not have a medical degree. And he was exceptional.
If you look at the big-name programs today, they were typically built by single-degree oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
I have posted in a previous thread about the chief that I had during my intern year. He made all the difference for me. He only had a dental degree, but he knew as much medicine as most third-year internal medicine residents.
I would suggest finding a local oral and maxillofacial surgeon in your community who will be your mentor. Seek someone out. It is OK to ask if they will be your mentor.
And you can always PM me if you have questions.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2014
- Messages
- 250
- Reaction score
- 249
I agree with everything you've said. I think the only thing I can add to your comments is to read as much as possible intern year and ask as many questions as possible to your chiefs and juniors. We get trained as OMFS extremely well, even the 4 year guys/gals who don't get the med school..just my .02. Don't get me wrong, the 6 year track and getting you MD, you get a much more wholesome medical background and the rotations you go on are longer I believe.
It all starts with doing well and studying hard in DS. You will realize that residency, there is SO MUCH to know and to learn that DS barely touches what we learn in OMFS residency. Keep up a good attitude and work hard!
