To specialize or not to specialize...

[NDBeast]

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Ok everyone, what are the pros and cons of specialization?

I'll start:

Con: A dentist I know said that the major con is that a lot of specialists get angry because all of the cases that are sent to them are the REALLY yucky, tough ones.

Pro: Show me the money!!! 😎

 

[Rob2005]

Con: 1.Not getting to know your patients well, as they more than likely just see you a few times.
2. More school
3. For the aspiring specialist, the extra effort exerted in dental school manifests itself in the form of many more gray hairs.
4. If you specialize right after graduating, 5-10 yrs down the road you might be tired of the same ol' procedure day after day and realize you made the wrong choice and miss the variety gen. dentistry has to offer.


Pro: 1. Less time at work, more $.
2. If you are fascinated with a certain procedure-(endo), or work well with a certain age group-(ortho or pedo) it might just be your thing.

 

[NDBeast]

Come on, people. I know a lot more want to respond!

 

[NewNameForGoogleBot]

relaxing work, no headaches?

Not from what I hear. You get all of the headache cases from the GPs

 

[ItsGavinC]

You could always practice for a couple of years and then head back to school if you find that general doesn't suit you.

I think I'll be sticking with general.

 

[aphistis]

Gavin, that's what I'm thinking I'd like to do--I figure the best arrangement would be to associate for a few years to get some exposure, and then make the final decision to either apply for a residency or buy into a GP office.

Then again, I still find myself changing my mind weekly about whether or not I want to try specializing straight out of the gate, so I dunno 😉

 

[River13]

That's the reason to never slack off in any of your classes during dental school. If you're not sure if you want to specialize or not, keep studying and learning like you're going to be #1. That way, if you decide to do it in the future you'll have the stats you need to take you there... and by aiming at #1 you can usually make #15-20 🙂. It you aim at #15-20, there's a good chance of ending up past 30.

 

[NDBeast]

Originally posted by aphistis
Then again, I still find myself changing my mind weekly about whether or not I want to try specializing straight out of the gate, so I dunno 😉

What were you thinking of specializing in, aphistis?

 

[aphistis]

OMS (first love), or possibly ortho. Failing that, I'll go for a GPR and spend a very enjoyable career as a GP 😉

 

[Yah-E]

Specializing Con: possibly more loans
Specializing Pro: loan deferments

 

[ULTRON]

I thought that residencies actually pay you for working.....it works for MDs. Do you actually pay to do a residency?

ULTRON

 

[River13]

Some ortho programs like Virginia Commonwealth University (MCV) still give a stipend of around 20K/year to their ortho residents. Obviously because of this, they're one of the most saught after programs in the USA. I think UMKC also gives an ortho stipend.

 

[River13]

Maybe that's the case...

 

[endotom]

I've been an endodontist for 18 years. I quit and am writing a textbook and volunteer teaching at a dental school now and then.
I found this forum because my son is applying to dental schools.

Endodontics is a great specialty, but you can get burned out after a while. Very high stress. Not to many old endodontists out there. You folks have any questions for me?

 

[LestatZinnie]

does being an endodontist allow you to make enough to retire early, or does one have to take another job after the 'burn out'?

i'm just wondering becuz if you can make alot, then retiring early is not a big issue- as it's balanced out.

thanks!!

 

[endotom]

In my case, I had enough. I saw 20,000 patients in my career. I started out wanting to teach a long time ago and this is a good time to go and do that. If you conservatively say each patient was billed an average of about $400, you do the math. I can retire whenever I want to.
I got sick a few years ago and needed a liver transplant. That was last November. Now I got time to write a book, volunteer teach, go fishing every day, cut my own grass, and give advice to you fine folks on the Internet.

 

[LestatZinnie]

thanks for your input!!

your presence is highly appreciated on SDN and I know you're having a wicked time after life as endodontist!!

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by SDN9876
Yes, some ortho programs such as VCU gave $ BUT now, NONE of them do. The GME funding has been taken away and no ortho porgrams in the USA will receive any stipend. I believe this is the latest news. I could be wrong so someone please correct me if i am 😎

No, I believe you are correct. We had this diccusion about two months ago, and were trying to determine which residencies would be affected.

I think our conclusion was that OMS and GPR would NOT be affected due to their medical/hospital staff affiliations.

 

[gryffindor]

Originally posted by SDN9876
Yes, some ortho programs such as VCU gave $ BUT now, NONE of them do. The GME funding has been taken away and no ortho porgrams in the USA will receive any stipend. I believe this is the latest news. I could be wrong so someone please correct me if i am 😎

Not entirely true. As a current applicant in the post-grad/specialty process, I've learned a few things about this. There still are a few ortho programs that will pay a stipend, independent of GME. These programs can still afford to pay their students a stipend because 1) the program is at a hospital and the students are actually residents at the hospital or 2) the program appoints all of its residents as teaching assistants in the dental school/university and therefore the students get paid because of their teaching duties. As far as the GME funding goes, we still don't know the verdict yet. Hopefully our ADEA reps will return from their meeting this weekend in Cleaveland with good news... Last I knew the GME issue was still sitting in Congress somewhere with no final decision, although it was looking grim (keeping fingers crossed that GME goes is not taken away for the upcoming year.......)

At this point, I've come to accept that if my plans to specialize go through, I am looking to borrow more $$$ for the next few years. Looks like I'll be moonlighting like crazy, if time allows it.

 

[Stomatologist]

Hi,

Im a second year considering endo as a possible specialty choice. Now, how does income demographics plays in the number of cases treated por month.

For example, lets say your office is located in a relatively poor city or town. Wouldnt a patient rather have his tooth extracted for 1/10 of the cost of a root canal.

Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[endotom]

Stomatologist,

The good places to practice seem to be taken up, like if you want to be in town in Newport or someplace like that. But remember, no matter how the statistics look on ratio of endodontists to referal basis, you only need one job. You shouldn't have a problem finding that no matter what your needs are.
Most places out there with the exception of central Maine where there are towns where you automatically get your dentures at age 18, have communities that are interested in saving thier teeth. I remember a poll that was taken a while back asking: "How much money would it take to get you to have your front tooth extracted?" I think the average was close to million dollars. Some wouldn't do it for any amount. (You and I might take it, go down to perio and have an implant put in, put a temporary bridge on and walk over to the bank, cause we know)
However, most people realize that in the long run, that having a root canal and a crown done (the most successful proceedure done in dentistry) is far better, lasts longer, and is 1/3 the price of having a tooth extracted and replaced.