Need info on Oral Med & Path

[Guest sweetyork]

Hi,

I just finished my 1st year at dent school and I was checking out specialties when I came across Oral Med & Path. From what I read, it seemed interesting. Although I looked at many dent schools, I could not find info on how competitive it is to get into these programs (I know it is not the most difficult, but in terms of other dental specialties, how competitive is it). I am especially interested in a combined Oral Med & Path program and would like to know which schools offer this choice. I would also like to know whether after acquiring this degree, do most start up their own business (as people with serious oral diseases tend go to the hospital, are most within this specialty forced to work for hospitals or dental faculties). Thanks for the help.

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[Guest toothy jr]

The specialties Oral Med/Path, Oral radiology and Dental public health are the academic specialties in dentistry and graduates from these programs almost always work within the hospital/school system and are subject to the hassles of office politics and budget cutbacks. Those who are involved are dedicated and usually academically brilliant, though I doubt it is anywhere near as competitive as ortho/oms/endo/perio/pedo

[Guest sweetyork]

Thanks for your help. I would also like to know how much is the average salary of these people and whether this profession has any organization where more info would be available (you know, like the American Academy of Periodontology for periodontists). Again thanks.

[Guest toothy jr]

I have no clue, and probably there aren't enough of these specialists around to form a powerful organization. My guess is that they don't make a heck of a lot of money but also don't have to deal with the business side of dentistry. Certainly full-time instructors at my school don't average 100k, and they have to prepare/present lectures, grade assignments/tests, perform clinical duties, research, etc. How much time they have for private practice I don't know.