Average Salaries Seem Askewed?

[corymartin2012]

When I read average salaries for the specialties and regular general practice they all seem awfully low. I have talked to my dentist (a smaller town dentist) and he said that me makes a little bit over 250k. My friends orthodontist says that he makes more thank 400k!

(Btw we didn't ask bluntly, it was conversation on the career and they told us).

So when I read averages of general practices dentist at only 120k to about 140k, I am curious why they are so low compared to real people I know. Also the average for orthodontist I saw was only 200k, so what are the reason for so low of salaries by national average?

I figured the military dentists and hosptial dentists (not sure their salary?) might bring it down but what's your views?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[rccostner]

being a dentist or dental specialist in a small town has it's advantages - less competition for the available business. so if you do good work and get along with the people then you can make that kind of money even in a small market. the only way to make that kind of money in an overcrowded area is to get the high end kind of people who are willing to pay more for dental work or to work the off hours (like evenings/weekends/emergency on-call kind of stuff).

 

[stevesteve121]

lots of unambitious practioners who remain associates at GP offices?

anyways i'd like to kno as well

 

[stevesteve121]

the only way to make that kind of money in an overcrowded area is to get the high end kind of people who are willing to pay more for dental work or to work the off hours (like evenings/weekends/emergency on-call kind of stuff).

are u being serious here bro?

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

Were the dentists you were talking to quoting revenue or profits?

 

[corymartin2012]

My dentist said rural was best, between 4-10k, because only other competition is about fifteen minutes away. Also he said that the only reason he doesn't make close to 300k, is because he doesn't work on Friday, and doesn't like even basic endo!

I'm kinda curious why then the average is close to 120k. I guess maybe older dentists don't put out as much production as they can and associates don't make as much as five years out in private practice. I just found it weird!

 

[corymartin2012]

My dentist said a little over 200k in his take home. With gross revenue at about 680k

 

[yappy]

My GP told me that everyone in his building (him, pedo, other gp office, and ortho) all made over 300k/yr in personal salary. I live in a medium sized city. It made sense once I looked at his fee schedule and then saw his production for a few weeks.

 

[jigabodo]

When I read average salaries for the specialties and regular general practice they all seem awfully low. I have talked to my dentist (a smaller town dentist) and he said that me makes a little bit over 250k. My friends orthodontist says that he makes more thank 400k!

(Btw we didn't ask bluntly, it was conversation on the career and they told us).

So when I read averages of general practices dentist at only 120k to about 140k, I am curious why they are so low compared to real people I know. Also the average for orthodontist I saw was only 200k, so what are the reason for so low of salaries by national average?

I figured the military dentists and hosptial dentists (not sure their salary?) might bring it down but what's your views?

From my experience, quite a few dentists work only 4 days a week. In addition, they also refer a lot of stuff out that they aren't comfortable doing/don't like to do.

When I did my externship, my preceptor refers out all extractions, implants, posterior endos, and complete dentures. She also only works 6 hours a day, 4 days a week. So the potential to make money is definitely out there, it's just up to the individual to use it to the fullest.

 

[stevesteve121]

My dentist said a little over 200k in his take home. With gross revenue at about 580k

so he owned his own clinic? how many associates?

 

[corymartin2012]

I believe he has only one associate who gets paid based on production. A hygienist (may have two didn't really touch on that) and a receptionist for sure.

 

[Blarelli]

I imagine the 120-140k is for an associate dentist. I sat down with an aftco rep a couple of months ago to get a feeling for what I'd be in for when I graduate in 4 years and it was an eye opening experience. A lot of the ideas I had about the process of buying a practice, the time frame that I thought would be ideal, and where I'd like to practice have gone right out the window.

In a lot of ways it was a reassuring experience though. Turns out buying a practice is less expensive then I thought it was, and the average dentist that had dealt with that specific aftco rep in the past couple of years (and followed a few key pieces of advice) had a take home of more than twice what I figured I'd peak out at as a general dentist. The student loans are still very intimidating, but I'm not really afraid of them anymore.

 

[UCLAzy]

i really cant take a post seriously that says 'askewed'. sounds like you sneezed through the interwebs.

it's skewed.

 

[Doc Smile]

i really cant take a post seriously that says 'askewed'. sounds like you sneezed through the interwebs.

it's skewed.

I really can't take a post seriously that has grammar worse than a 12 year old.

Its "I" not "i" and "can't" not "cant" . . .

But seriously, if you are going to be the post-correctional-services, please make sure your English skills are at least as proficient, if not more, than a college level senior.

That being said, irregardlessof your opinion, I think your comment is quite askewed

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

I really can't take a post seriously that has grammar worse than a 12 year old.

Its "I" not "i" and "can't" not "cant" . . .

But seriously, if you are going to be the post-correctional-services, please make sure your English skills are at least as proficient, if not more, than a college level senior.

That being said, irregardlessof your opinion, I think your comment is quite askewed

Irregardless is equivalent to wearing a black suit to an interview.

 

[UCLAzy]

I really can't take a post seriously that has grammar worse than a 12 year old.

Its "I" not "i" and "can't" not "cant" . . .

But seriously, if you are going to be the post-correctional-services, please make sure your English skills are at least as proficient, if not more, than a college level senior.

That being said, irregardlessof your opinion, I think your comment is quite askewed

sry, my first day on the internet.

 

[youknowthedrill]

The busy dentists who are making more money 1) don't take the time to fill out the surveys 2) under report their income because they don't want the public to know how much they make.

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

irregardless is equivalent to wearing a black suit to an interview.

lol

 

[Lane138]

The busy dentists who are making more money 1) don't take the time to fill out the surveys 2) under report their income because they don't want the public to know how much they make.

Lol. Let's hope that's really the case. My parents are freaking over the fact that even selling off our house won't be enough to pay off dental school debts.

 

[youknowthedrill]

Lol. Let's hope that's really the case. My parents are freaking over the fact that even selling off our house won't be enough to pay off dental school debts.

You'll be fine...and you'll be able to buy a really big house a few years after dental school so mom & dad won't be homeless anymore.

 

[dantemac]

I feel like this is at least the 100th time this summer the financial burden of dental school and/or the average salary of a dentist has been discussed.

 

[Barking Lamb]

Just noting, a lot of dentists are included in these statistics who are essentially
"retired". Meaning they work one day a week or less, etc.

 

[stevesteve121]

Just noting, a lot of dentists are included in these statistics who are essentially
"retired". Meaning they work one day a week or less, etc.

so the "normal-average" GP's average salary is what? 200k? how many years after grad is one expected to reach that level?

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

I think there's too much paranoia going on here. Look at it from an economic standpoint. If dental graduates were having immense trouble paying back their loans, finding associate jobs, opening practices and etc., we'd see the effects cascade downward in the form of dental schools being downsized. I do know U of Maryland just increased its class by 20 spots, in order to fill what it calls a possible deficit of dentists in the future, since over 50% of practicing dentists in MD are over the age of 50. I like to think there's room for new graduates for the next 5-10 years at least.

 

[ChubbyBaby]

When I read average salaries for the specialties and regular general practice they all seem awfully low. I have talked to my dentist (a smaller town dentist) and he said that me makes a little bit over 250k. My friends orthodontist says that he makes more thank 400k!

(Btw we didn't ask bluntly, it was conversation on the career and they told us).

So when I read averages of general practices dentist at only 120k to about 140k, I am curious why they are so low compared to real people I know. Also the average for orthodontist I saw was only 200k, so what are the reason for so low of salaries by national average?

I figured the military dentists and hosptial dentists (not sure their salary?) might bring it down but what's your views?

Salary is the key word. What dentists have salaries? Ones I know of work at community health centers, work for the government, .... These people make less. But don't expect to be making $140k your first years out, especially if you want to live in a city.

 

[budda10000]

i really cant take a post seriously that says 'askewed'. sounds like you sneezed through the interwebs.

it's skewed.

If you take the time to look at your keyboard you will note that the a is right next to the s. Perhaps OP simply hit both keys by accident? I have fallen victim to this more than once in the dark or while drunk.

 

[UCLAzy]

If you take the time to look at your keyboard you will note that the a is right next to the s. Perhaps OP simply hit both keys by accident? I have fallen victim to this more than once in the dark or while drunk.

could be that...or it could be that askew and skewed are both words but together they dont make one? i'll be quiet though, i dont want dental daddy to tell me i'm bad again =(

 

[amalgamgrillz]

could be that...or it could be that askew and skewed are both words but together they dont make one? i'll be quiet though, i dont want dental daddy to tell me i'm bad again =(

Haha good idea. You got owned.

 

[jwdent]

I agree that the averages may seem skewed in comparrison to the earning potential. In my suburban town of about 25k people, I have heard that multiple dentists I know are in the $300-400k plus range. Judging by their lifestyles, kids in private schools and vacation homes, I believe this to be true.

 

[notin]

according to the ada 215k is what you can expect to average. it sounds reasonable. if anything, anecdotally from the dentists that i've talked to i would guess 215 is low for a dentist in their prime.

 

[flyingforever]

I think there's too much paranoia going on here. Look at it from an economic standpoint. If dental graduates were having immense trouble paying back their loans, finding associate jobs, opening practices and etc., we'd see the effects cascade downward in the form of dental schools being downsized. I do know U of Maryland just increased its class by 20 spots, in order to fill what it calls a possible deficit of dentists in the future, since over 50% of practicing dentists in MD are over the age of 50. I like to think there's room for new graduates for the next 5-10 years at least.

Where did you get this info from? Class size is still the same. Five seats might be added this year. The number is still 130.

 

[flyingforever]

Guys I will be happy with 130-150K per year. Plus, I just want to give my family everything I possibly could.

 

[mc719]

When I read average salaries for the specialties and regular general practice they all seem awfully low. I have talked to my dentist (a smaller town dentist) and he said that me makes a little bit over 250k. My friends orthodontist says that he makes more thank 400k!

(Btw we didn't ask bluntly, it was conversation on the career and they told us).

So when I read averages of general practices dentist at only 120k to about 140k, I am curious why they are so low compared to real people I know. Also the average for orthodontist I saw was only 200k, so what are the reason for so low of salaries by national average?

I figured the military dentists and hosptial dentists (not sure their salary?) might bring it down but what's your views?

I've seen a lot of very different numbers for average income. My guess is that there is a huge range. One dentist might work a lot, do a lot of extra procedures, have a lot of people working for them and have their practice and equipment paid off. While another dentist might be just starting as an associate for another dentist in a slow practice. And in addition to that, there are all of the dentists who work in the military and in the government. From what I've seen dentists can pretty much make as much money as they are willing to put in the investment/work for. But I may be wrong about this, there may be a standard salary that most dentists make.

 

[stevesteve121]

Guys I will be happy with 130-150K per year. Plus, I just want to give my family everything I possibly could.

not alot left after tax man. and LV bags and boob jobs and vacationing in the BVI arent cheap either

 

[armorshell]

according to the ada 215k is what you can expect to average. it sounds reasonable. if anything, anecdotally from the dentists that i've talked to i would guess 215 is low for a dentist in their prime.

Might want to look up what "average" means.

 

[notin]

Might want to look up what "average" means.

sick burn

 

[nondescriptive]

sick burn

Might want to look up what "average" means.

Both of you guys, snippy snippy....

 

[armorshell]

sick burn

There is a high chance (I'd say around 50%) that you will be a below average dentist.

 

[ChubbyBaby]

Guys I will be happy with 130-150K per year. Plus, I just want to give my family everything I possibly could.

not alot left after tax man. and LV bags and boob jobs and vacationing in the BVI arent cheap either

yeah, income tax will cut 130-150k to shreds.

i'm a specialist and never worked as a general dentist. my impression of general dentistry is that it's hard to make even 150k if you're an associate and especially if you're near a major desireable city. once you own the practice and have an active hygiene program and you have the authority of doing the profitable procedures you want to do (endo, crown and bridge, extractions) then you'll make cash. or, become a specialist. trust me, it's worth the extra 2/3 years and the money. specialist fees in some areas are outrageous.

 

[stevesteve121]

yeah, income tax will cut 130-150k to shreds.

i'm a specialist and never worked as a general dentist. my impression of general dentistry is that it's hard to make even 150k if you're an associate and especially if you're near a major desireable city. once you own the practice and have an active hygiene program and you have the authority of doing the profitable procedures you want to do (endo, crown and bridge, extractions) then you'll make cash. or, become a specialist. trust me, it's worth the extra 2/3 years and the money. specialist fees in some areas are outrageous.

thanks for the insight. are you an endo?>