GP's need a residency too?

[spiritedaway]

Hi, I'm pretty much new to this site and I've been lurking around. I'm currenty a high school student and I am seriously considering a career in either dentistry or pharmacy. Some of the posts I have seen mention that in order to be a general practitioner, you need one year in residency. Is this true? If you decide to just complete dental school without further education, can you still practice general dentistry?
Thanks for your help
~Michelle

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[onetoothleft]

Currently, residencies are only required to practice in New York State starting in 2007. It is a new law pending legislation that is expected to pass. Most think that other states will follow their lead, so by the time you practice many states may require at least a one year residency. This is encouraged as well by many schools that have more of an academic focus (columbia, harvard, UConn, etc.). Students from more clinical schools (Temple, Tufts, NYU, etc.) feel more confident practicing right away.

Also, it is really hard to get someone to hire you right out of dental school without a residency. Those who find such a job usually know somebody (such as a close friend or relative) with a practice.

So by the time you graduate, it may be mandatory, but honestly it is probably a good idea to do one regardless, I mean, one year is nothing compared to what doctors or specialists do.

Hope this helps.

 

[aphistis]

The only state I'm aware of that currently has the situation you describe is New York, though it's something I can see other states picking up on. Personally, I have no objection to spending time in residency. Part of the reason I switched from med to dent was to avoid having one required, but I'm becoming a firm believer that dentistry practiced properly is just as demanding as any other medical specialty, and as such should require a similar depth of training.

 

[aphistis]

Currently, residencies are only required to practice in New York State starting in 2007. It is a new law pending legislation that is expected to pass. Most think that other states will follow their lead, so by the time you practice many states may require at least a one year residency. This is encouraged as well by many schools that have more of an academic focus (columbia, harvard, UConn, etc.). Students from more clinical schools (Temple, Tufts, NYU, etc.) feel more confident practicing right away.

Also, it is really hard to get someone to hire you right out of dental school without a residency. Those who find such a job usually know somebody (such as a close friend or relative) with a practice.

So by the time you graduate, it may be mandatory, but honestly it is probably a good idea to do one regardless, I mean, one year is nothing compared to what doctors or specialists do.

Hope this helps.

This is pretty good except for one part--"it's hard to get hired without a residency." Supporting evidence, please?

 

[Sprgrover]

... but I'm becoming a firm believer that dentistry practiced properly is just as demanding as any other medical specialty, and as such should require a similar depth of training.

Good reply, and I agree 100%. A while back I was speaking with a dentist that is involved with the Idaho licensure process and he said that he anticipates a lot of other states to follow New York's lead. He felt that the current process is antiquated and a residency would hone a graduate's skills and be a better measure. But no, you don't have to complete a residency in dentistry (at least not just yet).

 

[ItsGavinC]

This is pretty good except for one part--"it's hard to get hired without a residency." Supporting evidence, please?

True. It isn't hard to get hired, but certainly your starting rates are typically higher if you have completed a residency. This probably isn't so much a factor of the actual residency, as it is the skills (and speed!) learned while in the residency.

If in the future the trend should lean further towards the majority of students completing residencies, then it may indeed be more difficult to get hired without one.

But as it currently stands, Bill is correct.

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

how exactly does it work when u do a GP residency? do u get paid similarly to a MD doing his/her residency? also how does it work with paying off loans? i mean can u put off paying them for a year while you're doing your residency?

 

[ddsjeff77]

What schools offer GP residencies as of right now? Tuition? Min and Maximum length of residency?

 

[Bcat]

This is encouraged as well by many schools that have more of an academic focus (columbia, harvard, UConn, etc.). Students from more clinical schools (Temple, Tufts, NYU, etc.) feel more confident practicing right away.

You are confused. The original post is regarding a mandatory post graduate year of residency before entering general practice, not residency for specialty programs. Most feel that graduation from a CODA accredited school after passing national boards part 1 and 2 ...and passing a regional or state licensing board is sufficient for initial licensure. To make enough residency programs for all graduates would require large sums of money...Especially with GME funding cuts. The ADA and ASDA have officially taken a stand against mandatory PGY1 which New York will have in 2007.

 

[sdnmember]

You are confused. The original post is regarding a mandatory post graduate year of residency before entering general practice, not residency for specialty programs. Most feel that graduation from a CODA accredited school after passing national boards part 1 and 2 ...and passing a regional or state licensing board is sufficient for initial licensure. To make enough residency programs for all graduates would require large sums of money...Especially with GME funding cuts. The ADA and ASDA have officially taken a stand against mandatory PGY1 which New York will have in 2007.

So NY is Definitely going to have the requirement of 1 year residency starting in 2007? That sucks.

 

[ItsGavinC]

What schools offer GP residencies as of right now? Tuition? Min and Maximum length of residency?

Some programs are affiliated with schools, but most are not.

To see the programs, go here: http://www.adea.org/EPS/searchform.asp

The program type would be a GPR or an AEGD.

They are ALL one year, with some having a second year offered it the resident performs well/wants additional duties.

 

[Bcat]

So NY is Definitely going to have the requirement of 1 year residency starting in 2007? That sucks.

Yes... to practice in NY starting 2007, you must either finish at least a one year residency or practice in another state for 5 years with a clean record before moving to NY...which is called licensure by credentials.