It depends a lot on your personality - if you are a self-starter or have a mentor or you just want to do routine bread and butter dentistry, you would probably be okay going straight into practice, but the right AEGD or GPR can really be a good springboard into more complicated dentistry and can help get your speed up. As far as going rural - honestly, unless it's your hometown or a you have family nearby, it might be smart to do an associateship in the town, just to get a feel for the area. Buying a practice does kind of "lock you in" and you would hate to realize a few years out you don't really like the rural thing. One thing you could considers is trying to find an FQHC job - they usually pay pretty well especially in rural areas. Good luck!
I wish I knew more about international dentistry. I think your best bet would be to figure out who licenses dentists, and whether your license transfers.
City! Location, Location, Location! After 3 years, a classmate moved back to the big city, after establishing a practice in a small rural community. He was not paid, was accused, was cursed, was harassed and was threatened. Many people appeared without appointments & demanded care. He had wanted to “help people living far from services.” (Stupid Whiskey Tangos) Good luck with that! A similar situation happened to another classmate’s dad. He loved being a large animal veterinarian. But there was no money in it. So, he had to move to the city and take care of cats and dogs. Making good money, feeling respected and helping people is a great thing.
