Dental vs PA...please help

[angelawilson]

Hi everyone. I have gotten into both dental school and PA school. I have shadowed both a dentist and a PA and I really like both careers but cannot decide which is better for me. I have to make a decision by this Friday because I have to let the schools know.

Dental school is 4 years and it will cost be about $350,000 in loans.
PA school is 2 and half years and it will cost be about $70,000 in loans.

Both of these schools are near my house, so location doesn't matter. Since I have shadowed both, I know what their daily routine is like. I really like what a PA does but the salary is only around $90K starting. I know that money isn't everything but it does have some importance.

On the other hand, I also like dentistry but it is 4 years long and maybe a year of residency afterward but then I will have to take more loans on top of the $350,000 to open my clinic and I feel like I will be paying off my loan forever.

If anyone can help me out there, please give your advice. Thanks.

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[bing12]

you are asking whether or not to pursue dentistry in a pre-dental forum?...come on. Ill give you my extremely biased opinion. In one of those Professions, you are called Doctor, in the other, your tittle consists of Assistant. Dental has a potential income significantly greater than a PA(correct me if I am wrong). You are the boss as a dentist ( in a fair amount of cases), you work under a physician as a PA ( correct me if i am wrong). the main advantage i see as being a PA is less liability because you work under a physician ( correct me if i am wrong). Good luck on either one, btw what schools are you talking about?

 

[Tim Whatley]

Hi everyone. I have gotten into both dental school and PA school. I have shadowed both a dentist and a PA and I really like both careers but cannot decide which is better for me. I have to make a decision by this Friday because I have to let the schools know.

Dental school is 4 years and it will cost be about $350,000 in loans.
PA school is 2 and half years and it will cost be about $70,000 in loans.

Both of these schools are near my house, so location doesn't matter. Since I have shadowed both, I know what their daily routine is like. I really like what a PA does but the salary is only around $90K starting. I know that money isn't everything but it does have some importance.

On the other hand, I also like dentistry but it is 4 years long and maybe a year of residency afterward but then I will have to take more loans on top of the $350,000 to open my clinic and I feel like I will be paying off my loan forever.

If anyone can help me out there, please give your advice. Thanks.

If money is the way you're looking at it, according to this website http://www1.salary.com/Physician-Assistant-Medical-salary.html the most you can possibly make as a PA 105,000 after many years of hard work and not being your're own boss. As a Dentist according to that site as well, the average is 133,000 and it's not uncommon to make well over 200,000 depending on your location.

Long term, you'll pay off your loans and make much more money, enjoying a better lifestyle, and be your own boss.

Last note, you shouldn't pick a job based on money. You should pick it based on what you like to do.

 

[angelawilson]

Hi everyone. I have gotten into both dental school and PA school. I have shadowed both a dentist and a PA and I really like both careers but cannot decide which is better for me. I have to make a decision by this Friday because I have to let the schools know.

Dental school is 4 years and it will cost be about $350,000 in loans.
PA school is 2 and half years and it will cost be about $70,000 in loans.

Both of these schools are near my house, so location doesn't matter. Since I have shadowed both, I know what their daily routine is like. I really like what a PA does but the salary is only around $90K starting. I know that money isn't everything but it does have some importance.

On the other hand, I also like dentistry but it is 4 years long and maybe a year of residency afterward but then I will have to take more loans on top of the $350,000 to open my clinic and I feel like I will be paying off my loan forever. For those of you who are already dentists or are in dental school, I would also appreciate your input.

If anyone can help me out there, please give your advice. Thanks.

 

[Bman1047]

Hi everyone. I have gotten into both dental school and PA school. I have shadowed both a dentist and a PA and I really like both careers but cannot decide which is better for me. I have to make a decision by this Friday because I have to let the schools know.

Dental school is 4 years and it will cost be about $350,000 in loans.
PA school is 2 and half years and it will cost be about $70,000 in loans.

Both of these schools are near my house, so location doesn't matter. Since I have shadowed both, I know what their daily routine is like. I really like what a PA does but the salary is only around $90K starting. I know that money isn't everything but it does have some importance.

On the other hand, I also like dentistry but it is 4 years long and maybe a year of residency afterward but then I will have to take more loans on top of the $350,000 to open my clinic and I feel like I will be paying off my loan forever.

If anyone can help me out there, please give your advice. Thanks.

The answer REALLY seems obvious. So, go ahead and decline from the dental school, and give that opportunity to someone who already has their mind made up and who "really likes what a dentist does"

 

[whodat4life]

Hi everyone. I have gotten into both dental school and PA school. I have shadowed both a dentist and a PA and I really like both careers but cannot decide which is better for me. I have to make a decision by this Friday because I have to let the schools know.

Dental school is 4 years and it will cost be about $350,000 in loans.
PA school is 2 and half years and it will cost be about $70,000 in loans.

Both of these schools are near my house, so location doesn't matter. Since I have shadowed both, I know what their daily routine is like. I really like what a PA does but the salary is only around $90K starting. I know that money isn't everything but it does have some importance.

On the other hand, I also like dentistry but it is 4 years long and maybe a year of residency afterward but then I will have to take more loans on top of the $350,000 to open my clinic and I feel like I will be paying off my loan forever. For those of you who are already dentists or are in dental school, I would also appreciate your input.

If anyone can help me out there, please give your advice. Thanks.

Well, you already hit on the most important topic, the amount of debt you'll be in with each. You say that you "like" dentistry, and if that's the extent of your ambition for the field...chances are it will not make you happy. I think PA will continue to grow and is an excellent career choice. I had many people literally begging me to go that way in undergrad. I didn't, because I love dentistry. I could be happy being a dentist and making 100K or under...it's just my dream.

Most people getting out of dental school start out making anywhere from 85-120k/year. If you're inclined to do public health, your loans will be forgiven after 10 years of PH service. You can also apply to NHSC Loan Forgiveness and their scholarship. Scholarship is extremely competitive, but if you're one of the lucky few to receive it...it pays monthly living stipend + all tuition/fees your entire four years. Or you could choose the military route, I assume you know what they offer (everything paid + monthly living stipend in exchange for a year for a year (4 for dental school).

It's really a hard call to make. If the economy recovers, dental school would be the smart decision in the long run. Also, it's sort of a personal decision that you should weigh out with your significant other/family. If you have kids and are tied down or whatever, you may want to lean more toward PA...just because it will consume less of your time for training. Also, consider the fact that you may not get into the dental school/PA school that's close to where you live. That's what happened to me, it SUCKS. I had to move all the way across country to attend DS.

Basically, to summarize what I'm trying to get at is this...how fast do you want to make money? Do you want a career that rewards you more for doing more work (potential) or do you want a set in stone type of job? Dentistry has a lot of POTENTIAL...it's all about how much you want it.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi everyone. I have gotten into both dental school and PA school. I have shadowed both a dentist and a PA and I really like both careers but cannot decide which is better for me. I have to make a decision by this Friday because I have to let the schools know.

Dental school is 4 years and it will cost be about $350,000 in loans.
PA school is 2 and half years and it will cost be about $70,000 in loans.

Both of these schools are near my house, so location doesn't matter. Since I have shadowed both, I know what their daily routine is like. I really like what a PA does but the salary is only around $90K starting. I know that money isn't everything but it does have some importance.

On the other hand, I also like dentistry but it is 4 years long and maybe a year of residency afterward but then I will have to take more loans on top of the $350,000 to open my clinic and I feel like I will be paying off my loan forever.

If anyone can help me out there, please give your advice. Thanks.

Personally, I can't never be a PA, being constantly bossed around by senior PAs / MD who graduated yesterday is.... no-no. Being an associate new-graduate dentist is probably similar, except, at least, I'll have high hopes one day I'll own a practice.

I have a friend right now who is a PA and she hates it. She is a softie tho, so its probably not her boss's fault, but I feel bad for her, shes miserable

 

[angelawilson]

Well, you already hit on the most important topic, the amount of debt you'll be in with each. You say that you "like" dentistry, and if that's the extent of your ambition for the field...chances are it will not make you happy. I think PA will continue to grow and is an excellent career choice. I had many people literally begging me to go that way in undergrad. I didn't, because I love dentistry. I could be happy being a dentist and making 100K or under...it's just my dream.

Most people getting out of dental school start out making anywhere from 85-120k/year. If you're inclined to do public health, your loans will be forgiven after 10 years of PH service. You can also apply to NHSC Loan Forgiveness and their scholarship. Scholarship is extremely competitive, but if you're one of the lucky few to receive it...it pays monthly living stipend + all tuition/fees your entire four years. Or you could choose the military route, I assume you know what they offer (everything paid + monthly living stipend in exchange for a year for a year (4 for dental school).

It's really a hard call to make. If the economy recovers, dental school would be the smart decision in the long run. Also, it's sort of a personal decision that you should weigh out with your significant other/family. If you have kids and are tied down or whatever, you may want to lean more toward PA...just because it will consume less of your time for training. Also, consider the fact that you may not get into the dental school/PA school that's close to where you live. That's what happened to me, it SUCKS. I had to move all the way across country to attend DS.

Basically, to summarize what I'm trying to get at is this...how fast do you want to make money? Do you want a career that rewards you more for doing more work (potential) or do you want a set in stone type of job? Dentistry has a lot of POTENTIAL...it's all about how much you want it.

I am a little confused. Can you please tell me what working in "public service" means? I have heard people say that after dental school they can decide to work in public service and their loan will be forgiven in a certain amount of time. Do you get paid while working in public service? How much? Also, do you get a wide list to chose from or do they tell you where to work?

Don't get me wrong, I am not all about making money. I am concerned because I want to be able to pay back the $350,000 in loans and for that I do need a good starting income. I will be paying back more than 4K a month for 10 years, so it is something to think about.

 

[dentalWorks]

I am a little confused. Can you please tell me what working in "public service" means? I have heard people say that after dental school they can decide to work in public service and their loan will be forgiven in a certain amount of time. Do you get paid while working in public service? How much? Also, do you get a wide list to chose from or do they tell you where to work?

Don't get me wrong, I am not all about making money. I am concerned because I want to be able to pay back the $350,000 in loans and for that I do need a good starting income. I will be paying back more than 4K a month for 10 years, so it is something to think about.

Yes, you can work for NHSC
http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/

In michigan, new graduates get hired at about 90-110k per year. Plus they give you tax-free money towards your dental tuition:
2 years = 60k toward tuition
5 years = 170k toward tuition
6 years = 100% loan repayment

 

[angelawilson]

Yes, you can work for NHSC
http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/

In michigan, new graduates get hired at about 90-110k per year. Plus they give you tax-free money towards your dental tuition:
2 years = 60k toward tuition
5 years = 170k toward tuition
6 years = 100% loan repayment

Is the tax-free money that goes toward my loan in addition to the regular income?

 

[Regmata]

I would be tempted to go PA. You are done sooner, have a life sooner and a good career where you can start saving for retirement. Contrary to the sentiment on these boards, dentists just starting out don't make quite as much as SDN'ers like to think. There are also surgical subspecialties of PA's that pay pretty well and get to do quite a bit of surgery.

Pick the one that you enjoy more. That extra 280k will more than eat up the salary difference between dentistry and PA for quite a few years. You will have less responsibility and thus, less stress as a PA. On the other hand, as a dentist, you would likely be able to make significantly more money at some point in your career. You need to decide what is better for you. Not an easy decision with the uncertain future of both dentistry and medicine. Take what you know to be true, for certain, and make a decision based on that and what you think will make you happiest.

 

[Laceigh]

Wow, you're in a really blessed situation. I had my mind set on dentistry since early undergrad, but when I almost graduated, and had all my stuff for dental school app ready, I decided to switch over to PA.

My situation is probably much different than yours- I'm pregnant with my first baby, married, and frankly I want my life focus to be on my family rather than my work. As a PA, the advantages for me are that I would be able to pay off my loans in the first couple of years of work, which would allow me to buy a house before the housing market starts inflating again, and would allow me to work part-time anytime I want.

Unlike most other pre-dents around here, I'm not too interested in autonomy and the stresses that come with it, and the debt and over-saturated market in my home adds to the stress of dentistry. I just want a stable job, great benefits that come with working at a hospital, and not be chained down to debt.

So it really breaks down to what kind of a person you are and how you see yourself living your life. Are you strongly business and career-minded? If so, dentistry will probably pay off in the long run. I'm not as much business-minded as family-minded, so PA seems the logical choice for me.

 

[dentalWorks]

Is the tax-free money that goes toward my loan in addition to the regular income?

yes

 

[almon]

I had to decide between the exact same two careers! They aren't as different as you may think...surgical PAs make around 125k and have alot of the same work conditions as dentists. If you haven't made up your mind yet, I would be tempted to go with PA since there are SO many different options in that field. I would eliminate cost of tuition and salary and pick the one you like best!

 

[Mudfever]

I hate to burst your bubble on starting PA's salary. My wife is a PA and the average for her class starting out was $65K. Not this $90+ that a lot of undergrads kept telling me. The top end was $75 for one who did Thoracic and was on call with the surgeon. After 10 years, they can be making $100-120. But consider where you will be in 8 years after being a Dentist. As far as money goes, as long as you don't suck at business, Dental wins in the long run.

That all being said, my wife didn't choose PA for the money. She chose it for the lifestyle. At the end of the day, she leaves and pretty much leaves work at work (and she worked in CC). After 5 years in CC, she was able to take a job M-F 8-5 making the same money. She plans to go part time the summer I get out of school. She has always wanted a family life and being a PA over a Physician has let her do just that. Now Dentistry is different in that it lends itself to a much better home life than a physician. Also, there are roughly two different PA type jobs out there. Clinic jobs that have relatively good hours (somewhat harder to find), and hospital and call jobs that basically give the physician a better home life.

In my opinion, both are great career choices as long as you know what you are getting into. It all comes down to what you want out of a career and the type of person you are. If you want to be your own boss (and realize that owning your own business is a lot of work), then Dentistry is the way to go. If you just want to go to work and get a paycheck and not hassle with the day to day and HR stuff, check into corporate and associate Dentistry and compare that to PA. I think PA wins in that instance.

Just my .02.

Mud