specialties?

[yosemitesam]

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How many of you know you want to specialize?

 

[AcidETCH]

The only specialty I'm worried about is the LoanRepayment specialty 🙂

 

[Beagle]

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

Well I am thinking of maybe pediatric, but I am really undecided. I may pursure a higher competition speciality if I kick ass in dental school too. Reallly hard to say at this point of my education though.

 

[gryffindor]

You forgot one - Oral Radiology was just approved as an ADA-approved specialty about 2 years ago. But the number of people pursuing it doesn't compare to those who go for Endo, OMS, Ortho or Pedo.

 

[dc-10]

Originally posted by griffin04
You forgot one - Oral Radiology was just approved as an ADA-approved specialty about 2 years ago. But the number of people pursuing it doesn't compare to those who go for Endo, OMS, Ortho or Pedo.

Is there a big demand for oral radiologists? I thought most dentists read their own radiographs? How do their salaries compare to M.D. radiologists--I know the MD rads pull in pretty good money.

 

[yosemitesam]

😱 I'm kind of surprised by the results of this poll. Apparently the field of prosthodontics has lost its glamour. lol🙂

I'm kind of leaning towards orthodontics right now. Planning an ortho treatment is kind of like doing crosswords for a living. I love puzzles like that. Plus it's a cushy, cushy way to practice dentistry. No emergencies, most people are motivated, patients see, understand, and appreciate the results of your work. Too bad everybody and their dog wants to get into an ortho program. 🙂

I followed an orthodontist for a semester and it was really cool. I just wish we had more exposure to ortho in dental school so I could make a more informed decision. I asked a few professors what kind of exposure we would have to the specialties and most all of them told me there would be plenty of exposure -- except to orthodontics. Apparently those ortho guys are kind of secretive.

 

[puzzle]

do we have to pay to get specialized? I heard from BU, you don't have to pay and you even get stipend to specialize is that true? that sounds like a very good deal to me if that's true. What do you guys think?

 

[yosemitesam]

pre dent david, you'd be surprised. The most competitive programs very from year to year, and what I've heard from the dental students here in Augusta ( Although I'm not yet a dental student, I live just a few miles from the dental school ) , pediatric dentistry has been getting pretty competitive these past few years.

 

[yosemitesam]

Puzzle, it totally depends on the program you get into. There are some oral surgery programs that pay their residents $40,000 a year and some that only pay around $10,0000. Some programs don't pay any stipend. And while I don't know of any specialty programs that charge tuition for the program, some require you to be enrolled in a graduate program, and you have to pay tuition to the grad school.

 

[JonR]

All you that think you will go into pedo...you may change your mind when you start assisting in the clinic. Kids are the toughest customers of them all.

All you guys that are thinking of ortho...better forget about sleep during dental school. The competition is ridiculous. Almost as bad as endo (which most people don't know). I have a friend here at UConn that got a 96 on NBDE I and was high up in the class and didn't get matched for endo anywhere...had to do GPR for a year and then reapply.

Difficulty of getting in: OMS < ortho < ENDO!!

Money: OMS < ortho < endo

I guess it makes sense, eh?

Strange though, length of residency: OMS>endo and ortho


Oh, and prosth. is not popular at all because it is becoming basically obsolete these days with the advent of the implant age. They have just in the last couple of years tried to jump on the implant bandwagon, but perio holds the death grip on it with OMS and then the general dentistry guys following. There will always be some type of need for prosth, but it is just past its zenith, that is for sure. They won't succeed with implants, especially now as general dentists are starting to place them, and they will really be strapped for cash. All they will be good for is to don their loupes and tell you your wax-up sucks because the "emergence angle" is off. God bless wax-up preceptors.

 

[noodle]

Is public health a speciality? Also, are not specialities, driven by State licensure? Many of you should read the book Megatrends written about a decade ago. One of the major concepts of surviving in a depressed economy is to be a Generalist! Be able to do many things well. Don't limit your practice to one area but train and do what you love and have passion. Specialists are dependent on area, general dentists. When the economy goes south, the general dentist do their own endo, ortho, pedo, etc. This is when many dentists get free lunches from Specialty groups. The Restaurants do very good business at these times. Over 50% of Ortho is done by general dentists! Lots of endo and as you addressed Implant dentistry is done by General Dentists. I do feel that there is a need for Prosthodontists! Many Radial Neck Surgeries, Cleft Palate cases and Oral Facial Defects are under the reconstructive eye of Prothodontics. It is extremely rewarding. In fact there are Prothodontist that are needed for prothetic replacement of other areas of the body that have nothing to do with the oral cavity. Again, check out Mega trends and you will understand what is important in a Dental Career!