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- Jan 30, 2006
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Hi everyone!
Hope everyone has started to receive some good news via letters/emails/phone calls inviting you to meet with the Pedo faculty.
As you all know, there will be a point in the interview where the faculty member(s) will ask you if you have any questions. This is a good opportunity to: 1. show them you've done your research in pediatric dentistry and 2. learn if the program is a good fit for you.
As a 1st year pedo resident, here are some questions I wish I COULD have asked (had I known....)
1. How many OR cases will you complete (vs. assist)? Are the OR cases pediatric restorative cases or adult physical disability cases?
* the more pediatric restorative OR cases - the better
2. When you're on call - are you responsible for adult/pediatric dental emergencies or trauma? In house call?
* best to limit call to pediatric dental and not in house!
3. Total hours spent in the clinic vs. classroom + non-dental related rotations
* more hours spent in pediatric dental clinic = better
4. Availability of nitrous and if nitrous is encouraged
* best if each operatory has nitrous access built into the walls
5. Oral sedation. Medications used and dosages.
* best if you have the flexibility to use a number of meds at a relatively higher dosage
6. Continuity of care
* best to be able to maintain continuity of care to see the progress of patients and allow the ability to build patient rapport
7. Extent of research expectation
* up to you but not ideal if the program expects publications and you're not into research...
8. Average age of pediatric patient in the clinic
* best to see a wide range
9. Do the majority of patients speak english? If not - what languages
* voice control and patient management is very difficult if you do not speak the native tongue of the patient...
10. Assistants and their roles/responsibilities (who sets up/breaks down chairs, lab work, radiographs) - however this might be better to ask a current resident because this might be interpretted as a lazy applicant who doesn't want to clean up.....
11. Extent of ortho cases. Full brackets? Who makes the space maintainers?
* depends on your interest in ortho
12. Ratio of residents to operatories+assistants+attendings
* obviously the lower the ratio the better
13. How many patients are you expected to see a day?
* the higher the number, the more demanding but will prepare you for a fast-paced private practice (but if too demanding - may compromise your learning)
14. When working in the clinic - how often do none of the patients show up and so the residents have nothing to do but do crosswords, email, etc.
* tough to ask this question politely... maybe can ask about their no-show policy and if any restrictions/penalties are invoked during patient no-shows
15. What type of restraint?
* personal preference
Well, I'm sure I can think of more but that's all that's off the top of my head...
And when I say, "best" - of course these are only my preferences....
Hopefully, some other pedo residents can give their input on my rushed list!
Hope everyone has started to receive some good news via letters/emails/phone calls inviting you to meet with the Pedo faculty.
As you all know, there will be a point in the interview where the faculty member(s) will ask you if you have any questions. This is a good opportunity to: 1. show them you've done your research in pediatric dentistry and 2. learn if the program is a good fit for you.
As a 1st year pedo resident, here are some questions I wish I COULD have asked (had I known....)
1. How many OR cases will you complete (vs. assist)? Are the OR cases pediatric restorative cases or adult physical disability cases?
* the more pediatric restorative OR cases - the better
2. When you're on call - are you responsible for adult/pediatric dental emergencies or trauma? In house call?
* best to limit call to pediatric dental and not in house!
3. Total hours spent in the clinic vs. classroom + non-dental related rotations
* more hours spent in pediatric dental clinic = better
4. Availability of nitrous and if nitrous is encouraged
* best if each operatory has nitrous access built into the walls
5. Oral sedation. Medications used and dosages.
* best if you have the flexibility to use a number of meds at a relatively higher dosage
6. Continuity of care
* best to be able to maintain continuity of care to see the progress of patients and allow the ability to build patient rapport
7. Extent of research expectation
* up to you but not ideal if the program expects publications and you're not into research...
8. Average age of pediatric patient in the clinic
* best to see a wide range
9. Do the majority of patients speak english? If not - what languages
* voice control and patient management is very difficult if you do not speak the native tongue of the patient...
10. Assistants and their roles/responsibilities (who sets up/breaks down chairs, lab work, radiographs) - however this might be better to ask a current resident because this might be interpretted as a lazy applicant who doesn't want to clean up.....
11. Extent of ortho cases. Full brackets? Who makes the space maintainers?
* depends on your interest in ortho
12. Ratio of residents to operatories+assistants+attendings
* obviously the lower the ratio the better
13. How many patients are you expected to see a day?
* the higher the number, the more demanding but will prepare you for a fast-paced private practice (but if too demanding - may compromise your learning)
14. When working in the clinic - how often do none of the patients show up and so the residents have nothing to do but do crosswords, email, etc.
* tough to ask this question politely... maybe can ask about their no-show policy and if any restrictions/penalties are invoked during patient no-shows
15. What type of restraint?
* personal preference
Well, I'm sure I can think of more but that's all that's off the top of my head...
And when I say, "best" - of course these are only my preferences....
Hopefully, some other pedo residents can give their input on my rushed list!
