Choosing Your Dental Specialty: A Game Plan for Career Success

Choosing a dental specialty is a decision that will guide your career and life path. With options spanning orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral surgery, a challenging selection process emerges. But with thoughtful self-reflection, helpful input from experienced dentists, and a systematic approach to research, you can confidently land on the ideal dental specialty for you.  

This guide provides expert tips to help simplify your decision-making process. With strategic planning and an understanding of your capabilities, you’ll be equipped to select a dental specialty that aligns with your career goals, unique talents, and interests.

Get To Know The Dental Specialties 

The first step is understanding all your options. While general dentistry allows you to perform a wide range of procedures, specialty areas focus on specific treatments and patient groups.  

For example, pediatric dentists work primarily with children and teenagers, while periodontists treat gum disease. 

Some of the most commonly recognized dental specialties include: 

• Orthodontics (braces and aligners) 
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery 
• Endodontics (root canals) 
• Pediatric dentistry 
• Periodontics (gum health) 
• Prosthodontics (crowns, bridges, dentures) 

Gaining a well-rounded overview of the most prevalent specialties will allow you to pinpoint areas that align with your own interests and strengths. 

Consider Your Interests And Skills 

Once you understand the different specialties, reflect on where your own passions lie. For example, do you enjoy carrying out minor surgeries like pulling teeth? Then, oral surgery may be satisfying. 

While the easiest dental school to enter depends on numerous factors, certain specialties demand advanced capabilities. That said, evaluating your natural abilities can help you reveal suitable options. 

Shadow Different Specialty Dentists 

Shadowing is one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience in the specialties that intrigue you. As such, consider spending time observing professionals to understand their day-to-day work. Also, ask questions about rewarding and challenging aspects of the role.  

Shadowing can help you determine which environments you find most stimulating and if you can envision yourself thriving in the long run. 

Research Education Requirements 

While all dentists must complete a four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) program, specializing requires further education. For instance, a prosthodontics specialty demands an additional three years of advanced residency training beyond dental school.  

By understanding the educational timelines of different specialties, you can better assess if they suit your career goals, allowing you to make a well-informed decision.  

Consider Potential Salaries 

While passion for your work matters most, salary is a practical consideration for managing student debt and living costs. Some specialties offer substantially higher pay than others. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest earners are oral surgeons, orthodontists, and prosthodontists, with an average salary of USD$208,000 or more annually. 

That said, compare incomes and job growth predictions across specialties in your location to make an informed choice. 

Evaluate Work-Life Balance 

While careers in the dental field rank as one of the top jobs with the highest satisfaction in 2024, time demands can still vary across specializations. For instance, oral surgeons may work longer hours than pediatric dentists if they regularly handle dental emergencies outside typical daytime clinic hours.  

If work-life balance is your priority, assess typical schedules and on-call expectations associated with the specialties you’re interested in. 

Choose Patient Groups That Inspire You 

Dental specialties often focus on treating specific patient populations. As you shadow professionals, notice whether you feel more engaged and fulfilled working with certain groups.  

For example, do you prefer treating children versus elderly patients? Are you eager to help those with dental phobias and anxiety? Defining target groups that motivate you is key to maintaining passion in your career long-term. 

Talk To Your Dentist Mentors 

Connecting with dentists already working in your desired specialty can provide insider advice. That said, ask about the most and least enjoyable aspects of their jobs. You can also inquire about how competitive the specialty is and the secrets to getting into strong residency programs.  

Mentors can describe what success in day-to-day work entails and if the reality aligns with your expectations. This input can prove invaluable for determining if a specialty is the right selection for you. 

Take Personality Tests 

Career counseling assessments analyze your skills, values, interests, and personality traits to suggest jobs where you could thrive. While not definitive, tests like the Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs provide additional data to inform your specialty decision. For example, results may indicate you have an investigative nature well-suited to research-focused specialties like oral pathology. 

Gain Experience Through Dental Externships 

Externships are short-term training opportunities that allow dental students to gain clinical experience across specialties. These intensive programs placed in hospitals, universities, and private practices range from a few weeks to several months.  

Externing enables a hands-on understanding of workplace environments and treatment procedures to solidify your interests before residency applications. 

Final Thoughts 

No amount of research and advice can replace your inner guidance about the right professional direction for you. Once you gather sufficient information on the dental specialty possibilities, listen to your intuitive sense of what excites you most. Then, you can confidently focus your studies and training on that specialty area. With passion fueling your daily work, you’ll find the greatest fulfillment and success in your dental career.