An assessment of Turkish dental students’ attitudes career intentions and perceptions regarding specialist training

BACKGROUND: Career choice is critical for an individual's professional success and job satisfaction, as it is influenced by various factors such as job security, personal skills, and financial expectations. This study aimed to assess dental students' attitudes, awareness, and career expectations regarding specialist training in Türkiye, and to identify factors influencing their professional development. METHODS: A total of 702 participants took part in the study, comprising 478 women and 224 men. A 20-question questionnaire was developed for the study, and each participant was permitted to complete it only once. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: Sect. 1: Sociodemographic Characteristics, Sect. 2: Attitudes Towards Specialty Training, Sect. 3: Preferences for Specialty Fields. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The vast majority of dental students (84.6%) stated that they intended to specialise. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontics were the most popular specialisations. Gender influenced the choice of specialisation. Participants reported that specialisation was associated with higher earning potential (89.8%) and better career prospects (87.9%). CONCLUSION: The majority of dental students in Türkiye consider specialist training an essential step in their careers. Financial incentives and job security appear to be the main driving factors, with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Orthodontics emerging as the most popular specialties.