How is it like as a newly minted dentist?

[helpfuldoc2b]

How is it like as a newly minted dentist? Is it what you expected? How is it working in the real world vs dental school? How are the huge loans, and paying them back on a new associate's salary? How is life overall?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[worlddentist05]

How is it like as a newly minted dentist? Is it what you expected? How is it working in the real world vs dental school? How are the huge loans, and paying them back on a new associate's salary? How is life overall?

1.dentistry can be very stressful at times, you are more liable
and responsible. But it's rewarding to help others

2.pay is okay for me ; I work in a underserved (Medicaid )clinic and make little--
(but there are other career where you can make more--
ex. brother has MBA and makes a ton ( with bonus), 401k;
but consider years of school, high loans, lost wages. My friends with BS
are this point better than I am---have houses, high average income (this surprised me )
retirement plan, equity
3. you are resposible for more insurance coverage--liability, etc
4. expect to work hard--after work you'll be exhausted.
5. watch for PITAs pts
6. each paycheck is used to pay expenses, rent,
loan--you will be able to pay off the loan (over 30 years payment).
7. life is good because you are helping others; that my enjoyment

8.you can still enjoy life and take a vacation once in a while; before youknow you will be 50


I know many dentist doing real well , many work 4 days or (35hrs), have nice houses and car and take 6-8 weeks of vacation
per year.

 

[S Files]

How is it like as a newly minted dentist? Is it what you expected? How is it working in the real world vs dental school? How are the huge loans, and paying them back on a new associate's salary? How is life overall?

talking to my colleagues, the ones who settled in lower cost of living locations are livin it up (both financially doing quite well, and seem to enjoy the job more), while the ones who stuck around near dent school (major city) are having more difficulty paying back loans, etc. not only is cost of living more, but due to more applicants per job in city areas, offered salary's are lower. so you'll hear a lot of different responses based on the individual.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

1.dentistry can be very stressful at times, you are more liable
and responsible. But it's rewarding to help others

2.pay is okay for me ; I work in a underserved (Medicaid )clinic and make little--
(but there are other career where you can make more--
ex. brother has MBA and makes a ton ( with bonus), 401k;
but consider years of school, high loans, lost wages. My friends with BS
are this point better than I am---have houses, high average income (this surprised me )
retirement plan, equity
3. you are resposible for more insurance coverage--liability, etc
4. expect to work hard--after work you'll be exhausted.
5. watch for PITAs pts
6. each paycheck is used to pay expenses, rent,
loan--you will be able to pay off the loan (over 30 years payment).
7. life is good because you are helping others; that my enjoyment

8.you can still enjoy life and take a vacation once in a while; before youknow you will be 50


I know many dentist doing real well , many work 4 days or (35hrs), have nice houses and car and take 6-8 weeks of vacation
per year.

You sound pretty unhappy about how your post-school life is shaping up. 🙁 Would you do anything differently if you were to do it again, or are you just sharing the more realistic aspects of being in practice?

 

[Lesley]

before youknow you will be 50


😉

 

[DrJeff]

before youknow you will be 50


😉

Just wait until you throw some kids into the time equation, then you'll really see how time flys by!😀

 

[dentalman]

You sound pretty unhappy about how your post-school life is shaping up. 🙁 Would you do anything differently if you were to do it again, or are you just sharing the more realistic aspects of being in practice?

I think the original quote is just sharing the more realistic aspects of starting out in practice. So many predents (and dental students - I was one too, so I know) look at the ADA average salary and think "I am an above average person, so I will make more than the average". First, the salary is the average for dentists in private practice, and most dentists in private practice own their own office. I am learning being a dentist is all about delayed gratification. Really delayed. Because when you start out, you have the monthly payments for your loans, which lowers you disposable income right away. Then, if you do buy a practice, it usually takes 10 years to pay off the debt of that loan. So if you work for 3 years out of school, for example, that is 13 years AFTER dental school that it REALLY starts to pay off. (And hopefully by that point you can have the higher than average salary, and perhaps the loans will be paid off as well.)

But, I don't want to sound too pessimistic. Income will still be plenty to live off of (if you live modestly - especially to being a student living off of financial aid). Just initially, there are many more jobs that have an equivalent or higher starting salary if you take into account the debt load. But in the long run, it is a really a great option. But, for all of the hassle, make sure you enjoy what you do. A little more realism is good, though.

 

[MsPurtell]

I'm finding dentistry more amazing and fulfilling by the day. I love my work and I'm always trying to do better for my patients. I get frustrated sometimes because even though my skills and my knowledge keep increasing, I always feel like there's more I could know to do even better. I guess I have to accept this as one of the challenges and not get impatient with myself.

Now, this is from the perspective of someone in a GPR program. Once I'm out in practice I'm sure I'll have lots of other things to say.

How is it like as a newly minted dentist? Is it what you expected? How is it working in the real world vs dental school? How are the huge loans, and paying them back on a new associate's salary? How is life overall?

 

[DrJeff]

I'm finding dentistry more amazing and fulfilling by the day. I love my work and I'm always trying to do better for my patients. I get frustrated sometimes because even though my skills and my knowledge keep increasing, I always feel like there's more I could know to do even better. I guess I have to accept this as one of the challenges and not get impatient with myself.

Now, this is from the perspective of someone in a GPR program. Once I'm out in practice I'm sure I'll have lots of other things to say.

Hopefully, your quest for dental knowledge and the passion for dentistry will stay the same in private practice in the future(I know mine has for the last almost decade), it's the business side of things that can get fun from time to time😉 😀

 

[You]

If you already make more than 100K and no overhead to deal with and can start over again, would you make a career change to dentistry still?

 

[diagnodent]

There are rural areas you can work as a new graduate and make at least 250k per year. You just have to be willing to live in a rural area. However, most new grads want to live in the big city and will have less disposable income. If you aren't married or have a wife who is willing to live in a rural area I would do it. Move to western Kansas for 7-10 years and own you office and make tons of money. Then you will be able to move where ever you want, or just buy a second home somewhere else.

 

[worlddentist05]

There are rural areas you can work as a new graduate and make at least 250k per year. You just have to be willing to live in a rural area. However, most new grads want to live in the big city and will have less disposable income. If you aren't married or have a wife who is willing to live in a rural area I would do it. Move to western Kansas for 7-10 years and own you office and make tons of money. Then you will be able to move where ever you want, or just buy a second home somewhere else.

Are you sure about this?
250k as a new graduate??

 

[OceanDMD]

Rural is the way to go if you seek financial gratification at an earlier time in your career. The basic reality is, rural practices can run at lower overheads. Land/office space is usually cheaper, easier to get business loans at better rates with "small town" banks. Less production results in better net income. This of course requires being a practice owner. I have a classmate 1.5 years out who makes 200 k. He is in a town of 15,000 people. Location is the key.

 

[helpfuldoc2b]

Rural is the way to go if you seek financial gratification at an earlier time in your career. The basic reality is, rural practices can run at lower overheads. Land/office space is usually cheaper, easier to get business loans at better rates with "small town" banks. Less production results in better net income. This of course requires being a practice owner. I have a classmate 1.5 years out who makes 200 k. He is in a town of 15,000 people. Location is the key.

ownership is probably key as well, a friend who graduated undergrad with me works as an associate in rural WI near the Minn Boarder and only makes 100K starting, yet again he is only an associate and a foreigner (graduated from US dental school but on student visa and stuff). So maybe the owner is preying on the fact that he needs sponsorship for his visa and is taking advantage of him. The guy is indian, but wierd enough his canadian classmate (canadian and US educated on visa himself) already owns his practice in a big city and is making tons of money, i really dont get the reason for the deviation, maybe one is more business smart than the other. I dont know.

 

[Dental916]

Rural is the way to go if you seek financial gratification at an earlier time in your career. The basic reality is, rural practices can run at lower overheads. Land/office space is usually cheaper, easier to get business loans at better rates with "small town" banks. Less production results in better net income. This of course requires being a practice owner. I have a classmate 1.5 years out who makes 200 k. He is in a town of 15,000 people. Location is the key.

How rural is rural? Straight in the woods or could you live in a major city and possibly commute 30-45 min out to find the right place?

 

[OceanDMD]

Look for towns (outside big cities/cities with dental schools) that have low dentist/population ratios. This is information that can be found at the chamber of commerce. Obviously, you shouldn't base where you want to live on solely how successful a practice is predicted to be. Especially if you have a significant other. I personally chose an area in the country that my wife and I liked, then researched the little towns within a 100 mile radius. You would be surprised how many little towns are out there (within a couple hours of cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore) that are wonderful places to live and are goldmines for buying or starting a dental practice.