Chart with salary comparisons!

[Tooth Extractor]

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The loan debt comparison seems to be inaccurate...I still can't believe that a Family Physician makes less than a Dentist or Podiatrist.😱

http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/P...rageMedicalSalariesofProfessionsSurveyed.aspx

 

[dentalWorks]

Average debt 130k for dentist? which year was this data from? 2001?

Anyways, 200k sounds reasonable, but know that its not for the newly graduate. Maybe 5-10 years+ after DS you can hit that income

 

[John Durian]

I think those numbers have been fudged a little since it's a bit off from the numbers that the ADA published.

Also keep in mind that the chart was published by the pod association. I think it's being used as a recruitment tool. I know a pod and he does not work 40 hrs/wk and earn $160k doing it. I think it's realistically more like 50 hrs/wk and $110-120k since he's always talking to me about how he makes the same as a pharmacist but works more and has to be on-call every other weekend. Of course, that's just an anecdote so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[K Niner]

The loan debt comparison seems to be inaccurate...I still can't believe that a Family Physician makes less than a Dentist or Podiatrist.😱

http://www.apma.org/MainMenu/News/P...rageMedicalSalariesofProfessionsSurveyed.aspx

It's common knowledge that the average family practice physician makes less than the average dentist. Dentists do procedures all day long and bill for those procedures. GP physicians mainly diagnose diseases and prescribe medications. It cost more to have a filling done than to have your BP checked and a form signed for your physical.

 

[wired202808]

It's common knowledge that the average family practice physician makes less than the average dentist. Dentists do procedures all day long and bill for those procedures. GP physicians mainly diagnose diseases and prescribe medications. It cost more to have a filling done than to have your BP checked and a form signed for your physical.

k niner, i would disagree with you because if a family physician gets $100 per visit, he can see more people in 30 minutes then a dentist can drill. A dentist can probably see only 2 or 3 (at max) people in an hour, a doctor can see a lot more. I think its when a dentist is doing serious procedures that they earn their $$$ and of course the pay out to dentists are higher than doctors because dental insurance is cheaper and usually covers more procedures than medical insurance.

Mind you, I still think its more profitable to be a dentist over the long term, but I can see how at certain times you might be better off financially as a doctor. Plus remember all these numbers can be skewed if they are public hospital figures and not the salaries of private doctors.

 

[dentalWorks]

It's common knowledge that the average family practice physician makes less than the average dentist. Dentists do procedures all day long and bill for those procedures. GP physicians mainly diagnose diseases and prescribe medications. It cost more to have a filling done than to have your BP checked and a form signed for your physical.

thats not the reason why primary care physicians make less than dentists.... it all boils down to 1 principle: Insurance.

Primary care docs are getting hit pretty hard with insurance reimbursements.

Dentistry on the other hand, and alot of times, its a pay-per-service and cash/credit cards are more widely used in a dental office than a primary care. You walk into a dentist's office, he offers you an extraction for $80 or a root-canal treatment for $600-900. Either option you take, you'll probably just pay it cash and walk out.... and if your customer service skills are up to the task, you'll be able to convince many patients to take the more "expensive" option (i.e better).

 

[Enamelize]

thats not the reason why primary care physicians make less than dentists.... it all boils down to 1 principle: Insurance.

Primary care docs are getting hit pretty hard with insurance reimbursements.

Dentistry on the other hand, and alot of times, its a pay-per-service and cash/credit cards are more widely used in a dental office than a primary care. You walk into a dentist's office, he offers you an extraction for $80 or a root-canal treatment for $600-900. Either option you take, you'll probably just pay it cash and walk out.... and if your customer service skills are up to the task, you'll be able to convince many patients to take the more "expensive" option (i.e better).

I must be living in an expensive area because extractions are no less than $200 a tooth and RCT is no less than $1200. But, dentists do take a hit as well. I know of some dentists that bill insurance (which have their own fees that dentists in their network must follow) and then write off the rest.

 

[dentalWorks]

I must be living in an expensive area because extractions are no less than $200 a tooth and RCT is no less than $1200. But, dentists do take a hit as well. I know of some dentists that bill insurance (which have their own fees that dentists in their network must follow) and then write off the rest.

I've heard of those figures too.... around my area, a GP will do a root-canal for $600-900.... I guess this is more area dependent.

And yes, dentists still deal with insurance (ofc, every healthcare provider does) but my point was that they get more cash/credit carders than the typical primary care docs and this contributes to why they average higher (salary wise)