Specializing vs. General Dentistry

[hugesmiles]

Hi everybody, I have the opportunity to specialize in any dental field but I do enjoy general dentistry and I was wondering what are the specific advantages of being a specialist compared to a general dentist? After graduation, I heard that it is more difficult to establish a referral base as a specialist and so is the income and lifestyle actually better for a specialist?

Thanks for the feedback!

hugesmiles

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[wodie79]

Hi everybody, I have the opportunity to specialize in any dental field but I do enjoy general dentistry and I was wondering what are the specific advantages of being a specialist compared to a general dentist? After graduation, I heard that it is more difficult to establish a referral base as a specialist and so is the income and lifestyle actually better for a specialist?

Thanks for the feedback!

hugesmiles

I am curious to know how you have the opportunity to specialize in any field you want to?

If you want to be a general dentist, be a general dentist. If you specialize just to specialize, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

 

[Cold Front]

Hi everybody, I have the opportunity to specialize in any dental field but I do enjoy general dentistry and I was wondering what are the specific advantages of being a specialist compared to a general dentist?

If you enjoy general dentistry, then stick with general dentistry.

 

[charlestweed]

My wife and I are both specialists. We see patients by appointments only (no walk-ins). Therefore, we can effectively book as many patients in one day as we want. On the days we don’t have patients, we have the option to either work at another office (and make more money) or to stay home with our kids. The GPs have to stay at their office 5 days/week, 8 hours a day to accommodate walk-in and emergency patients.

Specialists have lower overhead. We pay lower rents b/c our office doesn’t have to be in a busy shopping center….it can be totally hidden….ie in a professional building. Our offices are only open a couple of days a month so we don’t need to hire a lot of full time staff.

While many of our GP colleagues are struggling to fill their appointment books, we continue to have very busy schedule. This is because we have the option to work at many different places (at our own main office, at a satellite office or at another GP office as independent contractors).

 

[Rube]

The GP has much less of a chance at getting bored over their career. You don't like bread and butter, ok, do more crown and bridge, or do more implants, or 3rds, or perio surgies, or do more cosmetic cases, learn ortho, treat TMD and facial pain... What if you get sick and tired of endo after 10 years?

 

[Jone]

Then you retire =)

What if you get sick and tired of endo after 10 years?

 

[OMSfanatic]

What if you get sick and tired of endo after 10 years?

Well, technically you would be a graduate of dental school. If general dentistry intrigues you after those 10 years, you are more than entitled to go back to it (provided you don't advertise yourself as a specialist and get the proper CE/licensure to bring you up to speed). Most specialists don't do that because..... surprise, surprise they LIKE THEIR SPECIALTY Oh, and maybe also because like the above post said... they are rich and just retire.

 

[Rube]

Well, technically you would be a graduate of dental school. If general dentistry intrigues you after those 10 years, you are more than entitled to go back to it (provided you don't advertise yourself as a specialist and get the proper CE/licensure to bring you up to speed). Most specialists don't do that because..... surprise, surprise they LIKE THEIR SPECIALTY Oh, and maybe also because like the above post said... they are rich and just retire.

You guys kill me with how much money you're gonna make after 3 years as a specialist. When you retire in year 10, why not just fly your private jet down to your private island with three hot blondes waiting for your 40 year old retired ass...haha!

 

[cusp of carabelli]

there's no rule that is ever written that says you have to decide to specialize right after dental school. If nothing particularly interests you then stick to general dentistry and be great at it! =o) nothing wrong with that...if there is a field that you decide you like and would like to spend more time learning about the history, different techniques, how to handle more complex situations, etc., then you can go back and specialize later.

 

[charlestweed]

The GP has much less of a chance at getting bored over their career. You don't like bread and butter, ok, do more crown and bridge, or do more implants, or 3rds, or perio surgies, or do more cosmetic cases, learn ortho, treat TMD and facial pain... What if you get sick and tired of endo after 10 years?

I’ve seen GPs who sold their practices (or quit high paying jobs) and went back to school to specialize. But I have not seen one specialist who goes back to practicing general dentistry because he/she hates being a specialist.

 

[DrBadVibes3]

Hi everybody, I have the opportunity to specialize in any dental field but I do enjoy general dentistry and I was wondering what are the specific advantages of being a specialist compared to a general dentist?

Simple answer: the advantage of being a specialist is that you do what you love and want to dedicate your career towards. You like general dentistry, so you've already answered your own question.

 

[OMSfanatic]

You guys kill me with how much money you're gonna make after 3 years as a specialist. When you retire in year 10, why not just fly your private jet down to your private island with three hot blondes waiting for your 40 year old retired ass...haha!

Not sure what you mean by this. I'm guessing that it's rich means different things to different people. This hot blonde thing on a private island may be your definition of "rich." The revenue generated from 10 years working as a dental specialist is considered "rich" by most people in the country, including me. But this is coming from someone who loves my intern salary! It's the most money I've made in my life

 

[hugesmiles]

I have the opportunity to specialize because of my school's reputation. 95% of my class specializes and so there is a lot of pressure to become a specialist. I actually would like to become a general dentist but I do not know if I am relinquishing a much better lifestyle and income as a result of my choice. I do agree with the fact that you should do something that you enjoy as a career.

 

[Dukie]

I have the opportunity to specialize because of my school's reputation. 95% of my class specializes and so there is a lot of pressure to become a specialist. I actually would like to become a general dentist but I do not know if I am relinquishing a much better lifestyle and income as a result of my choice. I do agree with the fact that you should do something that you enjoy as a career.

You made it quite clear that you "would like to become a general dentist". Who cares what other people might pressure you to do? You are going to have a very comfortable lifestyle in any part of dentistry. Do what you like.

 

[gryffindor]

I have the opportunity to specialize because of my school's reputation. 95% of my class specializes and so there is a lot of pressure to become a specialist. I actually would like to become a general dentist but I do not know if I am relinquishing a much better lifestyle and income as a result of my choice. I do agree with the fact that you should do something that you enjoy as a career.

If you want to be a GP, then be a GP. You just need to stick out for one more year to get out of that pressure situation of dental school where people hound you daily about your future. Once you graduate, no one will ever care what career path you took. Seriously, no one. The only people who will care are your family and the people and practitioners in the town where you choose to practice. If you need some reassurance from real people and not over achieving dental students that lifestyle as a GP can be great, go over and read Dentaltown and ask this same question over there.

 

[Guy Smiley]

I have the opportunity to specialize because of my school's reputation. 95% of my class specializes and so there is a lot of pressure to become a specialist. I actually would like to become a general dentist but I do not know if I am relinquishing a much better lifestyle and income as a result of my choice. I do agree with the fact that you should do something that you enjoy as a career.

I don't know where you go to school, but last year, one of my friend's from Harvard went into GP and is doing very well - Bought into a sweet practice and is doing awesome.