Specialty

[joooj86]

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I recently found out that 10 students out of about 70 end u specializing from UIC and there rest are general practitioners....im wondering if you guys know about schools like Michigan, Case, Marquette, and Nova...and how do they go about specilizing...thanks

 

[joooj86]

pump that...i mean bump

 

[joooj86]

are you kidding me....is such an issue not interesting to anyone..i think this is the next issue after DATs!!!! how r u making decisions on attending which dental school!!!

 

[SuperC]

Get over it..... One step at a time.
-C

 

[1992Corolla]

HUmor him at least...FOOLS!....be in the top 5 % of your dental class and you can specialize. If you dont get into specialty after your first application, do a GPR and reapply. If you dont get in after that, practice for five years and then reapply...where there is a will ,there is a way.

 

[harvard asda]

it certainly depends on the school. certain schools tend to send many of their students to specialty programs. by in large, one of the biggest factors is your NBDE Part I board scores (90+ is what people recommend...for better or for worse) and class rank (if your school has class ranking). in general, the numbers that i've heard is that if you are in the top 10-15% of the class, specialization is an option and if you are not, then it will be somewhat difficult but not impossible, particularly if you choose to do a GPR/AEGD after your 4 years and show more resolution in your decision to specialize.

i can't comment on the schools that you are asking about but at your interviews, it would be a worthwhile question to ask. good luck.

 

[SuperC]

HUmor him at least...FOOLS!....be in the top 5 % of your dental class and you can specialize. If you dont get into specialty after your first application, do a GPR and reapply. If you dont get in after that, practice for five years and then reapply...where there is a will ,there is a way.

Step A: GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL

Step B: Worry about everything else.

-C

 

[organichemistry]

Step A: GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL

Step B: Worry about everything else.

-C

the guy has a 4.0 and 21/20/21 DAT... i think he has a right to be moving on to step B

 

[enginerd]

Does anybody know which schools are the best for specializing later on? I heard Columbia has a really good specialization rate.

 

[oldboy]

Harvard #1, Uconn=Columbia#2, Upenn #3

What does everyone else think?

 

[joooj86]

the guy has a 4.0 and 21/20/21 DAT... i think he has a right to be moving on to step B

Thanks
--if u need any help with anything let me know

 

[1992Corolla]

Step A: GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL

Step B: Worry about everything else.

-C

He can't even wonder?
😕 🙄

 

[aphistis]

HUmor him at least...FOOLS!....be in the top 5 % of your dental class and you can specialize. If you dont get into specialty after your first application, do a GPR and reapply. If you dont get in after that, practice for five years and then reapply...where there is a will ,there is a way.

20% of all dentists are specialists. Class standing is great, but you don't have to be valedictorian to specialize.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

20% of all dentists are specialists. Class standing is great, but you don't have to be valedictorian to specialize.

Maybe I read it wrong, and if I did someone please correct me, but in my invite to Temple they mentioned that about 60% of their graduates specialize. This really suprized me because a friend of mine told me that 40% specialize from Columbia. Maybe I just read it wrong and they were defining specialties in a different way than I understood.

 

[aphistis]

Maybe I read it wrong, and if I did someone please correct me, but in my invite to Temple they mentioned that about 60% of their graduates specialize. This really suprized me because a friend of mine told me that 40% specialize from Columbia. Maybe I just read it wrong and they were defining specialties in a different way than I understood.

Well, the 20% figure is for the entire professional population. Different schools will have different rates of alumni specialization.

 

[Sprgrover]

It's also important to keep in mind that those specialization figures probably include those that do GPR's, for example. Such numbers should not be construed that 60% of Temple or 80% of UPenn is being fed into ortho and OMFS programs.

 

[toofache32]

It's also important to keep in mind that those specialization figures probably include those that do GPR's, for example. Such numbers should not be construed that 60% of Temple or 80% of UPenn is being fed into ortho and OMFS programs.

True dat. DPR/AEGD is not an actualy specialty, it only helps you prepare for general dentistry by giving more experience.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

It's also important to keep in mind that those specialization figures probably include those that do GPR's, for example. Such numbers should not be construed that 60% of Temple or 80% of UPenn is being fed into ortho and OMFS programs.

You know I thought it might be something like that. I know I'm going to look stupid asking this but, what exactly is a GPR? I can guess that it means general practice residency, but I'm not exactly sure how that works. And why would a school concider that a specialty?

 

[Sprgrover]

You know I thought it might be something like that. I know I'm going to look stupid asking this but, what exactly is a GPR? I can guess that it means general practice residency, but I'm not exactly sure how that works. And why would a school concider that a specialty?

Basically, it's additional training in general dentistry. After graduation everyone has learned, to varying degrees, the skills needed to practice dentistry however their level of expertise, turnover rate, and skill is obviously below that of someone who has been in the field for a while and has been practicing day in and day out. Unlike a specialty program such as Perio in which a dentist gains extra training to treat the tissues surrounding and supporting the dentition, a GPR provides extra training in the general practice of dentistry. In a GPR graduates continue to work on their skills in a structured and supervised environment and hone their craft. Dental school is different than private practice, of course, and I've been told that this post-graduation investment is often well worth the time to help you ease into that transition. 'But don't dental schools give you all the training you need?' No, they give you training adequate to get licensed but dentistry involves constant learning and maintenance of skill - remember, it's called the practice of dentistry, and practice makes perfect, and that is what a GPR provides.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

Basically, it's additional training in general dentistry. After graduation everyone has learned, to varying degrees, the skills needed to practice dentistry however their level of expertise, turnover rate, and skill is obviously below that of someone who has been in the field for a while and has been practicing day in and day out. Unlike a specialty program such as Perio in which a dentist gains extra training to treat the tissues surrounding and supporting the dentition, a GPR provides extra training in the general practice of dentistry. In a GPR graduates continue to work on their skills in a structured and supervised environment and hone their craft. Dental school is different than private practice, of course, and I've been told that this post-graduation investment is often well worth the time to help you ease into that transition. 'But don't dental schools give you all the training you need?' No, they give you training adequate to get licensed but dentistry involves constant learning and maintenance of skill - remember, it's called the practice of dentistry, and practice makes perfect, and that is what a GPR provides.

Thanks for clearing that up man.

 

[toofache32]

... what exactly is a GPR?...And why would a school concider that a specialty?

Because then you can say "80% of our grads get into specialties." And there are WAY more GPR spots available than the number of applicants each year.

 

[12YearOldKid]

Really, it's not too early for you pre-dents to start thinking about specializing. If you want to specialize you have to hit the ground running that first day of dental school. You don't have to pick out a specific specialty right now, but you need to know that you MIGHT want to specialize later and start working towards that goal TODAY.

The road to specialization is paved your first two years in school before you have seen a single patient. If you decide in your senior year that you want to be an orthodontist, but haven't done any research, haven't had the motivation to be at the top of the class, didn't see the need to make a 95 on boards --- well, you are SOL.

Don't let anyone kid you. Dental school is hard and those who have the scores to specialize have been busting their balls pretty much from day one. They earned the right to specialize. BTW, I have found that the ones who are always saying "don't worry about it yet" are usually the biggest gunners.

 

[ItsGavinC]

You know I thought it might be something like that. I know I'm going to look stupid asking this but, what exactly is a GPR? I can guess that it means general practice residency, but I'm not exactly sure how that works. And why would a school concider that a specialty?

It isn't a specialty, but it IS post-grad training, as are all specialties. So, a school could quote the number of students in post-grad training and including GPR/AEGD residents as well as specialty residents.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Really, it's not too early for you pre-dents to start thinking about specializing. If you want to specialize you have to hit the ground running that first day of dental school. You don't have to pick out a specific specialty right now, but you need to know that you MIGHT want to specialize later and start working towards that goal TODAY.

The road to specialization is paved your first two years in school before you have seen a single patient. If you decide in your senior year that you want to be an orthodontist, but haven't done any research, haven't had the motivation to be at the top of the class, didn't see the need to make a 95 on boards --- well, you are SOL.

Don't let anyone kid you. Dental school is hard and those who have the scores to specialize have been busting their balls pretty much from day one. They earned the right to specialize. BTW, I have found that the ones who are always saying "don't worry about it yet" are usually the biggest gunners.

Great post, and I fully agree with it. 👍

 

[jpollei]

Harvard #1, Uconn=Columbia#2, Upenn #3

What does everyone else think?

You're entitled to your opinion, but mine says you'rs is wrong. 🙂 For example, though not a specialty factory here at UNC, last year we matched over 90% of applicant with a first or second choice (like 23 out of 78). So what does that say about which school will get you into a specialty?: You are the limiting factor.

Cause a 98 NDBE1 at Harvard is the same as a 98 anywhere else...and maybe more impressive as you haven't been taught to the board. In meeting ortho applicants from all over the country, the one thing in common isn't so much where they did their DDS/DMD. To the OP, no matter where you train, what you do at your program is what matters: research, boards/grades/rank/etc., outside interests (I had 40% of interviewers at UW ask me about my involvement with music and intramural sports), etc. 95+ NBDE seems needed now, at least for ortho.

 

[jpollei]

Really, it's not too early for you pre-dents to start thinking about specializing. If you want to specialize you have to hit the ground running that first day of dental school. You don't have to pick out a specific specialty right now, but you need to know that you MIGHT want to specialize later and start working towards that goal TODAY.

The road to specialization is paved your first two years in school before you have seen a single patient. If you decide in your senior year that you want to be an orthodontist, but haven't done any research, haven't had the motivation to be at the top of the class, didn't see the need to make a 95 on boards --- well, you are SOL.

Don't let anyone kid you. Dental school is hard and those who have the scores to specialize have been busting their balls pretty much from day one. They earned the right to specialize. BTW, I have found that the ones who are always saying "don't worry about it yet" are usually the biggest gunners.

And in my case choosing even to attend a school (UNC) with a top ortho program helped me be more exposed to ortho (treated multiple full bonded cases of my own as a 2nd, 3rd and 4th yr student), and was commented on in my ortho interviews. Basically, I'm reiterating that it's never too early to look at the big picture.

 

[PDizzle]

Well, my opinion....

It's imperative that you at least know you will be attempting to specialize from the get go. Your NDBE's have to be through the roof (which you take your first year in some schools!) and you need to be constantly adding to your experience in the field you want. For that last reason, I was told that schools that DO NOT have the program you want might be a good choice. The reason is that you may have the opportunity to do more of the proceedures in your future specialization field. Example: UoP has ortho but not endo. If you knew you were going endo, UoP might be higher on your list. All the ortho cases will be sucked up by their ortho program.

This is just what I heard. I can see the argument on the flip side: having the program you want at your school can expose you to it more.

In any case, it can not hurt to be thinking about specialization before you get into dental school. For me, my application is not strong enough for me to pick my school like it was a grape from a vine. My goal is to go endo and be in the top 5% of my class and get 95% on my national boards. If I achive that, it wont matter too much where I got in.

 

[LSR1979]

the guy has a 4.0 and 21/20/21 DAT... i think he has a right to be moving on to step B

Actually in my experience through 1.5 years of dental school, the mediocre undergrad students are far and away the best dental students - class rank wise. The really brainy undergrad students really struggle in dental school as a rule of thumb. Also being intelligent doesn't mean squat when it comes to cutting a 0.5 mm margin on your crown prep. Lab work (hand skills) will equal about half of your overall grades during your first two years.

On that note though, I would recommend that you set a goal of specializing if that is what you really want. It gives something to work towards I would NOT, however, go around advertising it until about your third year of school. People inherently tend to dislike the gunners that come in and first day of school let everybody know they are shooting for ortho.

 

[aphistis]

I would NOT, however, go around advertising it until about your third year of school. People inherently tend to dislike the gunners that come in and first day of school let everybody know they are shooting for ortho.

I understand it tends to be worse for redheads who interrupt financial aid presentations. Hypothetically. 😀

 

[1992Corolla]

I'm a red head, I'll try to remember that...

 

[jpollei]

I would NOT, however, go around advertising it until about your third year of school. People inherently tend to dislike the gunners that come in and first day of school let everybody know they are shooting for ortho.

I disagree a bit...from day one here there were several students who wanted to pursue different specialties (OMFS, ortho, pedo). Yet our class has gotten along well--very little cutthroatness (is that a word?) between students over the four years.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

I disagree a bit...from day one here there were several students who wanted to pursue different specialties (OMFS, ortho, pedo). Yet our class has gotten along well--very little cutthroatness (is that a word?) between students over the four years.

I believe the word is cutthroatedness.