Dental residencies play a crucial role in shaping the careers of dentists in the United States. While not mandatory for general dentists, they are essential for those pursuing specialty certifications.
Here’s what you should know about the complexities of dental residency, including its necessity, duration, and financial implications.
Is dental residency required?
Unlike for physicians, dental residencies are not required for all dentists. General dentists do not have to complete a residency to enter into practice. If you plan to pursue a dental specialty, you will need to complete a residency.
Which dental specialties require residency training?
How long is dental residency?
The American Dental Association recognizes 12 dental specialties.
| Specialty | Is residency required? | Length of residency | Additional training needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Anesthesiology | Yes | 2-3 years | |
| Dental Public Health | No | Master’s or doctoral degree | |
| Endodontics | Yes | 2-3 years | |
| General Dentistry | No | ||
| Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | Yes | 4 years | |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology | Yes | 2-3 years | |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Yes | 4-6 years | |
| Oral Medicine | Yes | 1 year | |
| Orofacial Pain | Yes | 1 year | |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics | Yes | 2-3 years | |
| Pediatric Dentistry | Yes | 2 years | |
| Periodontics | Yes | 3 years | |
| Prosthodontics | Yes | 3 years |
Information gathered from: American Dental Education Association, Benevis
What is the average dental residency salary?
Most dental residents do not receive a salary. However, hospital-based dental programs receive money from Graduate Medical Education funds, which allows these programs to provide a stipend to dentists-in-training.
The programs that typically include a stipend are oral & maxillofacial surgery, advanced education in general dentistry, and general practice residencies. School-based training programs like orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, or pediatrics often don’t come with a stipend.
Dental residency salaries (or stipends) can vary by many factors including location, seniority and specialty. Because dental residency stipends are dependent on a number of factors and don’t exist for many residents, there isn’t solid data that details the average dental residency salary. Visit the websites of programs you are interested in to see if they provide a stipend to residents.
How much does dental residency cost?
Medical residents are compensated while in residency, but most dental residencies charge tuition. These costs can be offset by a stipend, like those mentioned above, if the program provides one. Those in school-based programs like orthodontics, periodontics and pediatrics will likely be stuck paying tuition without the benefit of a stipend.
Many dental residents have to take on more loans, in addition to their student loans from dental school, to afford this cost. Through school and residency, some dentists-in-training can acquire hundreds of thousands of dollars in student debt.
The average student debt for 2021 dental school graduates was $301,583, according to the American Dental Association. With some residency programs charging $75,000 or more per year, these residents can easily add a couple hundred thousand more to their debt loads.
For example, University of Pittsburgh charges $58,026 per year for in-state endodontic resident tuition. With additional fees and estimated costs, the total comes to $98,908.
The University of Connecticut endodontic residents will pay $22,872 for the 2024-2025 school year in tuition and fees with the total estimated cost coming to $46,796. In addition to tuition, the school charges a $25,000 per year advanced dental education fee. First-year trainees will receive a $24,000 stipend, but that will only lessen the debt they will need to take on to pay for the program, not eliminate it entirely or provide funds for daily expenses.
Does dental residency increase your in-practice income?
Because dental residencies are not required and they can often increase your debt load, one consideration while deciding whether to attend a residency or not may be the salary post-training. Here are the average salaries of different specialties according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Dental Specialty | Salary |
|---|---|
| General Dentists | $155,040 |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons | $239,200+ |
| Orthodontists | $174,360 |
| Other Dental Specialties | $212,740 |
Learn more about dentists’ salaries.
Is dental residency worth it?
Deciding if dental residency is worth it is dependent on many factors, including, most importantly, your personal goals, lifestyle and plans. Prospective dentists should consider questions like:
- Do I want to pursue a residency/specialty? If so, what is my motivation?
- Am I able to take on more debt? Do I have a plan for repaying it after residency?
- If a stipend doesn’t cover my living expenses, how will I pay for my daily needs?
Should I pursue dental residency?
The decision is yours. Whether you choose to enter practice or train in residency, Panacea Financial is here to help you. If you become a resident, know that there are financial tools built to help you pay for unexpected needs or daily expenses.
If you need extra funds while in school, training or practice, Panacea’s PRN Personal Loan is built with you in mind. No cosigner requirement, reduced payments while in training, no prepayment penalties, and quick funding mean we can help you when you need it most. Learn more about your personal loan options here.
