How to choose the right dental specialty?

One of the most difficult decisions you make at the end of your dental studies is your specialty. Most dentists opt for general dentistry to handle overall oral health care needs instead of focusing on one or two specific areas. However, if you choose to continue your education, either directly or after some clinical experience, you have to choose a specialty or discipline that will satisfy you for the rest of your life.

Everyone has a different style of choosing a specialty. Some like to project themselves into hypothetical future scenarios to see which career fits their personality the best. Some like to think about practical matters, like overcrowding in a field, income potential, future viability, etc. Some prefer focusing on the intellectual content of a specialty, i.e., the types of challenges and complexities offered by the field.

Different individuals have different preferences, but most people should examine a few crucial factors to identify the ideal dental specialty.

Working for the public good and betterment.

All areas of dentistry are useful and improve the patient’s quality of life, making them look or feel better. However, all dental specialties don’t necessarily include a public service component. Individuals drawn to philanthropy and helping the public should consider dental public health as a viable specialty. A public health dentist prevents and controls dental diseases in large populations and communities through organized community efforts and policies. They study trends in groups and populations, develop public health policies, promote education, and help at-risk communities improve their overall oral health and quality of life.

Drawn to complex and intellectually-stimulating surgical challenges.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a suitable option for those drawn to complex surgical procedures. If you’re drawn to complex procedures, such as placing dental implants, oral reconstruction after trauma, jaw realignment, etc., oral surgery is a suitable option. If so, you’ll have to spend several years working at a hospital’s surgical residency program, where you’ll learn about general surgery, emergency surgery, and anesthesiology. You’ll also be trained to administer all forms of anesthesia and sedation.

Dealing with children and younger patients.

Pediatric dentistry is an attractive sub-specialty for dentists who love dealing with children and have a special talent for communicating with them. You need a special kind of attitude and bedside manners to excel at pediatric dentistry and complete additional years of residency in pediatrics, but the rewards make the journey worthwhile. Pediatric dentists also need to learn about child psychology as a part of their residency training.

If you want to deal with children without narrowing your field too much, you can also consider orthodontics, a field that’s immensely popular amongst younger patients. Most children start receiving dental treatments once their adult teeth start coming out, and orthodontics helps them maintain straight teeth. Specializing in orthodontics allows you to work with children while also keeping your options open for cosmetic dentistry on adults.

Love for the intellectual content and clinical cases.

When choosing a specialty, you must determine if you love the intellectual content and clinical cases within the field. There’s only so long you can get through studies that you’re not inherently interested in.

If you’re genuinely interested in your studies, you’ll devour textbooks and journals, discuss the challenges of your field with colleagues, and turn your profession into your life’s driving goal. If you’re not interested in the field, you might treat it just like a 9-to-5 job and then put it out of your mind when you’re done. To ensure that you love the intellectual content of a specific field, read existing literature on the field for a week or two. Determine if you’re truly interested in the subject and are drawn to it repeatedly.

The amount of patient contact.

Medical and dental students often assume patient contact is an essential component of their field. But it really isn’t. You don’t have to love patient contact to specialize in dentistry. Sure, if you love patient contact, and not just in its glorified notions but in the more putrid forms, such as examining bodily fluids, dealing with infected wounds, etc., then you can opt for pediatrics, periodontics, oral surgery, etc.

However, you can also specialize in fields that don’t involve any patient contact. Oral and maxillofacial pathology and radiology involve little to no contact with patients, but they’re just as crucial as other aspects of dentistry. As such, you should determine whether you like dealing with patients, and to what extent, and choose a dental specialty accordingly.

Shadow other dental specialists and experienced colleagues.

One of the best ways to start your journey in implantology (and any other specialty) is to shadow other dental specialists and experienced colleagues. Work at a multi-specialty dental practice where you have the opportunity to observe and work at various treatment modalities. This will give you a first-hand experience with various dental specialties and help you further establish your preferences.

Besides working at dental practices, you can also try internships and externships in academic or hospital settings. The advantage of internships is that you’ll experience the life of a residency program and improve your skills at various treatment modalities. Armed with years of experience in various specialties, you’ll be able to make a firm and informed decision on your specialty.

Securing your financial future and income potential.

Most people consider their income potential and financial future when selecting dental specialties or any profession at all. However, the weight you place on this factor may differ from one individual to the next. For some, earning a high income might be the primary motivator, while others might place more value on other factors. Some even advise against choosing a specialty based on income potential. While income potential should certainly not be your primary or only motivator, it’s impossible to ignore if you’re saddled with student debt — as many, unfortunately, are.

The income potential for different specialties naturally varies for different individuals, regions, etc. However, broadly speaking, the specialties with the highest net incomes include oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontists, orthodontists, and pediatric dentists. You should research the average salaries and income potential for various specialties of dentistry in your region, determine if you have the skills or personality suited for the task, gain some real-world experience at dental practices, and make an informed decision accordingly.

This article was originally published in the Zircon Medical Magazine for leading dental professionals. The article was based on an interview conducted with Dr. Onur Polat, the leading dentist at a reputable dental clinic in Zurich.