Who wants to specialize? What type of specialization?

[dprice121]

...a general dentist can have a much nicer time during dental school when it comes to grades/board scores, and can still perform all the specialty they want....

I wouldn't say they can perform ALL the specialty they want. It would be pretty hard for a general dentist to get away with doing everything an orthodontist does. And since you can't adverstise yourself as an orthodontist, good luck getting the patients in order to perform ALL the specialty you want (assuming Ortho was what you wanted).

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Zurik5]

I think the moral of the story is....lets not jump the gun here (especially those of us who arent in yet). I'm not sure if Zurik wanted to specialize or not before going into dental school, but look what he said....he just wants to get out as soon as possible, a feeling most of us will probably have after a short time in school (and its just his first year, although I know that UIC's curriculum is different than most schools). In any case, like so many others have mentioned, I think we should get in and see how to actually practice dentistry, observe a few specialty areas (which we will have to do anyway) and then choose if its for us or not. I think a lot of people make these assumptions that they are going to specialize way before they know anything about the numerous fields of dentistry. On the other hand, you all can do what you want...I know when/if I get in....I am planning on just trying to survive. Being a GP has numerous advantages over specializing (ie you dont always have to rely on referrals).

Good post Bullsfan, and for the most part you?re exactly right. I came into dental school thinking that I would specialize, regardless of what it took. So over the past three months I?ve busted my butt and I?m doing very well. In my class you can tell which students want to specialize, and they?re certainly a different breed. You have your super smart students, who for the most part are nice and easy to get along with. You have your students who aren?t as intelligent and bust their arse nonstop so they can get a B+/A- and have a major hardon for ortho?they?re ok, but don?t cross them or they?ll go to the professor and bitch. And then you have your students who are major tools and just work ?harder than you? so that they can justify their ****ty grades and terrible personal skills? now these are major generalizations, but I tend to hang out with the students who are a bit more personable (we sit in the back of the class) and all of us are doing very well. I?ve come to the realization that everyone is very intelligetnt, and that personality separates the class more than anything. The students with personality are likely going to be the ones who make the most money someday?when you get to school find out who you get along with, and work with them. You?ll have more fun and get a lot more work done..

Since we don?t have access to patients until second/third year, I?m not sure which area of dentistry interests me the most. We?ve been in the clinic doing perio, cleanings, etc? and have had access to public health/pedo. Right now, none of this interests me enough to justify spending another two/four years in school and some of the pedo staff really needs to chill out on the whole bad tie thing Regardless of what I do, I plan on getting an MBA, and don?t plan on practicing in Chicago?.pretty saturated market?

 

[Zurik5]

That's what many students tell themselves anyway...the ones that realize they probably don't have a shot at specializing. Whatever helps you sleep better at night.

But you're right...the other students who change their minds about specializing (other than those who didn't gain enough exposure to the field first) are those who realize they don't want to put forth the extra effort to become a specialist, or maybe aren't capable of doing well enough to have a chance no matter how hard they try.

Oh and stuff like this really aggravates me. There isn?t any room in dentistry for an ego and as soon as we all get over that, the better. Every specialist relies on a gp and vice versa?throw this nonsense out the door.

 

[JMJRDH1]

When that wonderful day comes when I have to actually answer the specialization question, it will mean that I am already a DDS or DMD.

That bridge, when crossed, will simply be icing on an oversized, extra-fattening but oh-so-delicious cake!

 

[pmoney]

Alright I'll give my take on this whole thing.

I'm no dentist, in fact I'm just applying to college (actually a 3+4 program) right now. My dad's a dentist. He has always told me a lot of what you guys said. Focus on getting into D-school, and just do your best. If you want to specialize, you will need to work more but take it one step at a time.

For those people who are interested in specializing before starting dental school, I don't think its that bad of a thing as many people make it out to be. I might be interested in a specialty just after shadowing or something but in the end I will probably change my mind, either no do one, or end up doing something else. I figure that it gives you something to focus on in D school, even though nobody entering has any idea wtf is going on in anything.

THe problem is is that many people happen to think a said specialty (ex. ortho) is easy, or you can make quick bucks and don't understand how you need to really like what you are doing and have the grades and the drive to complete it. For example, somebody mentioned the 75% of pre-dents in some school wanting to do ortho. These people are what everybody thinks about when you hear somebody not in d-school. I'm sure there are many people that understand what is going on and though they may 'want' to do a specialty they understand the reality of what they are going to go through and what they will have to deal with before even getting to the position where they MAY get a chance to apply for a specialty program...

Excuse my long winded post, I am just giving my humble opinion and surfing this forum instead of writing an essay.

 

[Supernumerary]

Thought you all might like to hear from a self-proclaimed slacker here.

First off, I don't think there's anything wrong with people looking ahead. In fact, I think most of the people who eventually end up specializing are the people who made that decision very early on. If you want to be at the top of your class you need to hit the ground running. It's too late to decide in your third year that you want to be an endodontist if you've already had 2 1/2 yrs of average grades. You have to at least have an idea that you might like to specialize to stay motivated.

If you go around telling everyone you are dead set on some specific specialty you are going to annoy the heck out of your classmates, but that's just social ineptitude, not necessarily premature planning on your part. Just keep it to yourself, OK? People will like you more.

Personally, I am about 98.5% sure that I want to be a general dentist. I have a personality that is always looking for something new. I like the idea of always being able to branch out into completely new areas. Of course specialists are always learning too, but it is just not the same variety that GP can give you. I like dentistry too much to limit myself to a few procedures.

Knowing that I want to do GP lowers my stress level immensely compared to my classmates. I haven't studied earlier than the night before a test this year and then just a few hours. I sit at the front of the class, pay attention, and make sure I understand the concepts. I don't want to cheat myself out of an education, but I'll leave it to the gunners to worry about memorizing every minute detail of the clotting pathway, thank you very much.

Of course every now and then I get the uncomfortable feeling of knowing that I am burning my bridges behind me; especially, when I see some of the published figures for specialty earnings. But it's still not enough to make me spend the evening reading immunology instead of taking my kids to the park. Surprisingly, my class rank really isn't terrible right now and I could probably make it into the top 15 by April if I really busted my hump, but I just don't want to sacrifice that much.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Dr. Bad Vibes:

OK so pedodondists do make more since insurance companies recognize them as specialists.

As well, I was talking to a DDS graduate I met who is now specializing in peds and he told me that it used to be the "hidden gem" of dentistry, but is getting more popular now.

I think "geriodontics" is gonna boom, since the baby boomers are ahuge segment of the population.

You are totally right EHA....pedo is booming now, but what I wanna know is where did all these people come from? All of a sudden, people start to like working with kids????

Sad thing is that Im afraid that its becoming so popular because people saw it as an easy speciality to get into, where there is a huge growth potential and a very high income...so in my opinion they are doing it for the wrong reasons......if kids are not your passion and just go into pedo for the prestige and the money, you make me sick!

And you are totally right about seniors...thats gonna be big as well....but you think kids complain and whine too much...HA! I would rather work with punk kids all day instead of working with crabby old people....

 

[VancouverDoc2b]

Bad Vibes,

How you doin man?? Long time no talk. Enjoying your days in Philly and Temple Im assuming. Know you wouldnt have had it any other way. Too bad no hockey season, so you and Brian dont get at each others throats when the Leafs come into town.

Anyways, man, you mentioned how you were shadowing a Pedo while in dental school. How do u manage to find the time?? I wouldnt know what to cut outta my schedule. The reason Im asking though is cause I wanna do some extracurriculars also, just dont know where to start.

Take care man, Good luck in the quest for PEDO

 

[OzDDS]

This is interesting.. scroll down.

Lyle Kirson, D.D.S. Specialty: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia


http://www.uchsc.edu/anes/ResInfo/staff.shtml

 

[OzDDS]

Here is a general anesthesiology residency.. if you scroll down to the bottom, there is a message from the Cheif resident (a dentist).

http://www.metrohealth.org/Clinical/Anes/resident.asp#Residents

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

OzDDS, are you in dental school, yet? You seem to have a real thing for anesthesiology. If you aren't in dental school yet you really ought to think about going to med school instead.

 

[OzDDS]

OzDDS, are you in dental school, yet? You seem to have a real thing for anesthesiology. If you aren't in dental school yet you really ought to think about going to med school instead.

Not in dental school yet, hopefully next year! Nah.. If were talking about both.. I'd much rather be a GP dent than a GP med. I just wanted to look at and talk about all the options one might have with choosing dentistry. I think it is good because dent and med both have the same foundation, and a study the same basic sciences.. You can specilize in many different fields with dentistry, but at the same time.. if you choose not to specilize, I think being a GP as a dentist would still be better than GP med in terms of lifestyle.

 

[OzDDS]

all good things! just something to think about. I'm just saying.. that you can choose dent and that still leaves you with many many career choices(more than some might think)... AND leaves you with much more flexibility in your life.. allowing you to set more priorities outside your career too and enjoy your life.

 

[45540]

I still don't see how this thread made it to the Pre-Dental forum. So far it's my first semester and I still haven't experienced near enough to even think what type of speciality I'd like to do. No one knows if they can/want to specialize, except for those who happen to have parents who already have practices. I think now the 3rd year students have just now started coming out and saying what they'd like to do.

It's only after plenty of lab time; the national board scores; and 4-5 semesters of D-school that'll let you know what's right for you.

If i walked in the door saying, "Hey, i'm going to go for OMFS or Ortho, for one i'd be "that guy" in the class and i'd be ignoring all the other areas of focus.

The first day they asked who wanted to specialize in our class; probably 10 people raised their hand, but it looks like 2 of them won't even be with us next semester.

Just my thoughts ....

 

[Zurik5]

The first day they asked who wanted to specialize in our class; probably 10 people raised their hand, but it looks like 2 of them won't even be with us next semester.

Why is that?

 

[45540]

They couldn't even make it through Histo or Biochem ...

 

[Zurik5]

They couldn't even make it through Histo or Biochem ...

That sucks, so much for ortho and omfs...

 

[Bullfan16]

Although I have stated I am interested in being a GP, this is something I am interested in upon graduation. Again, I probably wont know until I graduate that I want to do this, however, I am pretty sure this is what I want to do. My father uses this in his practice on a day to day basis (Fellowship in GA from Cook County Hospital after graduation from dental school in 1971). He sedates phobics, handicapped, patients that are hard to deal with, etc. From what I have seen the pros heavily outweigh the cons. Yes, you have to keep up with CE credits, yes you have to maintain ceritification (ACLS), yes you cant treat every patient with anesthesia....first, however, I have to get in and get through all 4 years of dental school. I am very interested in pursuing this and then doing a 6 month-1 year residency and then using it in the practice setting.

 

[OzDDS]

6 month-1 year residency and then using it in the practice setting.

I think the 1 year residencies are only for IV sedation, alternatively you could do a 3-4 year residency for full anesthesia training.