Specialization related ?

[vaio]

---

Members don't see this ad.

can general dentists take training courses for techniques/procedures related to certain specialties like endo/ortho which they'd like to incorporate into their practice without actually going all the way and specializing in just one particular field?
If such programs exist, is it hard to get admission and do they cost a lot?
I'm a D1, and don't know much yet, but someone told me that many dentists do that once they graduate (if they don't specialize), is it true?

 

[Bifid Uvula]

Yes, you are required to take a certain # of C.E. (continuing education) credits/hours every year.

As a general dentist you may practice all the ortho, endo, oral surgery, perio, pedo you want. But the thing is, you are held to the same "standard of care" when you treat these patients. There are many general dentists who do 90% of their own endo/ortho/perio/extractions etc... And many of them are quite good at what they do.

There are CE courses out there for anything you could imagine. They are open to just about anyone. The only thing you have to do is pay for them. Not all CE courses are good, but you'll see as you go through dental school that you have lots of options ahead of you. You'll also see that you can get a lot of advanced training in those "specialty areas" by going into a GPR or an AEGD if you want to stay as a general dentist.