Fun topic... why did you decide to become a dentist?

[CleverThought]

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Instead of talking about program requirements and the DAT I figured we could have a little fun and talk about why you choose the dental career path.

Can't wait to hear these responses!

 

[mr24]

Money money money money

 

[jntm46]

Money and vacations!!

I want to be able to travel with all that money i'm gonna make.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

.

 

[tayloreve]

I like science.

and I like carving, sculpting, etc.

 

[molar3]

i was flippin thru US weekly when i was like 17 and i saw a celebrity with really really effing good teeth and i wanted mine to look like that. then i became obsessed. true story. dont judge me.

 

[CleverThought]

i was flippin thru US weekly when i was like 17 and i saw a celebrity with really really effing good teeth and i wanted mine to look like that. then i became obsessed. true story. dont judge me.

No judging from me! I'm very much the same way, I love teeth and the way they look. I was a little late in the game in trying to get those perfect teeth that I envy, here I am with braces in college hehe

 

[Teeth12345]

ahh are all you money people serious?? I'm sure there's more motivation than that 😉

I mean, I'm all for the wednesdays off thing but if you're going into this for just money, there's a lot of other ways to make money. Like auto tuning your voice and releasing a song that becomes famous for no reason. 🙂

 

[wizi]

money money women women women women women women wife women money.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

No judging from me! I'm very much the same way, I love teeth and the way they look. I was a little late in the game in trying to get those perfect teeth that I envy, here I am with braces in college hehe

Haha Im getting braces this summer..going into my Junior year of college with them so dont feel bad!

 

[dentalWorks]

-Autonomy,
-less than 40 hrs per week (and rarely on call),
-people interactive,
-I am business oriented, that mentality + dentistry = good possibility to own a business
-good potential for high income (keyword = "potential")

 

[wwuviking]

A few reasons for me:

- Help others
- Irreplaceable service
- Great hours
- High compensation
- Deal with new people daily
- Be the bossman!

 

[prsndwg]

this thread comes handy while working on PS or prepin' for interviews👍

 

[lmaozedong1]

So that someday I'll seriously be able to use the following pick up line: "Hey I'm a dentist..."

No joke.

 

[dentalWorks]

So that someday I'll seriously be able to use the following pick up line: "Hey I'm a dentist..."

No joke.

or... just say "I am dr. [first name]".... she'll assume your a real physician. If she says "what kinda doctor", you are either
a) screwed (not literally) or
b) quickly change the topic to something more important ~ drop your Lamborghini keys on the ground

 

[lmaozedong1]

or... just say "I am dr. [first name]".... she'll assume your a real physician. If she says "what kinda doctor", you are either
a) screwed (not literally) or
b) quickly change the topic to something more important ~ drop your Lamborghini keys on the ground

I'm gonna go w/ B. 😀

 

[Blue87Fiero]

I enjoy the applied part of science

Its a dynamic field

I like to work with my hands... there's a lot of satisfaction when you fix something that's broken.

I want to have a job were I interact with different people.

The autonomy will be nice

I don't want to say money isn't important but if I can make 80k a year I will be happy.

 

[peanutb123]

I love helping people....

by getting their $ out of their wallets

 

[MichaelTrann]

potential ... 😉

 

[StarStunning]

- Great Lifestyle (Every dentist I know is happy and always on vacation)
- Make up your own hours
- Won't be on call like doctors have to.
- 6 figure salary.
- Focus on only teeth, which isn't that hard and won't have too much pressure.
- Low malpractice insurance apparently?
- Don't have to go through residency.
- Being able to sing "Teeth" by Lady Gaga to my patients.

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Although you're kind of passively on call 24/7

 

[Dusk]

isn't it obvious?
money, chicks, and power. the end.

 

[7 Iron]

It's kind of refreshing to see everyone admit that money does play a role in choosing this profession. 😉

 

[dentalWorks]

It's kind of refreshing to see everyone admit that money does play a role in choosing this profession. 😉

There is nothing wrong with going into any profession for money.... However I do believe there should be a line between generous income vs robbing every poor soul who walks in the door

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

The responses of Blue87Fiero and Wizi put together sound like the perfect answer ha

 

[sumoberrylu]

because the first thing I look at/notice when I talk to someone is their teeth.

 

[104]

"I want to save the WORLD one tooth at a time" ^__^V

 

[thewobblytooth]

1) shot caller
2) money
3) buy a porsche gt2

 

[Kahr]

To one-up my ex, ****in pharmd ho.

 

[Pennywisdom]

To one-up my ex, ****in pharmd ho.

🤣

 

[Doc Smile]

To one-up my ex, ****in pharmd ho.

That'll show her!

 

[bing12]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS3zmgOfMkc

 

[SeattleRDH]

Instead of talking about program requirements and the DAT I figured we could have a little fun and talk about why you choose the dental career path.

Can't wait to hear these responses!

Because I realized that I was smarter than my boss.

Because I know I'll be good at it.

Because I'm not in it for the money and there have to be SOME of us out there.

 

[WhichRoom]

Drill. Fill. Bill.

 

[WhichRoom]

But seriously. I tend to never be on time, no matter what I do. I needed to find a profession that will provide me little penalty for strolling in late with coffee stains on my tie.

 

[peanutb123]

Because I realized that I was smarter than my boss.

Because I know I'll be good at it.

Because I'm not in it for the money and there have to be SOME of us out there.

would you still do it, if you were to go into debt of ~250k and get the same pay as you do now?

 

[dentalWorks]

would you still do it, if you were to go into debt of ~250k and get the same pay as you do now?

👍

 

[SeattleRDH]

would you still do it, if you were to go into debt of ~250k and get the same pay as you do now?

I'll be over 50 before I will have more money than if I stayed a hygienist the whole time.... So yes.

 

[thewobblytooth]

not only the 250k debt from the education, mortgage, your kids (if you had any) college education (tuition is always increasing), car payments, etc. We need to be compensated!🙄

 

[SeattleRDH]

not only the 250k debt from the education, mortgage, your kids (if you had any) college education (tuition is always increasing), car payments, etc. We need to be compensated!🙄

The question is how much do we need to be compensated? If we expect to have a $10,000 mortgage payment and drive a G-wagon then that's a bit excessive in my opinion. I've worked for those dentists and seen some questionable diagnosing.

 

[dentalWorks]

Because I realized that I was smarter than my boss.

Because I know I'll be good at it.

Because I'm not in it for the money and there have to be SOME of us out there.

I'll be over 50 before I will have more money than if I stayed a hygienist the whole time.... So yes.

The question is how much do we need to be compensated? If we expect to have a $10,000 mortgage payment and drive a G-wagon then that's a bit excessive in my opinion. I've worked for those dentists and seen some questionable diagnosing.

I admire what your saying but... its also unrealistic

I dunno if you have children or not, but if you did, would you want them to one day be in 300-400k debt or would you want them to be as debt free as possible? A high income will secure your family's future.

When you have the potential to hit 200 or 300k (or even more), your MOST LIKELY gonna take advantage of this. Its gonna help you buy better health insure for your family, better college funds for your kids, better everything. Sure you might improve your cars and home, but more importantly, your gonna secure your family's future, this isn't something people take lightly.

 

[lmaozedong1]

The question is how much do we need to be compensated? If we expect to have a $10,000 mortgage payment and drive a G-wagon then that's a bit excessive in my opinion. I've worked for those dentists and seen some questionable diagnosing.

.

 

[Msmouth]

If it's just for the money then become a prostitute

I have been working in dentistry for many years and I never get bored. I seriously can't imagine ever wanting to retire completely from it.
I love when folks ask me questions about their teeth or dentistry in general when I'm not even at work.
I look forward to seeing many of my patients, but there are some I would rather they find another practice.....but that's true of any business dealing with people.
What others think is disgusting, I think cool!👍

 

[SeattleRDH]

I admire what your saying but... its also unrealistic

I dunno if you have children or not, but if you did, would you want them to one day be in 300-400k debt or would you want them to be as debt free as possible? A high income will secure your family's future.

When you have the potential to hit 200 or 300k (or even more), your MOST LIKELY gonna take advantage of this. Its gonna help you buy better health insure for your family, better college funds for your kids, better everything. Sure you might improve your cars and home, but more importantly, your gonna secure your family's future, this isn't something people take lightly.

I'm confused. I don't think you understand what I was saying.

I'm just stating my opinions based on my experiences of a) having my dad be a dentist, b) quarterly meetings at work about the office budget, and c) having worked for a dentist who diagnosed SRP for almost every patient because perio maintenance was covered by Microsoft 4x year.

Also, to live the life of luxury here in Seattle you really need to be $500,000+. That's some serious production.

 

[peanutb123]

If it's just for the money then become a prostitute
we dont need to know how you make your money.
I have been working in dentistry for many years and I never get bored. I seriously can't imagine ever wanting to retire completely from it.
I love when folks ask me questions about their teeth or dentistry in general when I'm not even at work.
I look forward to seeing many of my patients, but there are some I would rather they find another practice.....but that's true of any business dealing with people.
What others think is disgusting, I think cool!👍

Good for you. If you like your job so much why dont you stick with it. Why become a dentist.

 

[peanutb123]

I'm confused. I don't think you understand what I was saying.

I'm just stating my opinions based on my experiences of a) having my dad be a dentist, b) quarterly meetings at work about the office budget, and c) having worked for a dentist who diagnosed SRP for almost every patient because perio maintenance was covered by Microsoft 4x year.

Also, to live the life of luxury here in Seattle you really need to be $500,000+. That's some serious production.

You know one day you will make more money than before. ans this right out of school if you were to be offered 100k to see medicaid patients or 150k to see upscale folks at seattle. Which one would you choose?

I mean you even calculated when you will beat your RDH salary if you earn x amount. So you do look at it as an investment (there is nothing wrong with that) for 13-18 years of having nice good income after your age 50. I will be the devil and say it: In dentistry there is very little things(for a lack of better word) as helping people and more about $.

 

[SeattleRDH]

You know one day you will make more money than before. ans this right out of school if you were to be offered 100k to see medicaid patients or 150k to see upscale folks at seattle. Which one would you choose?

I mean you even calculated when you will beat your RDH salary if you earn x amount. So you do look at it as an investment (there is nothing wrong with that) for 13-18 years of having nice good income after your age 50. I will be the devil and say it: In dentistry there is very little things(for a lack of better word) as helping people and more about $.

I've worked both, and I would choose the medicaid practice because it would most likely be public health and offer loan repayment. I won't have to make that choice, though, because I will be taking over my father's practice in rural Alaska.

Sure, in the end I'll have more money in the bank, but I'm just saying that money is not my motivation for becoming a dentist.

 

[peanutb123]

I've worked both, and I would choose the medicaid practice because it would most likely be public health and offer loan repayment. I won't have to make that choice, though, because I will be taking over my father's practice in rural Alaska.

Sure, in the end I'll have more money in the bank, but I'm just saying that money is not my motivation for becoming a dentist.

Dont mean to be rude. But you have a place to go once you are done, so you know you are set. you know how much your father makes and you know once you take his practice over you will make that much. So you dont need money as motivation. B/c you know that you will be able to pay of your debt and live comfy with x amount of dollars each year.

But for many of us. We do not have that luxury. We have to constantly worry about $'s and the highest paying job (which we do not know the upper or lower bound of) to pay of our debts so that our families can live comfy to. So there are so many things uncertain in many of our lives, the only thing that motivates many of us to move forward is to believe that we will earn x amount once we get out. So indirectly money is our motivation at least we need to be reenforced if you dont do this successfully the debt will do you successfully, so we need to get our ROI.

I hope this never happens just an ex: Lets say something terrible were to happen to Alaska & you were unable to find your fathers practice b/c Alaska does not exist anymore. Then you come here and tell me that you are not going to do it for the $.

 

[lmaozedong1]

dont mean to be rude. But you have a place to go once you are done, so you know you are set. You know how much your father makes and you know once you take his practice over you will make that much. So you dont need money as motivation. B/c you know that you will be able to pay of your debt and live comfy with x amount of dollars each year.

But for many of us. We do not have that luxury. We have to constantly worry about $'s and the highest paying job (which we do not know the upper or lower bound of) to pay of our debts so that our families can live comfy to. So there are so many things uncertain in many of our lives, the only thing that motivates many of us to move forward is to believe that we will earn x amount once we get out. So indirectly money is our motivation at least we need to be reenforced if you dont do this successfully the debt will do you successfully, so we need to get our roi.

I hope this never happens just an ex: Lets say something terrible were to happen to alaska & you were unable to find your fathers practice b/c alaska does not exist anymore. Then you come here and tell me that you are not going to do it for the $.

+1

 

[Msmouth]

Because I realized that I was smarter than my boss.

Because I know I'll be good at it.

Because I'm not in it for the money and there have to be SOME of us out there.

Is your boss your dad?

If the compensation wasn't so good would you still go into it?