Choosing a Dental Specialty

Some individuals go into dental school already knowing what area of specialty they want to go into. Conversely there are some who figure it out as they matriculate, and there are others who are just not sure what to specialize in, if at all.

When the third year of dental school comes around the halls are usually abuzz with chatter of people applying to various specialties. It's a worry-filled, yet exciting time for many. There are always the bunch wanting to specialize in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry and Endodontics. Then there are the handful that chooses to go into the less popular areas such as Public Health and Radiology, to name a few.

There are nine (9) specialties of dentistry that are recognized by The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards, and they are:
But how exactly do you choose a specialty or even know that you want to specialize?
My suggestions would be:

  • Shadow dentists and specialists - this will give you direct insight into the daily life of that specialist. Yo will see first hand the different procedures performed, different treatment modalities and how cases are managed.  
  • Internships/externships - these are usually done in an academic or hospital setting. This offers insight as to what a typical day in residency is like and often times go more in depth on the different treatment and procedure that are done. 
  • Consider Compensation - although personally I believe one should go into a specialty that they are strongest in and that they enjoy, some individuals regard compensation quite highly. Check the average salary for a certain specialty in your area. You might even consider moving to a different state if the compensation there is better. 
  • Consider Lifestyle - the lifestyle of specialists can be quite different so do some research to ensure you know exactly what you're getting into ahead of time. Oral & maxillofacial surgeons typically lead quite busy lives depending on the type of practice they go into. During their residency years (4-6 years post dental school) they might be on-call and have less flexible schedules than say an Orthodontist who's typical week comprises of 4 work days.
All in all, ensure your research is thorough before you make a decision on any area of specialty. You may even want to consider being a general dentist for a few years before deciding that you want to specialize. At the end of the day, make sure that you are well informed about a specific specialty before going into it.

Source: American Dental Association website 


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