D2 Moony Madlol @moony.dentistry - Dose of Dental Podcast #165 x Dr. Gallagher's Podcast

Top 5 Topics:

- "Dental School Secrets They Don’t Teach You" – Behind-the-scenes truths about curriculum differences, hidden challenges, and what actually prepares you for the real world.

- "Should You Specialize? The Brutal Truth" – Honest pros and cons of becoming a dental specialist vs. general dentist, including career impact, income, and lifestyle.

- "From Zero to Ownership" – How new dentists can go from student life to running a successful practice, with autonomy, ethics, and patient care at the center.

- "The Power of Mentorship in Dentistry" – How mentorship can open doors, shape your career path, and help you avoid costly mistakes.

- "Navigating Externships Like a Pro" – Why the location, culture, and people matter just as much as the specialty you’re exploring.

Quotes & Wisdom:

"Dental school is a marathon, not a sprint—you don’t need to decide your specialty tomorrow, but you do need to keep taking steps toward clarity every day."

"Exposure early on shapes your path, but self-awareness keeps you on it."

"Grades, shadowing, research, and mentorship aren’t separate lanes—they’re overlapping paths toward becoming the dentist you want to be."

"Ownership isn’t about ego—it’s about having the autonomy to practice the way you believe is best for your patients."

"Every conversation with a mentor adds another piece to the puzzle of your career."

"A great dentist isn’t defined by their specialty, but by their commitment to patient care and lifelong learning."

"Networking isn’t just about opportunity—it’s about building a professional family who will support you when you need it most."

"Sometimes the decision you’re most nervous to make is the one that will define your entire career trajectory."

Questions:

(01:52) How long is your summer break and when do you start back up?

(04:54) By the end of first year, how much exposure do you really have to the specialties?

(06:20) By the end of the summer, you wanted to shadow other specialties—what happened?

(07:47) How did you decide with such confidence that OMFS was for you?

(10:49) Is the clinical experience in U.S. dental schools as early as Canadian students think?

(13:23) If you were to do an externship, how important is the location and program culture?

(14:56) With only ortho and maybe perio at your school, how do you get an idea of the other specialties?

(28:41) What’s your biggest reason for wanting ownership in dentistry?

(30:36) What concerns do you have about specializing versus general dentistry?

(37:08) If you could go back to being in my position, what would you do differently?

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

- Dose of Dental Podcast #165

My watch in this episode = Citizen Ecozilla

- 8.2025

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