How difficult is it to build a patient base

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brad504

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I have heard stories about dentists who lose money their first 2 years of practicing while trying to build up a base of patients. How difficult is it to build up a patient base ?

Also I am being advised to stay away from dentistry --because there are so many dentists in my metropolitan area--supposedly I will have too much competition to make a decent salary. Any of your opinions would be greatly appreciated
 
I have heard stories about dentists who lose money their first 2 years of practicing while trying to build up a base of patients. How difficult is it to build up a patient base ?

Also I am being advised to stay away from dentistry --because there are so many dentists in my metropolitan area--supposedly I will have too much competition to make a decent salary. Any of your opinions would be greatly appreciated

Cost of dental education is increasing dramatically while dental salaries are decreasing. Less and less graduates are able to get loans for a practice and even home loans as a result of taking on so much student loan debt. Calculate out what the cost of your education will be and how much dentist are making at dental chains in the area, because that is where you will be starting unless you have a hook-up for an associate position, which won't pay much better most likely because your production will be slow. Most dental chains pay anywhere from $300-600/day, which after state and federal taxes (lets say 30-35%, although give Obama some time and it will be double that) and a loan payment anywhere from $1,500-$3,500/month loan payment doesn't leave much left over.

Again, calculate it out yourself, be realistic, and don't base your decision on anecdotal evidence.
 
Cost of dental education is increasing dramatically while dental salaries are decreasing. Less and less graduates are able to get loans for a practice and even home loans as a result of taking on so much student loan debt. Calculate out what the cost of your education will be and how much dentist are making at dental chains in the area, because that is where you will be starting unless you have a hook-up for an associate position, which won't pay much better most likely because your production will be slow. Most dental chains pay anywhere from $300-600/day, which after state and federal taxes (lets say 30-35%, although give Obama some time and it will be double that) and a loan payment anywhere from $1,500-$3,500/month loan payment doesn't leave much left over.

Again, calculate it out yourself, be realistic, and don't base your decision on anecdotal evidence.

What a sad, sad truth that is.

And with the economy the way it is right and most dental practices not being busy (whether rural or metropolitan) it is going to be difficult to build a patient base.
 
I thought the healthcare stuff was going to hurt doctors. But your saying it will hurt dentists too? From everything your telling me, its seeming like its not worth it to go to dental school
 
very difficult building an office from scratch.
coming out of school with a big debt($150-$400k) and having to borrow even more money to start a practice($100k-$400k) and 2-3 years before you break even. It is a scary thought.

Corporate dentistry will rule the country. They are the ones with money. They hire new grads with a guaranteed income. They know new grads are hungry.
That's why we are seeing these corporate chains popping up everywhere.

Future of dentistry in the USA is really grim.
Unless there's already a connection, like parents are already dentists or there's already a practice guranteed to take you I would seriously and think very hard about dental school. Many do not mind being slaves to corporate chains. But I think they didn't have any choice.
 
after graduating from dental school young dentists will find that everyone will want to make money off them. The contractors will rip off the dentists. Consultants, sales reps, lawyers, accountants, CE classes... everyone wants to make money off dentists. ex. A bottle of bleach in dental supply catalog costs 5 times as much as a bottle of bleach from Walmart.
 
after graduating from dental school young dentists will find that everyone will want to make money off them. The contractors will rip off the dentists. Consultants, sales reps, lawyers, accountants, CE classes... everyone wants to make money off dentists. ex. A bottle of bleach in dental supply catalog costs 5 times as much as a bottle of bleach from Walmart.

+1 extremely true. Live like a student for as long as you can folks, and don't listen to people that tell you 'Don't worry about the cost, your going to be/are a dentist.'
 
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