What Your Dentist’s Residency Did for Their Education

Dentists are highly skilled experts on oral health & becoming one requires years of intensive education. One of the most intense periods for many dentists is the residency, which typically happens at the end of dental school.

Resident Experts

A general practice residency is a yearlong program that trains dentists in medically complex cases in the real world. These residency programs are offered at hospitals but can also involve outpatient care (not in a hospital) & rigorous courses.

The program allows new dentists to work with veteran peers to add a deeper level of understanding & confidence. A whole range of patients, from special needs patients to those requiring multiple treatments, will be in their chair as they also learn to work with patients & make them feel comfortable & informed.

Some residencies are specialty programs. These provide the expertise needed for specialists such as oral surgeons, orthodontists & periodontists, among others. In this route, a narrower focus is taken where the dentist explores a single area of interest in great detail. 

For example, an oral surgeon may explore implants as well as corrective jaw surgery. At the same time, they may not cover as many crown placements or other treatments outside their focus. 

Does Every Dentist Do It?

Residencies are not required in every country or state, though a dentist may still choose to pursue one. Even when not required, obtaining a residency has increased in popularity among dentists over the years. Applications are up, as well as graduations, but the number of accredited institutions has dropped since 1980.

In some areas, residencies may be taken in place of a dental exam. Both dental exams & residencies are held to standards that span programs & universities to ensure all dentists have a high baseline of knowledge before practicing on their own.

A dentist who took a residency is not necessarily better trained than one who did not. There are many ways all dentists continue to enhance their skills, especially at the onset of their careers. A residency is just one effective way to get hands-on experience & a deeper level of understanding.

Sources:

https://www.agd.org/my-agd/access/member-center/career-stages/students/find-a-residency-program/licensure-requirements#:~:text=Learn%20about%20your%20state’s%20licensure,in%20lieu%20of%20the%20examination.

https://dentistry.ucsf.edu/programs/post-grad/gpr

https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/trends_advanced_education_general_practice_residency_programs.pdf?rev=335ea9469acb40a08d0a0611d830eae5&hash=73FB7EE2551709FADA9B30D60D17ED1B 

https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Career_Options/Advanced_Dental_Education_Programs.aspx