Oral Surgery Residency Truths, Taking Call, DAT Controversy & Will AI Replace Surgeons?

Top 5 Topics: - Getting Into Dental School & OMFS (Foreign Trained Dentists + Residency Secrets) - Life in Residency (The Harsh Reality of Call Shifts & Burnout) - AI & the Future of Surgery (Will AI Replace Surgeons?) - The DAT Controversy (Why Physics Makes No Sense + Hand Skills Debate) - Building a Career & Community (Networking, Hospital Privileges, and Taking Call) Top 8 Viewers on this Episode on TikTok LIVE #77 Q&A: 1st - G, @gurjot.0 2nd – ZACHKALNIZ, @zachkalniz 3rd – Nicolas Rodriguez, @_nico_rod_ 4th – Lesly Soriano, @leslysoriano1 5th – Jed, @jeddaplaymaker 6th - Roise Lee, @zariarose5 7th - Hazzy, @therealhamza23 8th - John Jay, @jj1234327 Quotes & Wisdom: [10:17] “There were months I took call five times a month as a second-year. It sucked—but it taught me exactly what I want my career to look like.” [15:57] “On interviews you connect on like-minded stuff. One of mine turned into a conversation about basketball—and that mattered.” [18:58] “Add a hand-skills portion to the DAT. These are future dentists; they need to be good with their hands.” [18:58] “Who decided physics belongs on the DAT? Hand skills would predict clinical success better.” [19:00] “Minimize your commute. When you’re sleep-deprived and getting paged nonstop, long drives are a dangerous recipe.” [22:08] “I love surgery—but I won’t take call for free. Surgeons should be compensated for the value they bring.” [23:14] “Before dental school I worked as an OMFS surgical assistant. Learning the lingo helped me crush interviews.” [25:43] “If you’re bleeding after extractions: don’t panic—compress with gauze for 30 minutes at a time.” [31:00] “AI won’t replace surgeons- yet; it’ll be an adjunct. The human-to-human connection in surgery matters.” [32:09] “If you can’t manage the complications of IV sedation, you shouldn’t be doing IV sedation.” [34:30] “Thirty minutes of study before work—when your mind is sharp—can change your trajectory.” [35:17] “Interviews are conversations. Be early, be presentable, be succinct. Connect like a human.” [36:00] “Pay residents fairly and a lot of systemic problems will disappear!” [41:00] “Community matters. I’m born and raised on Long Island—I want to do great work with and for this community.” Questions: [00:00] “As a foreign-trained dentist, can I get into OMFS without an advanced-standing program?” [05:04] “Do you still perform jaw surgery in private practice?” [10:17] “How much free time did you actually have during residency?” [15:57] “What advice would you give someone applying to dental school?” [18:58] “Should the DAT add physics—or should it test hand skills instead?” [29:00] “Is specializing (e.g., orthodontics) truly ‘worth it’ if my D2 grades are strong?” [32:09] “Can providers safely do IV sedation without full anesthesia training—how do you think about complications?” [35:17] “Best tips for OMFS residency interviews—how should I present without freezing up?” Now available on: - Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel My watch in this episode = Citizen Grand Touring Sport, Leather Clasp Band from Amazon - 9.2025 #podcast #dentalpodcast #doctor #dentist #dentistry #oralsurgery #dental #dentalschool #dentalstudent #dentistlife #oralsurgeon #doctorgallagher