What is the best specialty (including general dentistry) and why?

[versace]

what do you think?

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[dp93]

best for what?

 

[ButlerCard]

This is obviously based on every persons opinion. Why would someone go into something they didn't think was the best? Do you mean where is the most money? Where is the least amount of work? There are so many variables and ever person thinks differently on everything. Even within general dentistry two dentists can practice very different procedures. Yiu can hopefully do what you want, assuming you put in the effort. Are you in now or a predent?

 

[versace]

Will start dental school in the fall, and I am asking every one of you guys which YOU think is the best and why you think so (I'm aware its based on opinion). This is like a public poll but with an explanation too

 

[Screwtape]

mandibular buccal pit operative specialist

 

[toothdriller2k17]

general dentistry in my opinion--breadth of procedures, a high financial ceiling, and more likely to run your own practice

 

[tooth knockn]

Lower anterior lingual calculus scaler....

All day baby

 

[Incis0r]

Allow me to introduce you to Incis0r's law of Best Specialty.


Best Specialty = General Dentistry - (sum of all procedures you hate, can't do, or don't want to do because the materials are too expensive*).

*example being purchasing a microscope, Cone Bean, etc.. for a complicated endo procedure that only shows up once every two months at your office.

 

[PointEstimate]

*example being purchasing a microscope, Cone Bean, etc.. for a complicated endo procedure that only shows up once every two months at your office.

cone beam

 

[aqz]

cone beam

Nah it's cone bean, I googled it.

http://www.nealedds.com/procedures/cleanings-prevention/cone-bean-3d-imaging/

 

[versace]

And endo still has the lowest overhead

 

[Silent Cool]

cone beam

No, @Incis0r had it right.

Cone Bean:

 

[Silent Cool]

Nah it's cone bean, I googled it.

http://www.nealedds.com/procedures/cleanings-prevention/cone-bean-3d-imaging/

Bwahahaha, that's hilarious. Dr. Neale goofed his own website.

 

[Incis0r]

cone beam

Lol typo. I was thinking of bean candy at the time 😀

 

[I want to go to there]

OMFS imo. Versatile procedures, pays extremely well, doesn't really have to deal with annoying patients, less competition compared to GP, and more respected than other dentists.

 

[versace]

OMFS imo. Versatile procedures, pays extremely well, doesn't really have to deal with annoying patients, less competition compared to GP, and more respected than other dentists.

I considered that but the procedures are essentially surgery and I'd prefer not to do that stuff everyday, also the on call aspect sucks

 

[I want to go to there]

I considered that but the procedures are essentially surgery and I'd prefer not to do that stuff everyday, also the on call aspect sucks

Well, hence the surgery in the name of their title. How much being on call after you become an oral surgeon depends on your choice of practice.

 

[versace]

How feasible is it to have a 9-4 five days a week (maybe 4) job in your own practice as OMFS without being on call at all?

 

[I want to go to there]

How feasible is it to have a 9-4 five days a week (maybe 4) job in your own practice as OMFS without being on call at all?

It's your own practice, you can do whatever you want.

 

[mrdocta]

How feasible is it to have a 9-4 five days a week (maybe 4) job in your own practice as OMFS without being on call at all?

Currently working for an OMFS. Has his own practice and will be retiring next year I think at the age of 50. Don't think the doc is ever really on call. He mainly does wisdom teeth extractions and some implants. During the school year it's a bit slower so he takes off on Wednesday's. Summer schedule he has half days on Wednesday's and Fridays. He plays golf four times a week so he has a pretty great work/life balance.

 

[psiyung]

omfs has the best gig overall

 

[versace]

omfs has the best gig overall

I take it your an oral surgeon? Also why doesn't anyone ever pick the other two OMF specialties

 

[DaleDoback]

There's 2 other surgery specialties?

 

[toothdriller2k17]

i'm assuming the other to OMF specialties he/she's referring to are oral and maxillo radio+path. both of these are geared towards academia and from what i've gathered it's tougher to get a full time job. and of course academia implies less $$

i'd say every other specialty will get you the guaranteed high salary. however, being a general dentist gives you a high ceiling, but you have to be savvy in all areas dentistry and have a good business sense.

i have an enormous amount of respect for all of the other specialties, but in my eyes being a well rounded general dentist who seldom refers out is extremely lucrative. again, it all depends on what you want.

 

[comatose]

ortho is, without question, the best specialty, in terms of pay for the amount of work you do, and to top it off, it's the specialty with the lowest stress. If I was number one in my class, then I'd go into ortho. OMFS may be the highest paid, but when you think of all the daily stresses they deal with, it's not worth it in my opinion. I have met MANY unhappy oral surgeons who hate life because of the amount of stressful procedures they have to do. It's definitely the most stressful specialty, even more than pedo, because once you get used to screaming, crying kids, it's very basic dentistry. endo is great if you like that sort of thing, but to me, again it's too much stress. So I would do ortho, and if I wasn't number one in my class, I'd do general and refer all molar endo, wisdom teeth extractions, and complicated ortho out.

 

[CMistry]

If I was number one in my class, then I'd go into ortho.

Lucky for you, you can go into ortho even if you're the last in your class! There now tuition-charging ortho programs that don't even fill their spots annually.

 

[versace]

Lucky for you, you can go into ortho even if you're the last in your class! There now tuition-charging ortho programs that don't even fill their spots annually.

Is residency free otherwise? And I guess this means I can cruise by with C's in dental school and still get the top specialty?

 

[CMistry]

Is residency free otherwise? And I guess this means I can cruise by with C's in dental school and still get the top specialty?

Free? Tuition-charging means they ream you for almost $100k annually. Yes you can be the bottom of your class and still get into a "top" specialty. But keep in mind that with these programs comes oversaturation.

 

[versace]

Free? Tuition-charging means they ream you for almost $100k annually. Yes you can be the bottom of your class and still get into a "top" specialty. But keep in mind that with these programs comes oversaturation.

My bad, I know medical specialties you get paid for, roughly how much do you pay a year for dental specialties and are their any that are free or you get paid for?

 

[comatose]

Lucky for you, you can go into ortho even if you're the last in your class! There now tuition-charging ortho programs that don't even fill their spots annually.

I call BS on this. And if it is true, it is because someone backed out last minute; however, even these programs you speak of I'm sure require cream of the crop applicants.

 

[CMistry]

I call BS on this. And if it is true, it is because someone backed out last minute; however, even these programs you speak of I'm sure require cream of the crop applicants.

You are very mistaken. I had classmates who were FAR from the top of my class who went to these programs. These "private" programs are ruining ortho. I can only hope they don't start with OMFS...

 

[comatose]

Ortho will ALWAYS be the most competitive specialty to get into, simply because it's the speciality with a high income potential AND low stress. The rest of the specialties all carry that added stress that ortho doesn't have.

 

[DocJL]

I considered that but the procedures are essentially surgery and I'd prefer not to do that stuff everyday, also the on call aspect sucks

Shocking.

I mean, that an Oral SURGEON does essentially surgery procedures.

 

[DaleDoback]

Ortho will ALWAYS be the most competitive specialty to get into, simply because it's the speciality with a high income potential AND low stress. The rest of the specialties all carry that added stress that ortho doesn't have.

ALWAYS is a bit aggressive. Statistically speaking, it appears to be the most competitive though so I'll give you partial credit for your blanket statement. And I had no idea that there were so many GPR/AEGD positions out there. We are creating a world of super-dentists.

GPR 2015
Applicants Participating in the Match*
956 (-30)
Positions Offered
799 (+34)
Matches / Positions Filled
622 (-25)
Unfilled Positions
177 (+59)

AEGD 2015
Applicants Participating in the Match*
519 (0)
Positions Offered
346 (+37)
Matches / Positions Filled
228 (+33)
Unfilled Positions
118 (+4)

OMS 2015
Applicants Participating in the Match*
369 (-27)
Positions Offered
224 (-4)
Matches / Positions Filled
215 (-8)
Unfilled Positions
9 (+4)

PED 2015
Applicants Participating in the Match*
648 (+10)
Positions Offered
390 (+8)
Matches / Positions Filled
384 (+12)
Unfilled Positions
6 (-4)

ORTHO 2015
Applicants Participating in the Match*
514 (+48)
Positions Offered
270 (+14)
Matches / Positions Filled
268 (+15)
Unfilled Positions
2 (-1)

ANES 2015
Applicants Participating in the Match*
34 (-19)
Positions Offered
36 (+2)
Matches / Positions Filled
25 (-6)
Unfilled Positions
11 (+8)

 

[versace]

Shocking.

I mean, that an Oral SURGEON does essentially surgery procedures.

Thanks for the contribution man

 

[DocJL]

likewise.

 

[Mackchops]

I like prosthodontics so it's the best for me.

 

[KsJohn]

what do you think?

By knowing the different types of dental specialties, you can better decide what type of dentist you prefer to have for different types of dental conditions.

 

[l4dygaga]

OMFS. Exciting surgeries, blood. Lots of blooood. Shadowed all the specialties and lots of GP and omfs just seems way too exciting to pass up.

 

[THS]

I like prosth because I enjoy being in the lab, but most lab work is not financially efficient if you're doing it as a GP. Also, they are probably the least referred-to out of all the clinical specialties (not academic or public health specialties).

Peds is probably the easiest, clinically. If you have a little bit of patience, and an office manager to deal with parents, you've got it made.

 

[ncide]

The best practice is the one with the best patients and coworkers.

It doesn't matter what specialty brings you those people. It's how you frame your situations, how you get to know your patients and staff, and ultimately, how much you give to your practice and the people you serve.

I have worked under more than two dozen doctors, and I will tell you first hand that your specialty doesn't dictate your happiness. I have met very successful surgeons who look forward to the moment they can leave their office, and likewise, I have come across specialists who look forward to each day because of the challenges each case brings.

Each field comes with its own technical challenges. There is merit to say that those unique challenges can attract particular individuals, but for the most part, it comes down to how you can interact with people and their needs. Most patients care how you interact with them just as much as the outcome of a procedure.

 

[ncide]

Ortho will ALWAYS be the most competitive specialty to get into, simply because it's the speciality with a high income potential AND low stress. The rest of the specialties all carry that added stress that ortho doesn't have.

Endo carries the least amount of stress. Outcomes are largely final and for most, a large turn around in symptoms. In many cases, there is an immediate follow-up with positive results.

I have worked in ortho for a few years. It can be enormously stressful. At the same time, you can make any practice as stressful as you want it to be.