After Dental School

[Meagh12]

I'

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[drill-and-fill]

So let me get this straight... Your motivation for wanting to become a dentist is money, money, money, and.... Oh money?

Jk. You may want to tone it down a tad bit when youre writing your PS though; it's ok to mention that financial stability is one of the reasons why youre pursuing dentistry but you kinda took it to another level...

 

[DoeAdeer]

I'm almost finished my bachelor of arts and am taking the required courses now, in my final year of the degree (I've just decided to go into dentistry...I've wanted to be a dentist for years but just finally decided to commit to it), and I've been visiting the local dental school where I am, asking the advisor questions about the school and admission. She said most students come in with intensions to specify but many end up happy with just general dentistry. She also said my mind will probably change many times throughout the four years, being exposed to many fields of dentistry I probably don't even currently know exist but may like. I was thinking of orthodontics. I'm shadowing both a general dentist and an orthodontist this week to get an idea of what it's like.
Here's what I'm thinking though: If I were to take general dentistry and open my own practice (I'm thinking I would work one year wherever and use first year's salary on student loans and putting money on my own practice). But in between this time period maybe I should take three years and specialize in something so I can take a wider range of patients and of course get more business. The thing I'm thinking is most lucrative is dental anesthesia. If I can do this myself, although I've read the threads saying overhead is quite high in dental anesthesia, I think this will make me a LOT of money. Like, retiring early kind of money. From what I've read in other posts here dental anesthesiologists make like seven hundred to twelve hundred or something per patient. I'm not sure how long the procedure is but I'm sure it's a small amount of time for the money earned, not saying they don't deserve it after so many years of schooling.
Is this a good plan? Remember my earlier statement, expressing my awareness in the probable mind changes that could take place over the next five years but I really like this plan and hope I'm on the right track and can capitalize well with this.
Would I be just as well off doing orthodontics instead and incorporating this into a private practice where I do general practice as well (If I want, or hire staff to)?
Oh yeah, two additional things:
1.) Where this site can be anonymous, I don't see how it would hurt for some real people to give real salaries of their own, or close figures of what friends or family/fellow former students are making now in the fields of work I'm enquiring about.
2.) I love home and want to stay here to eventually marry and have/raise my kids around my family, but I certainly am up for moving to wherever the money is for five or six years, then probably coming home. Where are some places (worldwide...whether it be in Canada, the states, or a complete other continent) a practice in my field would be most lucrative. Btw, I'm in NS, Canada.
PS: I'm not the type you want to bother with nasty, unhelpful answers. Don't say things like "Oh, you just care about the money. Find a different profession. I've wanted to be a dentist since I was a kid playing with little toy-dental kits. I won't lie to you, though, when I say money is a big factor and I'm certainly looking to capitalize the best I can. I want to raise a big family someday and want to provide well for US. With God's help. One of the best things about dentistry is the hours allow you to have time for a family (so I hear and read here). I want to work hard for it and hopefully I will love it (I feel like I will) so it won't really feel like work most of the time, say Mon. through Thurs. for long hours and close the practice on Fridays and weekends. Anyway this is a lot of detail but I look forward to any helpful responses and thank you all in advance!
Again, I have had a passion for this since I was a child. It's not just the money, but I am looking to eventually 1.) Pay off the student loans I'm sure I'd probably be taking out, 2.) Provide well for my future and current family, and 3.) Buy a beautiful home. I think if I do all of this work and training, like most dentist who work hard, get good grades and care about their work and patients, I will deserve to have a salary providing me with these fortunes. Not necessarily a millionaire, but living very comfortably. Making a great living both fiscally speaking and in terms of quality of life (assuming I will enjoy the profession, which I expect to) Wouldn't most of you? Okay then. Positive feedback and advice ONLY please.
I look forward to shadowing these dentists this week to. I can touch base with you all and let you know how it goes after Fri.
Thanks for the read and thanks in advance for any friendly responses!
Meaghz

haha

 

[carlfusco]

hard to find your point in the wall of text... give us some spark notes.

 

[williamdent]

Money money money money money money money, I don't care about money though. P.S. I'm from Canada.

I'm Canadian, too. But...

P.S. I mean no harm, just trying to throw some humor in before some people decide to go on the offensive.
Hope your passion for dentistry gets your there and you worry about the specifics of specializing/etc... later on when the time is right.

 

[wo5678]

I'm almost finished my bachelor of arts and am taking the required courses now, in my final year of the degree (I've just decided to go into dentistry...I've wanted to be a dentist for years but just finally decided to commit to it), and I've been visiting the local dental school where I am, asking the advisor questions about the school and admission. She said most students come in with intensions to specify but many end up happy with just general dentistry. She also said my mind will probably change many times throughout the four years, being exposed to many fields of dentistry I probably don't even currently know exist but may like. I was thinking of orthodontics. I'm shadowing both a general dentist and an orthodontist this week to get an idea of what it's like.
Here's what I'm thinking though: If I were to take general dentistry and open my own practice (I'm thinking I would work one year wherever and use first year's salary on student loans and putting money on my own practice). But in between this time period maybe I should take three years and specialize in something so I can take a wider range of patients and of course get more business. The thing I'm thinking is most lucrative is dental anesthesia. If I can do this myself, although I've read the threads saying overhead is quite high in dental anesthesia, I think this will make me a LOT of money. Like, retiring early kind of money. From what I've read in other posts here dental anesthesiologists make like seven hundred to twelve hundred or something per patient. I'm not sure how long the procedure is but I'm sure it's a small amount of time for the money earned, not saying they don't deserve it after so many years of schooling.
Is this a good plan? Remember my earlier statement, expressing my awareness in the probable mind changes that could take place over the next five years but I really like this plan and hope I'm on the right track and can capitalize well with this.
Would I be just as well off doing orthodontics instead and incorporating this into a private practice where I do general practice as well (If I want, or hire staff to)?
Oh yeah, two additional things:
1.) Where this site can be anonymous, I don't see how it would hurt for some real people to give real salaries of their own, or close figures of what friends or family/fellow former students are making now in the fields of work I'm enquiring about.
2.) I love home and want to stay here to eventually marry and have/raise my kids around my family, but I certainly am up for moving to wherever the money is for five or six years, then probably coming home. Where are some places (worldwide...whether it be in Canada, the states, or a complete other continent) a practice in my field would be most lucrative. Btw, I'm in NS, Canada.
PS: I'm not the type you want to bother with nasty, unhelpful answers. Don't say things like "Oh, you just care about the money. Find a different profession. I've wanted to be a dentist since I was a kid playing with little toy-dental kits. I won't lie to you, though, when I say money is a big factor and I'm certainly looking to capitalize the best I can. I want to raise a big family someday and want to provide well for US. With God's help. One of the best things about dentistry is the hours allow you to have time for a family (so I hear and read here). I want to work hard for it and hopefully I will love it (I feel like I will) so it won't really feel like work most of the time, say Mon. through Thurs. for long hours and close the practice on Fridays and weekends. Anyway this is a lot of detail but I look forward to any helpful responses and thank you all in advance!
Again, I have had a passion for this since I was a child. It's not just the money, but I am looking to eventually 1.) Pay off the student loans I'm sure I'd probably be taking out, 2.) Provide well for my future and current family, and 3.) Buy a beautiful home. I think if I do all of this work and training, like most dentist who work hard, get good grades and care about their work and patients, I will deserve to have a salary providing me with these fortunes. Not necessarily a millionaire, but living very comfortably. Making a great living both fiscally speaking and in terms of quality of life (assuming I will enjoy the profession, which I expect to) Wouldn't most of you? Okay then. Positive feedback and advice ONLY please.
I look forward to shadowing these dentists this week to. I can touch base with you all and let you know how it goes after Fri.
Thanks for the read and thanks in advance for any friendly responses!
Meaghz

Do what you love.

 

[DaPug]

You say you love dentistry but already want to retire early. Seems like dissonant thinking to me.

 

[wo5678]

You say you love dentistry but already want to retire early. Seems like dissonant thinking to me.

Yes, I don't think I would ever retire.

 

[Sal427]

Uhh I think it would be better to do a combo of anesthesiology and oral surgery. That's how you can make the most money. When I got my wisdom teeth out my dentist was also an anesthesiologist, so he did both. It takes lots of time though because I think you have to get your MD as well and an extra residency. Do some research on that.

 

[DoeAdeer]

Uhh I think it would be better to do a combo of anesthesiology and oral surgery. That's how you can make the most money. When I got my wisdom teeth out my dentist was also an anesthesiologist, so he did both. It takes lots of time though because I think you have to get your MD as well and an extra residency. Do some research on that.

So he was an oral surgeon AND an anesthesiologist? Give me a link to his website please. I'd have to see it for myself.

 

[DaPug]

Yes, I don't think I would ever retire.

Your interpretation of my post is spot on. No one should ever plan for retirement or even retire at all.

Planning to make as much money as possible to retire as early as possible is all well and good, but to make those statements while simultaneously declaring that dentistry is your one true calling smacks of cognitive dissonance in my mind.

 

[CMistry]

All OMS are capable for performing their own anesthesia. So when you say your surgeon "was an anesthesiologist" it's a little misleading. Also you mentioned an M.D., that's typically part of the OMS training program.

 

[Sal427]

All OMS are capable for performing their own anesthesia. So when you say your surgeon "was an anesthesiologist" it's a little misleading. Also you mentioned an M.D., that's typically part of the OMS training program.

Hm I thought the two were separate. I did not think that M.D. Degrees were given to everyone who completes an oral surgery residency. The ones that do get it have a longer residency, like my doc.

If you're really interested in this just do some research on it.

 

[awaitsimpatient]

haha, start taking Pre-req and DAT!! then think about dentistry...
Most Dentist work till very OLD and turn crazy...You will for sure buy a house but not that fast, you can also be a millionaire. But You need to have a passion for dentistry, you gonna have to SACRIFICE a lot from your life to be one. Like you need to be on CALL if your patients are in pain on a sunday or at midnight. YOU cannot really take Sick Days because your patients depend on you and you lose a LOT of money if all patients need to be cancelled.. So think twice, maybe its not for you

 

[CMistry]

Hm I thought the two were separate. I did not think that M.D. Degrees were given to everyone who completes an oral surgery residency. The ones that do get it have a longer residency, like my doc.

If you're really interested in this just do some research on it.

We do have a longer residency (6 vs. 4 years), but the M.D. does NOT give anesthesia privileges. All OMS (with or without M.D.) are equally qualified to provide anesthesia.

 

[bluesprite13]

I'm almost finished my bachelor of arts and am taking the required courses now, in my final year of the degree (I've just decided to go into dentistry...I've wanted to be a dentist for years but just finally decided to commit to it), and I've been visiting the local dental school where I am, asking the advisor questions about the school and admission. She said most students come in with intensions to specify but many end up happy with just general dentistry. She also said my mind will probably change many times throughout the four years, being exposed to many fields of dentistry I probably don't even currently know exist but may like. I was thinking of orthodontics. I'm shadowing both a general dentist and an orthodontist this week to get an idea of what it's like.
Here's what I'm thinking though: If I were to take general dentistry and open my own practice (I'm thinking I would work one year wherever and use first year's salary on student loans and putting money on my own practice). But in between this time period maybe I should take three years and specialize in something so I can take a wider range of patients and of course get more business. The thing I'm thinking is most lucrative is dental anesthesia. If I can do this myself, although I've read the threads saying overhead is quite high in dental anesthesia, I think this will make me a LOT of money. Like, retiring early kind of money. From what I've read in other posts here dental anesthesiologists make like seven hundred to twelve hundred or something per patient. I'm not sure how long the procedure is but I'm sure it's a small amount of time for the money earned, not saying they don't deserve it after so many years of schooling.
Is this a good plan? Remember my earlier statement, expressing my awareness in the probable mind changes that could take place over the next five years but I really like this plan and hope I'm on the right track and can capitalize well with this.
Would I be just as well off doing orthodontics instead and incorporating this into a private practice where I do general practice as well (If I want, or hire staff to)?
Oh yeah, two additional things:
1.) Where this site can be anonymous, I don't see how it would hurt for some real people to give real salaries of their own, or close figures of what friends or family/fellow former students are making now in the fields of work I'm enquiring about.
2.) I love home and want to stay here to eventually marry and have/raise my kids around my family, but I certainly am up for moving to wherever the money is for five or six years, then probably coming home. Where are some places (worldwide...whether it be in Canada, the states, or a complete other continent) a practice in my field would be most lucrative. Btw, I'm in NS, Canada.
PS: I'm not the type you want to bother with nasty, unhelpful answers. Don't say things like "Oh, you just care about the money. Find a different profession. I've wanted to be a dentist since I was a kid playing with little toy-dental kits. I won't lie to you, though, when I say money is a big factor and I'm certainly looking to capitalize the best I can. I want to raise a big family someday and want to provide well for US. With God's help. One of the best things about dentistry is the hours allow you to have time for a family (so I hear and read here). I want to work hard for it and hopefully I will love it (I feel like I will) so it won't really feel like work most of the time, say Mon. through Thurs. for long hours and close the practice on Fridays and weekends. Anyway this is a lot of detail but I look forward to any helpful responses and thank you all in advance!
Again, I have had a passion for this since I was a child. It's not just the money, but I am looking to eventually 1.) Pay off the student loans I'm sure I'd probably be taking out, 2.) Provide well for my future and current family, and 3.) Buy a beautiful home. I think if I do all of this work and training, like most dentist who work hard, get good grades and care about their work and patients, I will deserve to have a salary providing me with these fortunes. Not necessarily a millionaire, but living very comfortably. Making a great living both fiscally speaking and in terms of quality of life (assuming I will enjoy the profession, which I expect to) Wouldn't most of you? Okay then. Positive feedback and advice ONLY please.
I look forward to shadowing these dentists this week to. I can touch base with you all and let you know how it goes after Fri.
Thanks for the read and thanks in advance for any friendly responses!
Meaghz

It's good to keep everything you mentioned in mind, but I think you just need to focus on taking your prereqs and the DAT. Everything will fall into place later. You don't need to worry about all of this. I'm sure a lot of people think about paying for their education and how they will set up practice, but you are getting ahead of yourself when you mentioned retirement. For now, focus on shadowing dentists so you will learn and understand more about the field and why it is right for you. Im sure dentistry will provide you with a stable living and job, but take some time to know why you are a good fit for dentistry. Other professions can provide with the same or more financial security, but make sure you know why dentistry is unique to your liking above other professions. Like a said, focus on your DAT and prereqs first.

 

[youknowthedrill]

Its great that you are so excited about dentistry. My reply is meant to help you so you don't turn off the admissions department of your local dental school or the dentists that you are shadowing. You need to slow down and tackle the pre-reqs for dental school before you decide which type of specialty is for you. Your post came off as immature and you do not want the dental professionals in your area to think of you in this manner. Focus on getting through school and earning A's in your pre-reqs. Upper level science courses can be quite challenging. Many people who plan on attending medical/dental school change their mind after getting kicked in the butt by a hard science class. Take the DAT and apply. You can make great money in dentistry no matter what your specialty is. Some general dentists make more than specialists, but on average, specialists do make more money. Honestly, most of us a predents and don't really know the true economics of dentistry. You would learn more about it by reading forums for practicing dentists.

 

[NDPitch]

I would agree. OP, you're a little ahead of yourself. But, my only advice is to go into dentistry because you love it. If you're thinking about early retirement and loads of money as a motivation, this is a bad thing to do.

 

[hardline]

I didn't read the OP's wall of text but I'll throw my 2 cents out there about finances.

There's nothing wrong with wanting financial security after school. We are after all investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into our education and spending 4 years of our lives to be competent individuals in the dental field.

Money being a sole motivation can be sticky subject, after all they say the best things in life are free.

 

[mtinamer]

I'm almost finished my bachelor of arts and am taking the required courses now, in my final year of the degree (I've just decided to go into dentistry...I've wanted to be a dentist for years but just finally decided to commit to it), and I've been visiting the local dental school where I am, asking the advisor questions about the school and admission. She said most students come in with intensions to specify but many end up happy with just general dentistry. She also said my mind will probably change many times throughout the four years, being exposed to many fields of dentistry I probably don't even currently know exist but may like. I was thinking of orthodontics. I'm shadowing both a general dentist and an orthodontist this week to get an idea of what it's like.
Here's what I'm thinking though: If I were to take general dentistry and open my own practice (I'm thinking I would work one year wherever and use first year's salary on student loans and putting money on my own practice). But in between this time period maybe I should take three years and specialize in something so I can take a wider range of patients and of course get more business. The thing I'm thinking is most lucrative is dental anesthesia. If I can do this myself, although I've read the threads saying overhead is quite high in dental anesthesia, I think this will make me a LOT of money. Like, retiring early kind of money. From what I've read in other posts here dental anesthesiologists make like seven hundred to twelve hundred or something per patient. I'm not sure how long the procedure is but I'm sure it's a small amount of time for the money earned, not saying they don't deserve it after so many years of schooling.
Is this a good plan? Remember my earlier statement, expressing my awareness in the probable mind changes that could take place over the next five years but I really like this plan and hope I'm on the right track and can capitalize well with this.
Would I be just as well off doing orthodontics instead and incorporating this into a private practice where I do general practice as well (If I want, or hire staff to)?
Oh yeah, two additional things:
1.) Where this site can be anonymous, I don't see how it would hurt for some real people to give real salaries of their own, or close figures of what friends or family/fellow former students are making now in the fields of work I'm enquiring about.
2.) I love home and want to stay here to eventually marry and have/raise my kids around my family, but I certainly am up for moving to wherever the money is for five or six years, then probably coming home. Where are some places (worldwide...whether it be in Canada, the states, or a complete other continent) a practice in my field would be most lucrative. Btw, I'm in NS, Canada.
PS: I'm not the type you want to bother with nasty, unhelpful answers. Don't say things like "Oh, you just care about the money. Find a different profession. I've wanted to be a dentist since I was a kid playing with little toy-dental kits. I won't lie to you, though, when I say money is a big factor and I'm certainly looking to capitalize the best I can. I want to raise a big family someday and want to provide well for US. With God's help. One of the best things about dentistry is the hours allow you to have time for a family (so I hear and read here). I want to work hard for it and hopefully I will love it (I feel like I will) so it won't really feel like work most of the time, say Mon. through Thurs. for long hours and close the practice on Fridays and weekends. Anyway this is a lot of detail but I look forward to any helpful responses and thank you all in advance!
Again, I have had a passion for this since I was a child. It's not just the money, but I am looking to eventually 1.) Pay off the student loans I'm sure I'd probably be taking out, 2.) Provide well for my future and current family, and 3.) Buy a beautiful home. I think if I do all of this work and training, like most dentist who work hard, get good grades and care about their work and patients, I will deserve to have a salary providing me with these fortunes. Not necessarily a millionaire, but living very comfortably. Making a great living both fiscally speaking and in terms of quality of life (assuming I will enjoy the profession, which I expect to) Wouldn't most of you? Okay then. Positive feedback and advice ONLY please.
I look forward to shadowing these dentists this week to. I can touch base with you all and let you know how it goes after Fri.
Thanks for the read and thanks in advance for any friendly responses!
Meaghz

I don't know what else you see about this profession, but I have only one question to ask you. Have you taken the DAT yet? If not, then go take the DAT first and try to get accepted to at least one dental school, THEN you can plan your luxurious retirement from there.
And oh, just to break one or two bad news to you. It is extremely difficult and competitive to get into any specialty after dental school. As for orthodontics that you briefly mentioned, a school only takes 6-7 per year, so you have to be top-notch, if not ideally utterly ultimately perfect, in every aspect of your application. AND once you're specialized, you are not allowed to practice general dentistry, so I don't know where you get that wider range of patient vision from.
I personally feel a bit irritated with posts like this, talking about how dentistry provides a comfortable/luxurious life for a dentist while there are so much more in the profession than just money.
Anyhoo, good luck.

 

[deleted487471]

I don't know what else you see about this profession, but I have only one question to ask you. Have you taken the DAT yet? If not, then go take the DAT first and try to get accepted to at least one dental school, THEN you can plan your luxurious retirement from there.
And oh, just to break one or two bad news to you. It is extremely difficult and competitive to get into any specialty after dental school. As for orthodontics that you briefly mentioned, a school only takes 6-7 per year, so you have to be top-notch, if not ideally utterly ultimately perfect, in every aspect of your application. AND once you're specialized, you are not allowed to practice general dentistry, so I don't know where you get that wider range of patient vision from.
I personally feel a bit irritated with posts like this, talking about how dentistry provides a comfortable/luxurious life for a dentist while there are so much more than that in the profession than just money.
Anyhoo, good luck.

Agreed. OP, you are getting so far ahead of yourself that I think your torso is light years behind your head. And if money is your primary concern, be a doll and look into the financial, educational, and time commitments of becoming an ortho (or any other specialist). A large number of ortho programs charge 50k+ a year (after possibly 300-350k+ of d school), and are also very competitive to get into. After all that, you'll be hopeful to wait for the day you're debt free, not the day you retire.

Also, side note since you're Canadian. I hope you know what you're getting into in terms of competitiveness and applying to the US (if that's your plan), and not just some fool who goes "my ortho is rolling in the $$$, I want that ****".

 

[the11joker]

wanted to read this, but you edited it. luckily i can read members quotes