Would the OMFS'ers go back and do it again??

[koobpheej]

So I have been in GP for a bit more than two years. I have recently started into a situation that allows me to make very good money (above the national GP avg). The problem is that I frequently find myself regretting not pursuing OMFS more aggressively. Those of you in OMFS, would you still recommend it even if you were making good $, had kids, etc doing something less intense/exciting?

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[shabu2]

So I have been in GP for a bit more than two years. I have recently started into a situation that allows me to make very good money (above the national GP avg). The problem is that I frequently find myself regretting not pursuing OMFS more aggressively. Those of you in OMFS, would you still recommend it even if you were making good $, had kids, etc doing something less intense/exciting?

What kind of question is that? Most individuals don't commit to 4-6yrs of intense, grueling residency unless they absolutely love it. Never look back and wonder why you didn't do it in the first place, and it sounds like you already answered your own question.

 

[Bifid Uvula]

Absolutely!

 

[servitup]

If I left that life to go back my wife probably would have been pissed....luckily we went straight from dental school so she didnt get to taste the high life first....best of luck to you.

 

[gary_ruska]

Gary "would do it all over again if Gary had to" Ruska here.

See above.

 

[CanuckDDS]

i went back after 4 years of GP. It was difficult but very, very worth it. I wake up every morning happy, knowing that everyday will be a challenge. Which is why I really went back.

 

[pipacs]

Look.Used to (before 2000) in Hungary the dentists could specialise themself to OMFS. When i graduated as DMD (2001) this "option" disappeared .For the europian dentists the "dentoalveolar surgery" is maximum without MD. degree.
So i would be the happiest man if i could start the residency program to be OMFS.
But i had to finished as a "specialist in dentoalveolar surgery."
unfortunatelly is "nothing".

 

[pipacs]

[is "nothinQUOTE=pipacs;9241016]Look.Used to (before 2000) in Hungary the dentists could specialise themself to OMFS. When i graduated as DMD (2001) this "option" disappeared .For the european dentists the "dentoalveolar surgery" is maximum without the MD degree.
So i would be the happiest man if i could start the residency program to be OMFS.
But i had to finished as a "specialist in dentoalveolar surgery."
unfortunatelly g".[/QUOTE]

 

[Andrew324]

So I have been in GP for a bit more than two years. I have recently started into a situation that allows me to make very good money (above the national GP avg).

What do you think the National Average is?

 

[SC-Z]

So I have been in GP for a bit more than two years. I have recently started into a situation that allows me to make very good money (above the national GP avg). The problem is that I frequently find myself regretting not pursuing OMFS more aggressively. Those of you in OMFS, would you still recommend it even if you were making good $, had kids, etc doing something less intense/exciting?

Absolutely, and would not change a thing.

 

[DrTacoElf]

Absolutely, and would not change a thing.

Yeah its pretty fun compared to general dentistry, but sometimes it would be nice to work on non-trolls

 

[EuroOMFS]

Did 5 years as a GP and was ready to... well at least change careers. Moved with my family to another country to specialize in OMS. I don't regret that desicion at all. I get so much more out of my work-life now. More than I think I ever could have as a GP. So yes, I'd do it over again if I had to.

 

[dentalWorks]

Question:

For those of you who finished DS and went on to working as GP for few years. Was it hard to match into OMFS? I mean, did you have to re-take your NBDEs (since your initial ones are old), or you were able to apply as if you just finished DS?

 

[OMFS ORIF]

Question:

For those of you who finished DS and went on to working as GP for few years. Was it hard to match into OMFS? I mean, did you have to re-take your NBDEs (since your initial ones are old), or you were able to apply as if you just finished DS?

I think I have most people beat. I graduated in 2002 so it will be 8 years of GP before getting into OMFS. I didn't have to retake boards. I would say the only real difficult thing for me was reconnecting with oral surgery staff so I could get good letters of rec so I externed back at my school and was able to get them that way and see what their program was like because I feel I didn't get as much exposure in OMFS as I would have liked in DS. I was just worried about finishing my requirements. Some programs might not like the fact that I have been out that long so I probably didn't get interviews with them but I got eight interviews so I think some programs value experience. I didn't know what I wanted to do after DS because I liked it all and didn't want to pick one thing the rest of my life and possibly regret it. I was leaning towards endo and I am glad I didn't do that I did some exterships after having interest in OS and it just gave me more passion for it. I wouldn't apply unless you are absolutely sure you want to go through with it. I know it will be hard during residency but I look forward to it because there is so much I want to learn and be able to do. On a side note, I didn't apply to any 6 yr programs because I think what I want to do I will be able to do just fine with a 4 yr degree and also it has been 10-11 yrs since I took biochem and other stuff that I would need to pass part I med boards I wish you the best of luck and I am excited to start my residency this July!

 

[dentalWorks]

thank you OMFS ORIF, that was very informative

If you would have applied to only 6-year progs, would that have made a difference? what I am trying to find out is, are 6-year progs more competitive to get into than 4-year progs

 

[shabu2]

thank you OMFS ORIF, that was very informative

If you would have applied to only 6-year progs, would that have made a difference? what I am trying to find out is, are 6-year progs more competitive to get into than 4-year progs

They are equally competitive for different reasons. The 6yr requires for most programs an acceptance into the med school via separate admissions. That means they look at qualifications that the med school wouldn't turn down, as they have the final say in most cases. The 4yr are competitive because ALOT of people want to do the 4yr and in higher demand than 6yr programs. In recent years, the quality of the candidates are on par with 6yr candidates making a hard choice for programs these days because of the number of great people.

 

[dentalWorks]

They are equally competitive for different reasons. The 6yr requires for most programs an acceptance into the med school via separate admissions. That means they look at qualifications that the med school wouldn't turn down, as they have the final say in most cases. The 4yr are competitive because ALOT of people want to do the 4yr and in higher demand than 6yr programs. In recent years, the quality of the candidates are on par with 6yr candidates making a hard choice for programs these days because of the number of great people.

What exactly are the "separate admission" reqs ? Do they have to take the MCAT or something ? lol

 

[OMFS ORIF]

What exactly are the "separate admission" reqs ? Do they have to take the MCAT or something ? lol

You do not need an MCAT. I would agree with shabu though I think all things being equal, 6 yr requirements are harder. Most 6 yr programs require or prefer top 10% of your class and above 90 on part one boards. This satisfies the medical school because of some data that people with this requirement historically pass medical school boards which as you can imagine is quite important to the program and medical school.

Me personally I had top 11% and above 90 for part I boards. I guess I could have applied to some 6 yr programs. I have no idea how competitive I would have been but I had no desire to go through the rigorous application process at my age, potentially get in, and not pass medical boards and then get kicked out of a program after failing part I a couple of times and have to start from square one again to pursue my dream of being an OMFS. Honestly and because you asked, if I knew I wanted to do OMFS coming out of dental school, I probably would have applied to both programs. (as biochem and other sciences would have been more fresh in my mind and having an MD would have allowed access to all of what is available to an OMFS in case those things requiring an MD appealed to me later.) As in coming out of dental school where I liked everything so I didn't want to get locked into one specialty I would later regret, if I find out during my residency or after that I have a real passion for something that requires an MD, I will go the crazy route of applying to med school and pursuing it, but I doubt that it will happen at my age and wasn't worth the risk/reward of going the 6 yr route to start for me now. As I stated before, I can do what I plan to do with a 4 yr degree and for someone who had been out so long, I didn't want to take part I boards. If OMFS was only a 6 yr option, I guess I would have tried it out and studied my butt off, but to me the risk wasn't worth it with the 4 yr option available. Maybe I will regret it if I find out later that I really want to do some fellowships that require an MD, but most people who are OMFS (4 and 6 yr people) do not go into those fellowships and do bread and butter stuff (mostly thirds and implants, and some orthognathic, benign path, trauma) so I feel fairly confident I can get a good training where I am matched at. I have great admiration for 6 yr peeps and look forward to working with them. I think the whole 4 or 6 yr thing has been played out on these forums enough for you to make your own decision. This is just a brief explanation of why I chose the 4 yr route which I think would have been helpful to me when I was applying. Best of luck to you whatever you decide!

 

[dentalWorks]

again, thank you for the detailed response OMFS ORIF. And by the way, nothing wrong with a 4 year prog, its shorter and leads to to the same end as a 6-year prog.

The only thing I am thinking of now is, when you said these competitive OMFS programs like to look at people with 90+ on NBDE, thats gonna go away soon I assume since... its converting to pass/fail. So I guess class rank + extra activities are going to be weighted the most.

 

[libratl]

I believe a new oms specific test will be required in addition to part I. I have heard this several times in my interview trails this year. And I believe there is already something they have in mind what to use.

 

[OMFS ORIF]

again, thank you for the detailed response OMFS ORIF. And by the way, nothing wrong with a 4 year prog, its shorter and leads to to the same end as a 6-year prog.

The only thing I am thinking of now is, when you said these competitive OMFS programs like to look at people with 90+ on NBDE, thats gonna go away soon I assume since... its converting to pass/fail. So I guess class rank + extra activities are going to be weighted the most.

Thanks dental Works! I am posting for people like yourself. I had heard along the interview trail that with the boards going pass/fail, that the OMFS program directors were looking for an OMFS test that would be separate from boards that would be taken for only people that were interested in applying for OMFS that would be tested on residents first to guage how difficult this would be and grade accordingly. This would allow them to weed out some people as it would be very difficult for them to choose otherwise with some dental schools not even giving them a class rank to go off of as GPA fluctuates among schools. I don't know if this is definite or not but seems like a good idea since boards are going pass/fail.

 

[dentalWorks]

This new "admission OMFS" test might not be such a bad idea. Cause what some people can do is, finish dental school (without taking this test cause its not really required) then go on and hit the job market for a few years. If then they decide to pursue OMFS, they can spend time on thier own relearning most of the sciences from first 2-years so they can take that test. The only down side is, like you said, if you've been outta school for many years, its gonna be a little hard to remember all that biochem / physiology / etc etc.

 

[FTW OMFS]

I love oral surgery and wouldn't do anything else. You can do whatever you want from traditional clinic based stuff all the way to big whacks and Obama can't afford to socialize the dental side of our field.