Perio Specialty

[toedds]

Hello everyone,

I'm a current D2 who is interested in specializing in perio. Honestly, I don't know if I'm willing to add more debt on top of my existing Mt. Fuji-like debt. I understand that there are some programs that have no tuition (such as UCLA), so I'm wondering if I'd be able to take my chances on those few programs and come out a specialist without adding to my debt. I have a 4.0 thus far and am involved in campus leadership, but I honestly have zero research experience so I don't know if that would cut it. I don't know how vital research is in matching to a perio residency, and it isn't too big at my dental school either.

Would it be a wise choice to go for a perio residency, or should I just stick to general and try to be an owner ASAP to pay off my debt? Thanks in advance for any input.

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[dentistrydmd]

It’s almost irrelevant if you have research, though it can help a bit. Most of the weight is on your gpa/class ranking and reference letters.

 

[PerioDont]

Hello everyone,

I'm a current D2 who is interested in specializing in perio. Honestly, I don't know if I'm willing to add more debt on top of my existing Mt. Fuji-like debt. I understand that there are some programs that have no tuition (such as UCLA), so I'm wondering if I'd be able to take my chances on those few programs and come out a specialist without adding to my debt. I have a 4.0 thus far and am involved in campus leadership, but I honestly have zero research experience so I don't know if that would cut it. I don't know how vital research is in matching to a perio residency, and it isn't too big at my dental school either.

Would it be a wise choice to go for a perio residency, or should I just stick to general and try to be an owner ASAP to pay off my debt? Thanks in advance for any input.

I would still try to do research, I personally thought it was a major part of my app and me getting into a residency.

As far as your question of is it worth it, I think it is difficult to answer that right now. Start in clinic and see how much you enjoy GP work.

One great option is only applying to paid perio residencies and then a GPR with strong surgery experience, so even if you don't match perio you are still in an okay situation.

Assuming the best case scenario of you buying a practice right after school and it working out, you would probably be financially 'behind' for a few years if you went to perio. However, it is much more likely for you to be more successful as a specialist. Additionally, you can see less pts and charge more money at less procedures that you are better at doing. No hygiene checks. But as a specialist you will have to work a lot to get referrals from GPs. No easy money anywhere, but there is a reason that many GPs I spoke to wish they were specialists. I've never had a specialist wish they were a GP.

 

[Rsfin54]

A GPR will get you more "street cred" than research in an application to a Perio residency. Some residencies do pay a stipend (San Antonio) which helps a bit with the tuition.

 

[PerioDont]

A GPR will get you more "street cred" than research in an application to a Perio residency. Some residencies do pay a stipend (San Antonio) which helps a bit with the tuition.

I would still do research, make a strong app and apply early summer D4. Why waste a year in GPR if you know your goal is perio? You can apply to both GPR and perio in the same cycle so worst case scenario you do the GPR, best case you got into a perio residency.

 

[UConnDoIt]

Would love to see more responses.