Almost 10 years as a GP AMA…

[jobayanks29]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys,

I’ve been practicing as a GP almost 10 years. I used this site a lot for help when I was your age, thought I would pay it forward, AMA!

 

[deleted903013]

Any regrets on choosing dentistry?

 

[jobayanks29]

Any regrets on choosing dentistry?

I wouldn’t say regrets. It’s not a passion, but it pays well. I wish I would have spent more time shadowing or working as an assistant prior to dental school to know more about the field.

I graduated with about 240k in loans from college and dental school. My wife had about 80k in college loans that I took on. It took me about 5 years to pay off everything. FWIW I make about 250k as a GP with another 50K in benefits and I am 34 years old.

Also, if you do have a passion whether that be music/acting/comedy etc you should give yourself 2 years to pursue it post-college. You start with nothing and it’s much easier at this age to have nothing. If it doesn’t work out, hey you tried. I went straight from college to dental school to working, so you have less time to pursue passions as a career.

 

[jobayanks29]

One recommendation to the predents is to open a Roth IRA. You probably don’t have enough to max it out ($6000), but compound interest is a wonderful thing.

 

[pre-DMD]

How has dentistry changed since you started, and what have you done to adapt to said changes?

 

[jobayanks29]

How has dentistry changed since you started, and what have you done to adapt to said changes?

Ahh good question. In the 10 years dentistry has become much more group practice style. Years ago guys could simply open an office and start practicing, but that’s much harder now. Much more cost to go solo as a business, but patients want all procedures under one roof. I work in a group practice, and provide the Ortho for the practice. It’s kind of my niche, so if you can find a niche I would try to focus on that.

GPs placing implants is a lot more common now than 10 years ago. I see associates just out of residency placing implants and doing all kinds of surgeries. A lot of that might have to do with high student loans and trying to do more outside your skill range.

Student loans are also much higher with more for profit schools opening. Try to limit your loans as much as you can.

 

[macsak]

One recommendation to the predents is to open a Roth IRA. You probably don’t have enough to max it out ($6000), but compound interest is a wonderful thing.

^ is one of the best pieces of advice that is never mentioned on this forum...

 

[deleted903013]

FWIW I make about 250k as a GP with another 50K in benefits and I am 34 years old.

Wow that's awesome! Are you a practice owner?

 

[jobayanks29]

Wow that's awesome! Are you a practice owner?

Right now an associate in a group practice, buy in as partner soon. Dentistry definitely does not come easily physically or mentally, though. Dealings with patients and staff can be a PITA. There are probably easier ways to make money, although I haven’t found out what.

 

[BasicG]

Do you ever wish you specialized after graduating?

 

[jobayanks29]

Do you ever wish you specialized after graduating?

Sometimes I wish I had specialized in Ortho, and I still might end up going back. With dentistry it all comes out an opportunity cost. Unlike medical school, most specialties your paying for residency out of pocket so it’s more loans plus whatever years you aren’t working as a GP you lose out on. OS is always the best financial pick for opportunity cost in dentistry, but I hate surgery haha

 

[PerioDont]

Where do you practice? small city or larger area?

 

[jobayanks29]

Where do you practice? small city or larger area?

I’m in the suburbs about 1 hour from a major city. You could classify the area as saturated, but honestly most places are nowadays.

 

[deleted903013]

What are your thoughts on AEGD's/GPR's?

 

[jobayanks29]

What are your thoughts on AEGD's/GPR's?

I think they are definitely a good idea if you go to a program that is strong in extractions and implants. My GPR was weak in those areas, so I tend to shy away from those procedures. If you go just to do more of basic dentistry it’s probably not helpful.

 

[Dr Dimbsa]

How long after a GPR/AEGD is it reasonable to buy in/out a practice? Also, what was your loan repayment schedule like?

 

[jobayanks29]

How long after a GPR/AEGD is it reasonable to buy in/out a practice? Also, what was your loan repayment schedule like?

I would say probably a year or 2, but you dont also want to rush in to a situation because you think owning will make you more. You may find a crappy situation and not necessarily the right one by owning. I just dumped in all my money into the loans, I didn’t care what the repayment was.

 

[702]

Which speciality has the best long term outlook? If any?

 

[jobayanks29]

Which speciality has the best long term outlook? If any?

OS is best financially
Ortho is best physically and mentally

All in between including those I’ve met specialists that love it, specialists that hate it, specialists that hate being a GP, and specialists that wished they would have stayed a GP

 

[PerioDont]

OS is best financially
Ortho is best physically and mentally

All in between including those I’ve met specialists that love it, specialists that hate it, specialists that hate being a GP, and specialists that wished they would have stayed a GP

Interesting, I’ve never met a specialist that wishes they were a GP. Must be my n=1

 

[cannonwill]

OS is best financially
Ortho is best physically and mentally

All in between including those I’ve met specialists that love it, specialists that hate it, specialists that hate being a GP, and specialists that wished they would have stayed a GP

why is OS the best financially? say you have to pay for medical school too, and you're not earning a full salary during residency. wouldn't your loans pile up with interest? (asking as an incoming, ignorant D1 haha)

 

[LFA20]

OS is best financially
Ortho is best physically and mentally

All in between including those I’ve met specialists that love it, specialists that hate it, specialists that hate being a GP, and specialists that wished they would have stayed a GP

Which specialist wished they had stayed GPs?

 

[2TH MVR]

Which specialist wished they had stayed GPs?

My guess would be Prosthodontists.

 

[deleted565160]

You mentioned dentistry is not your passion. How did you convince adcom and schools to accept you?

 

[deleted903013]

You mentioned dentistry is not your passion. How did you convince adcom and schools to accept you?

The overwhelming majority of dental students are not "passionate" about dentistry.

 

[PerioDont]

The overwhelming majority of dental students are not "passionate" about dentistry.

Please refer to DentalTown for further evidence that the same is true for the overwhelming majority of practicing dentists.

 

[LFA20]

My guess would be Prosthodontists.

I heard most prosthodontists market themselves as GPs and just keep all the hard full-mouth cases.