4-Year vs. 6-Year Oral Surgery Residency, Overcoming Fear of Blood & Surgery, Dentistry vs. Medicine ROI

Top 5 Topics:

- 4-Year vs. 6-Year OMFS Residency

- CBSE Success Strategies

- Work–Life Balance in Residency

- Overcoming Fear of Blood & Surgery

- Dentistry vs. Medicine ROI

Top 6 Viewers on this Episode on TikTok LIVE #72 Q&A:

1st - Connor Yamsek, @connoryamsek

2nd – @solinomilo

3rd – Shirley’s Fine Jewelry, @shirleys.fine.jewe

4th – Joel Kabera, @joelkabera

5th – akshat, @akshatscrocs

6th - TeeJayy, @tj.evans23

Quotes & Wisdom:

“Effective studying is about getting higher grades. Efficient studying is about maintaining them while studying less and less.”

“You don’t balance work and life during residency—you build a routine and stick to it. That’s how you manage stress and pressure.”

“When you’re in high school or dental school, take it one step at a time. That’s how you overcome imposter syndrome and anxiety.”

“If you faint or get squeamish at first, don’t let that stop you. With enough reps, you build tolerance—surgery is about persistence.”

“A gap year isn’t for more tests—it’s for exploring life, work, hobbies, family, and friends. Those lessons will last longer than exam prep.”

“Older students and residents succeed too—age is never the limitation, only mindset is.”

“Don’t let faculty or colleagues bottleneck you into thinking there’s only one way forward. There are always multiple paths in life and in surgery.”

“Focus on the signal, not the noise. Distractions are constant, but your goals require clarity.”

“Ownership in dentistry gives you more responsibility, but also more freedom. You can delegate what you don’t want to do and focus on what matters.”

“Whether medicine or dentistry, the real measure isn’t just income—it’s quality of life and what kind of work you want to do every day.”

Questions:

(00:05) Should I choose a 6-year MD/OMS track or a 4-year residency?

(02:30) How did medical residents and med students treat you during training?

(07:40) What was your CBSE study schedule like while in clinic?

(11:20) What are your tips for handling D1 year in dental school?

(17:40) How do you balance work and life during residency?

(23:10) How do you get over fainting or squeamishness around blood if you want to be a surgeon?

(28:00) Is it smart to study for the CBSE during a gap year before dental school?

(31:45) Do you have advice for an 11th grader who wants to become an OMFS?

(39:00) What’s the difference between the MD/OMS route and the 4-year OMS route?

(47:20) Which has a better ROI—medicine or dentistry?

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

My watch in this episode = Jack Mason Avigator

- 8.2025

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