What are the most applied-to specialties at your school?

[Torshammer]

When I was in school years ago, it seemed to be Ortho and OS, followed by Peds, followed by Endo/Perio. My uninformed impression these days is that not as many applicants to Ortho as before, whereas Endo is seeing more applicants every year. OS and Peds seem as popular as ever, while Perio is still not as popular.

What is everyone else seeing? And overall, does it seem like more people are applying to (any) specialty compared to before?

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[veryhappylabrador]

Straight from school: Peds > ortho/perio > prosth > endo > OS.

Endo likes experience, though I will say OS felt abnormally low compared to other classes.

 

[LeagueofLigTies]

Ortho/pedo tied as top this year for my school

 

[Undecided__]

Based on match data, it seems like more people applied to ortho than any other specialty.

 

[OncePreDent]

My Class: Ortho > OS > Peds > Endo > DA > Perio

 

[Gustavo dos Santos]

Peds/ortho> perio > OS > endo/prosth >DA/path/radiology

 

[Rubberpulp]

My graduating class of 70
Peds: 10
Ortho: 7
Perio: 4
Endo: 3
OS: 1

 

[nateriver]

OS Peds and Ortho seem to always be top from what I’ve seen

 

[2TH MVR]

Nice to see ortho still at the top or near the top. Undisputed best lifestyle dental specialty.

 

[dentistrydmd]

Interesting... only thing people are saying here that doesn't make any sense is the question asked which are the most applied to specialties, whereas the answer is saying which specialties people matched to. You most likely wouldnt know if someone applied to a specialty, but didnt get in.

 

[Smileartist2024]

Endo > OS > Perio > Pedo > Ortho > Pros

 

[OncePreDent]

Nice to see ortho still at the top or near the top. Undisputed best lifestyle dental specialty.

I think you are sleeping on DA - by far the easiest on your body out of any. Income for sure, OS, but probably the hardest on your body. DA has unbelievable income potential and is very easy on your body.

 

[D1Bound]

I think you are sleeping on DA - by far the easiest on your body out of any. Income for sure, OS, but probably the hardest on your body. DA has unbelievable income potential and is very easy on your body.

What kinna income are you talking about for DA’s? You can always sling anesthesia only as an OS too. I’ve heard of one that did that due to disability

 

[OncePreDent]

What kinna income are you talking about for DA’s? You can always sling anesthesia only as an OS too. I’ve heard of one that did that due to disability

I've heard $500k+ is very typical. If a practicing DA is looking at this form, I would love to hear their thoughts on income. I think you'd make more as an OS than a DA.

I only know 2 DA and they both run their own show, I was given the impression $750k-$1M was around their incomes. One of them charges cash up front before going to the clinic and only has 1 team member for answering phones and scheduling for her. Extremely low overhead as a DA.

The supply of DA is so limited compared to the demand. IMO DA & OS will be the most competitive residency programs to get into in 10 years.

 

[D1Bound]

I've heard $500k+ is very typical. If a practicing DA is looking at this form, I would love to hear their thoughts on income. I think you'd make more as an OS than a DA.

I only know 2 DA and they both run their own show, I was given the impression $750k-$1M was around their incomes. One of them charges cash up front before going to the clinic and only has 1 team member for answering phones and scheduling for her. Extremely low overhead as a DA.

The supply of DA is so limited compared to the demand. IMO DA & OS will be the most competitive residency programs to get into in 10 years.

IMO Dental Anesthesiology will become the new “Ortho” life style specialty as more programs pump out orthodontists. If all dental anesthesia programs make the CBSE mandatory that’s a huge barrier to entry for many people. It seems like a wonderful specialty.

 

[OncePreDent]

IMO Dental Anesthesiology will become the new “Ortho” life style specialty as more programs pump out orthodontists. If all dental anesthesia programs make the CBSE mandatory that’s a huge barrier to entry for many people. It seems like a wonderful specialty.

I couldn't agree more with you.

There are only 9 DA programs currently, with around 32 spots every year. Meanwhile, with the new programs (68 programs total), you have the ortho programs kicking out around 400 spots a year.

Very few DA out there and their demand is increasing especially in pediatrics.

 

[yappy]

I couldn't agree more with you.

There are only 9 DA programs currently, with around 32 spots every year. Meanwhile, with the new programs (68 programs total), you have the ortho programs kicking out around 400 spots a year.

Very few DA out there and their demand is increasing especially in pediatrics.

But what about the broader anesthesia market? For example, I use a MD anesthesia group. I know of OMS who employ CRNAs. There are also anesthesia assistants in some states.
Also, from an ethical POV, most dental procedures don’t warrant a general anesthetic from a risk/reward perspective and can be handled using level 1 and 2 certification.

 

[charlestweed]

My cousin, who is a MD anesthesiologist, is currently working at an oral surgery office 2 days a month. The OMFS owner pays him $500/hour. This OMFS does a lot of plastic surgeries.

My cousin recently joined the pedo/ortho practice, where he helps my wife to sedate the patients for 3rd molar extractions. This pedo/ortho practice already has a part time dental anesthesiologist but she is too busy and she doesn’t want to give the owner more hours. The pedo owner doesn’t get anything because the patients pay my cousin directly….and it’s also $500 for first hour. The state medicaid (DentiCal) also pays for sedation for pedo patients.

My cousin’s friend, who is also a MD anesthesiologist, has provided sedation services at several dental offices for years. He also uses the Square app to charges the patients directly. This guy let my cousin borrow his travel equipment (the monitoring device, the intubation kit, the pump, syringes, saline solution etc). If things work out well at this pedo/ortho practice, my cousin will buy the equipment from his friend.

 

[SuxDrugs&Rocuronium]

Most M

But what about the broader anesthesia market? For example, I use a MD anesthesia group. I know of OMS who employ CRNAs. There are also anesthesia assistants in some states.
Also, from an ethical POV, most dental procedures don’t warrant a general anesthetic from a risk/reward perspective and can be handled using level 1 and 2 certification.

Most MDs have no interest in dental office anesthesia. They are more comfortable in a hospital setting and the thought of doing dental cases all day is boring to most of them.

 

[SuxDrugs&Rocuronium]

I've heard $500k+ is very typical. If a practicing DA is looking at this form, I would love to hear their thoughts on income. I think you'd make more as an OS than a DA.

I only know 2 DA and they both run their own show, I was given the impression $750k-$1M was around their incomes. One of them charges cash up front before going to the clinic and only has 1 team member for answering phones and scheduling for her. Extremely low overhead as a DA.

The supply of DA is so limited compared to the demand. IMO DA & OS will be the most competitive residency programs to get into in 10 years.

I watched a DA produce almost $8k today (overhead is 5-10%)

 

[OncePreDent]

Most M

Most MDs have no interest in dental office anesthesia. They are more comfortable in a hospital setting and the thought of doing dental cases all day is boring to most of them.

I was going to say this as well, one of the reason why they went to medical school is for the hospital setting. Of course this isn't the case for every MD out there, but I think the majority.

 

[OncePreDent]

I watched a DA produce almost $8k today (overhead is 5-10%)

One of the DA I know charges $11k a day to come to the office

 

[charlestweed]

Most M

Most MDs have no interest in dental office anesthesia. They are more comfortable in a hospital setting and the thought of doing dental cases all day is boring to most of them.

My cousin hates working at the hospital. In fact, he told my son, who will take the MCAT in a week, not to specialize in anesthesiology. He prefers working at a dental office setting. He hopes that this pedo/ortho office will save enough patients for him to keep him busy. Unlike working at the hospital, where he has to hire a biller to bill his patients, it's mostly cash pay at a dental practice setting. It's a 2hr drive from his house but he’d rather do this than working at a hospital....no calls, no late night work.

 

[OncePreDent]

My cousin hates working at the hospital. In fact, he told my son, who will take the MCAT in a week, not to specialize in anesthesiology. He prefers working at a dental office setting. He hopes that this pedo/ortho office will save enough patients for him to keep him busy. Unlike working at the hospital, where he has to hire a biller to bill his patients, it's mostly cash pay at a dental practice setting. It's a 2hr drive from his house but he’d rather do this than working at a hospital....no calls, no late night work.

An ortho wouldn't ever treat a patient using a DA, would they? Wouldn't they elect to hold off on the treatment?

 

[charlestweed]

An ortho wouldn't ever treat a patient using a DA, would they? Wouldn't they elect to hold off on the treatment?

It's a pedo/ortho office....and it's the pedo portion of the practice (and it's the more productive portion) that needs a DA. A lot of older teenagers continue to see the pedodontist and they need 3rd molars extractions, canine exposures etc. Young nervous 5-6 yo kids also need to be sedated for dental tx....and medicaid pays for sedation.

 

[OncePreDent]

It's a pedo/ortho office....and it's the pedo portion of the practice (and it's the more productive portion) that needs a DA. A lot of older teenagers continue to see the pedodontist and they need 3rd molars extractions, canine exposures etc. Young nervous 5-6 yo kids also need to be sedated for dental tx....and medicaid pays for sedation.

That's what I figured - that it was for the pedo office. Have you ever heard of an ortho ever using a DA? It seems way to extensive to me to use a DA for orthodontic treatment.

 

[charlestweed]

That's what I figured - that it was for the pedo office. Have you ever heard of an ortho ever using a DA? It seems way to extensive to me to use a DA for orthodontic treatment.

I know a very successful orthodontist in my area who hires an OS (or the OS may be his business partner??? I don't know) to do 3rd molar extractions and other surgical procedures in his office.

As an ortho, I don't even use local anesthetic.....haven't touch the syringe for nearly 25 yrs....LOL. I don't even have a DEA license.

 

[Rick Sorkin]

I know a very successful orthodontist in my area who hires an OS (or the OS may be his business partner??? I don't know) to do 3rd molar extractions and other surgical procedures in his office.

As an ortho, I don't even use local anesthetic.....haven't touch the syringe for nearly 25 yrs....LOL. I don't even have a DEA license.

Just curious, do you still have to have a crash cart and the plethora of emergency meds and instruments if you’re not even using any drugs for treatment?

 

[FutureDent020]

Nice to see ortho still at the top or near the top. Undisputed best lifestyle dental specialty.

Yea, everyone always talking about how endo is becoming more and more popular. But it doesn’t even compare to the ortho lifestyle. Endo is grueling and exhausting. Everything is hard. Every patient is difficult. Money is good. But it’s basically for the people who really enjoy specific aspects of dentistry. Ortho still the best lifestyle plus pay.

 

[yappy]

Yea, everyone always talking about how endo is becoming more and more popular. But it doesn’t even compare to the ortho lifestyle. Endo is grueling and exhausting. Everything is hard. Every patient is difficult. Money is good. But it’s basically for the people who really enjoy specific aspects of dentistry. Ortho still the best lifestyle plus pay.

You are likely, as a group, the most technically proficient in dentistry. It might be the most challenging specialty.

 

[2TH MVR]

Yea, everyone always talking about how endo is becoming more and more popular. But it doesn’t even compare to the ortho lifestyle. Endo is grueling and exhausting. Everything is hard. Every patient is difficult. Money is good. But it’s basically for the people who really enjoy specific aspects of dentistry. Ortho still the best lifestyle plus pay.

Every profession (Ortho, DA, OS, Endo, Pedo, Pros, General, etc. etc) has their adv and disadv. I'm sure the money is good with DA, but I could not imagine myself doing this day in and day out. As for Endo ... Ive always envied the low overhead, smaller staffs and seeing fewer patients. Could I see myself doing Endo. Probably not. OS. Nope.

As for Ortho. It's a pretty chill profession. Patients want our services. They're rarely in pain when they see us. Less chances for malpractice issues. I've been practicing for the last 30 years. Most of it in private practice. Knowing what I know now .... I would still chose Ortho as a profession.

 

[charlestweed]

Just curious, do you still have to have a crash cart and the plethora of emergency meds and instruments if you’re not even using any drugs for treatment?

I just have a little box that contains emergency drugs (Epinephrine, Albuterol, Nitroglycerin, glucose, Aspirin etc). I Since these drugs have very short shelf life, I have to buy them fairly frequently. My CPR instructor, who sells me these drugs, usually keeps track of the expiration dates. He calls my office when it's time to purchase a new drug. I usually buy a whole new kit with new expiration dates.