why specialize?

[nickd]

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I have noticed that alot of first and second year dental students on this board really want to specialize. There are even a few people that have not gotten into dental school yet that talk about wanting to specialize. I was just wondering if you could tell me why yall want to specialize in a branch a dentistry when you have not really gotten any experience in it yet.

Thanks

 

[PChemGrad]

im doing it for the chicks 😎

 

[thedudeabides6]

your status says you are a dentist, yet you cannot think of one reason to specialize? seriously?

 

[youngmc27]

😀$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

 

[InMyCrossHairs]

So that I never have to hold a perio instrument in my hand again.

 

[MONKEYBOY]

General Dentistry is such a good gig, that I don't see specializing as worth it. The 2+ years one is working as a GD, it will take a while to catch up once done and ready to work as a specialist.

Going for the tallest order doesn't always bring the best returns on your effort.

 

[Istr8nthem]

General Dentistry is such a good gig, that I don't see specializing as worth it. The 2+ years one is working as a GD, it will take a while to catch up once done and ready to work as a specialist.

Going for the tallest order doesn't always bring the best returns on your effort.

It's not always about the money... some people decide on a profession for other reasons...

 

[armorshell]

General Dentistry is such a good gig, that I don't see specializing as worth it. The 2+ years one is working as a GD, it will take a while to catch up once done and ready to work as a specialist.

Going for the tallest order doesn't always bring the best returns on your effort.

Every study I've read (read them for ortho, OMFS and prosth) has shown the time investment in residency shows a positive cash return over the life of the career. Even when you factor in the time investment, specializing is still worth it.

 

[aphistis]

General Dentistry is such a good gig, that I don't see specializing as worth it. The 2+ years one is working as a GD, it will take a while to catch up once done and ready to work as a specialist.

Going for the tallest order doesn't always bring the best returns on your effort.

Not only should you not specialize, you shouldn't even go to dental school--or bother with college at all, for that matter. My postsecondary education has taken up a whole decade of my life that I could have spent waiting tables full time. Going for the tallest order doesn't always bring the best returns on your effort. 😉

 

[Contach]

It's not always about the money... some people decide on a profession for other reasons...

boulder dash! absolute rubbish.

 

[MONKEYBOY]

It's not always about the money... some people decide on a profession for other reasons...

bloody brillint! no one has thought of this b4. applause for pointing out the obvious

 

[rinse-n-spit]

This is why most HAVE to specialize: Lack of business ability. If you have any intelligence when it comes to starting a practice, and manage employees the potential income of a General Dentist is much greater. But don't let me stop anyone from fulfilling their "dream." We all want to serve people right, just like we said in our interviews.

 

[yeti]

boulder dash! absolute rubbish.

balderdash

 

[KOM]

For the money - evolution decided people don't need 3rd molars anymore. I will help evolution continue it's course and you will pay me generously for it.

 

[Contach]

balderdash

oh really. lol

 

[Guy Smiley]

This is why most HAVE to specialize: Lack of business ability. If you have any intelligence when it comes to starting a practice, and manage employees the potential income of a General Dentist is much greater. But don't let me stop anyone from fulfilling their "dream." We all want to serve people right, just like we said in our interviews.

I don't really agree with the first part of this. If a specialist can't market himself to general dentists or the public and seem appealing, he won't have any business just as the general dentist without any business sense.

 

[DrBadVibes3]

cause i never wanna touch a endo file, PFM crown, denture or scaler EVER again 😀

 

[Pedo Unicorn]

General Dentistry is such a good gig, that I don't see specializing as worth it. The 2+ years one is working as a GD, it will take a while to catch up once done and ready to work as a specialist.

Going for the tallest order doesn't always bring the best returns on your effort.

Translation of MONKEYBOY'S statement: "I have no shot at ever specializing because my grades and board scores are terrible."

General Dentistry is a good gig, just like specializing is a good gig. Most people specialize because they like the procedures or population that said specialty focuses on. If you like DO preps and scaling/root planing as much as you like complete dentures, then stick with the GP.
Sometimes specializing does not equal more money (it depends on a lot of factors), but most of the time it more than compensates for the time spent. For MONKEYBOY to say that spending 2 to 6 years in a specialty program "isn't worth it" financially or professionally? That's a pretty uneducated statement. There's just nothing backing up your words here other than you not wanting the "tallest order".

 

[desert rat]

When I was in dental school we had many classmates that knew they wanted to be a specialist from the start. They had worked as dental assistants and knew the differences and what they felt was fun.

Two of my former classmates are full time faculty teaching their specialty, so money was not their motivation. We had a few that went ortho just for money, so who knows how happy they are.

I had no prior dental knowledge before school and when in dental school I did not see anything I wanted to specialize in. After dental school in the Army I applied for a pedo residency in my first year. I am glad they turned me down, because I hate pedo now. The only specialties I like now are OS and ortho.

I know of 6 specialits that have given up their specialty and work as general dentists. 4 of them are perio and wanted to be able to restore implants and they make more now as implant centers than they did as periodontists. You can't restore implants as a periodontist. I know 2 prosth guys that found they made more as a general dentists than as a prosth guy because general dentists rarely send a case to the prosth guys.

All my OS friends are happy with their field and work long hours and spend time at the hospitals, but find alot of satisfaction in what they do. They tell me that it is good not to have to stress over cosmetics.

I also know a ton of general dentists that seek out the AGD fellowships so they have credentials behind their name like a specialist. Seems some people want to be a specialist without all the hard work. I know many of them that hate doing all phases of dentistry. Many limit their practice to what they like. A good friend only does endo and does better than the local endodontist, I know several that only do ortho etc.

If you even think there is a remote possibility that you may want to be a specialist I say work hard in school and make top grades. During your last year you can decide if you want to specialize. If you don't have great grades then it is general dentist you will end up.

 

[capisce?]

This is why most HAVE to specialize: Lack of business ability. If you have any intelligence when it comes to starting a practice, and manage employees the potential income of a General Dentist is much greater. But don't let me stop anyone from fulfilling their "dream." We all want to serve people right, just like we said in our interviews.

Wow.

The earning potential of OMFS, endo, ortho and pedo are all above general dentistry by a good bit.

I'm not saying that this is why people should choose those career paths. It just drives me crazy to see so much incorrect information on this site from predents or dental students preaching like it's gospel.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I have noticed that alot of first and second year dental students on this board really want to specialize. There are even a few people that have not gotten into dental school yet that talk about wanting to specialize. I was just wondering if you could tell me why yall want to specialize in a branch a dentistry when you have not really gotten any experience in it yet.

Thanks

Here are MY reasons:

1. Greater income potential.

2. Greater knowledge base. I know many excellent GPs but majority of them do not have the knowledge as much as specialists. GPs with continued education classes cannot beat 3 or more years of specialist training (and continuing education after that).

3. Less chance of being sued should the case goes wrong. GPs can always refer to specialists but as a specialist, who else can you send it to?

4. Focus to one discipline and do it well (prosthetics in my case).

5. Focus to one area that I enjoy rather than doing things I don't enjoy (like root canals).

6. Greater marketability (hard to beat pros. though)

7. More clout when negoiating salary even when practicing as a GP due to extra credentials.

Nuf said! DP

 

[rkamsterdam]

This is why most HAVE to specialize: Lack of business ability. If you have any intelligence when it comes to starting a practice, and manage employees the potential income of a General Dentist is much greater. But don't let me stop anyone from fulfilling their "dream." We all want to serve people right, just like we said in our interviews.

yeah, but as a specialist you have to be a professional GD arse-kisser. do they have classes for that?

 

[charlestweed]

yeah, but as a specialist you have to be a professional GD arse-kisser. do they have classes for that?

If you are not willing to do that, you shouldn’t consider specializing.🙂

I decided to specialize b/c I didn’t think, as a GP, my business skill was good enough to compete with other GPs. It is easier to make friends with GPs than to compete with GPs. I love it when I see a new dentist setting up his/her practice nearby.

 

[bigstix808]

For the money - evolution decided people don't need 3rd molars anymore. I will help evolution continue it's course and you will pay me generously for it.

love it! ^^

 

[capisce?]

yeah, but as a specialist you have to be a professional GD arse-kisser. do they have classes for that?

As a pedo we maybe get less than 5% of our referrals from GPs, so no.


To get referrals as a specialist, you just have to do good work. GPs want to trust that the person they send their patient to does quality work. After all, our word is an extension of ourselves when we refer. If the referring doc does a poor job, not only does it reflect poorly on him but also on the judgment of the GP. Good work/caring doc = referrals

 

[aphistis]

As a pedo we maybe get less than 5% of our referrals from GPs, so no.


To get referrals as a specialist, you just have to do good work. GPs want to trust that the person they send their patient to does quality work. After all, our word is an extension of ourselves when we refer. If the referring doc does a poor job, not only does it reflect poorly on him but also on the judgment of the GP. Good work/caring doc = referrals

👍

 

[eliteOMFS]

Just do what you enjoy!!! You will find money is not everything. If you enjoy, and are excellent at what you do..the Benjamins will find you. I did not know I wanted to pursue oral surgery until my fourth year of dental school.

 

[Dukie]

Just do what you enjoy!!! You will find money is not everything. If you enjoy, and are excellent at what you do..the Benjamins will find you. I did not know I wanted to pursue oral surgery until my fourth year of dental school.

Yeah, I have to agree. You can make plenty of money in any field, whether GP or a specialty. Do what you enjoy and the money will be there.