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This is a reply from a dentist from dentaltown. I asked him what did he see the future of specialty and it turned out the answer is pretty discouraging. The following is not my opinion, just for SDNs' reference purpose. I have to say I don't quite agree with his idea.
Given all the new technologies which are entering the dental office now, I would be reluctant to be any kind of specialist right now. And given the hemmorage of dental school diplomas for the past 25 years I would be very reluctant to be a dentist unless your dad was a dentist, and had a practice for you to step into. The reason people become dentists is the freedom, not the money. And if you don't have the family money, you will find the legendary freedom a phantom in the night. The person to ask if you should be a dentist is your family banker (who would either loan you the money for an office, or let you be a permanent bondservant to a senior dentist). He knows your family financial (borrowing) ability. The admission director at your local college, or dental school has no idea about your ability to get a loan with which to buy your freedom. I called the ADA a few months back and spoke to the designated "manpower specialist". He told me that the ratio of dentists to population is scheduled to remain stastically the same for the next 20 years. I was very suprised to hear this since so many are talking about a (long overdue) correction in the glut of dentists supposedly happening. What you can see for yourself, is that every time a dental school asks its alumni for money they make dead sure to include in the pitch the number of monority and female students in the current class. This is code for "gee guys, we are trying our best to help you out by letting in so many minorities,(which won't compete with you) and women (who will only work until their biological clocks strike midnight and also won't compete with you). We're trying our best to keep the school open until your sons get to the age where we can let them in." Be very wary of the sales pitch that professional dental educators give you about a need for dentists in small towns too. The kind of dentist these small towns want is a 19th century dentist who can be called out on payday, at 5pm to dig out the root that has been hurting for the past 3 months, and has been swelling for the past 4 days. These show up after dark on the doorstep at your house...in these small towns. These people(demographics) are incapable of driving as far as the nearest Wal Mart, where there is already a dentist office nearby waiting for them. This is what these small towns and "underserved regions" want from a dentist. I know, I've been there. All the dental schools could close their doors for 8 years before the general public noticed any change in the real availability of dental appointments. Dentistry is a good way of life just as Mark Twain loved being a river boat pilot. But that's only because there were not enough river boat pilots to go around! If you want money, be something other than a dentist. If you want the penultimate freedom this country has to offer, and don't mind a country girl for a bride (a good choice at any rate!), be a small town dentist. The cities are crammed full. Good luck, not pulling any punches...
Given all the new technologies which are entering the dental office now, I would be reluctant to be any kind of specialist right now. And given the hemmorage of dental school diplomas for the past 25 years I would be very reluctant to be a dentist unless your dad was a dentist, and had a practice for you to step into. The reason people become dentists is the freedom, not the money. And if you don't have the family money, you will find the legendary freedom a phantom in the night. The person to ask if you should be a dentist is your family banker (who would either loan you the money for an office, or let you be a permanent bondservant to a senior dentist). He knows your family financial (borrowing) ability. The admission director at your local college, or dental school has no idea about your ability to get a loan with which to buy your freedom. I called the ADA a few months back and spoke to the designated "manpower specialist". He told me that the ratio of dentists to population is scheduled to remain stastically the same for the next 20 years. I was very suprised to hear this since so many are talking about a (long overdue) correction in the glut of dentists supposedly happening. What you can see for yourself, is that every time a dental school asks its alumni for money they make dead sure to include in the pitch the number of monority and female students in the current class. This is code for "gee guys, we are trying our best to help you out by letting in so many minorities,(which won't compete with you) and women (who will only work until their biological clocks strike midnight and also won't compete with you). We're trying our best to keep the school open until your sons get to the age where we can let them in." Be very wary of the sales pitch that professional dental educators give you about a need for dentists in small towns too. The kind of dentist these small towns want is a 19th century dentist who can be called out on payday, at 5pm to dig out the root that has been hurting for the past 3 months, and has been swelling for the past 4 days. These show up after dark on the doorstep at your house...in these small towns. These people(demographics) are incapable of driving as far as the nearest Wal Mart, where there is already a dentist office nearby waiting for them. This is what these small towns and "underserved regions" want from a dentist. I know, I've been there. All the dental schools could close their doors for 8 years before the general public noticed any change in the real availability of dental appointments. Dentistry is a good way of life just as Mark Twain loved being a river boat pilot. But that's only because there were not enough river boat pilots to go around! If you want money, be something other than a dentist. If you want the penultimate freedom this country has to offer, and don't mind a country girl for a bride (a good choice at any rate!), be a small town dentist. The cities are crammed full. Good luck, not pulling any punches...
, will find out for sure after 4 years rite?
