I know it's never too later or you are never too old , BUT

[Newbie911]

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Does it come a point when it just doesn't make sense ? I'm 40 now - have been a software engineer for the last 15 years. I would LOVE to go to Dental School! Starting as a NEW dentist at 45/46 should certainly yeild 20 (maybe more) years of practice but shouldn't a new dentist need to bank some experience before opening a practice? When can a new Dent start making a decent buck? Not that I'm thinking of this for the $ (can make more doing what I am currenly doing) but , everyone has bills and newly found student load debt! So, open a practice at 50 - spend 15 years doing it. It's almost like retiring into Dentistry.....

 

[petyr_baelish]

go for it if you have the money.

 

[mafunk]

I'll be in my 40s when I apply to med school this fall - so, no I do not think it is too late to become a dentist. That said, I have owned businesses and have worked as a consultant with business owners. In some ways running a profitable business makes med school look easy. So... I think you should think about whether you will start your own practice/business or just join an established dental practice (e.g as an employee)

 

[hikikomori]

Dental practice is client-based. It will be hard to start a new business if you have no $$. You might need to get a loan.. big one. Finding a job as an employee/dentist in other established practice might be a challenge, but it is an option. So it is something to think about. If you go to medical school, that is a different story. As long as you have your numbers, you can get a residency spot, and things will go up from there. But numbers are up every year, you will have fierce competition from your peers. Not to discourage you, of course. But if I were to do everything all over again, I would stick to my old job and accumulate wealth from there. Too many battle scars to bear...

 

[Esquire]

Does it come a point when it just doesn't make sense ? I'm 40 now - have been a software engineer for the last 15 years. I would LOVE to go to Dental School! Starting as a NEW dentist at 45/46 should certainly yeild 20 (maybe more) years of practice but shouldn't a new dentist need to bank some experience before opening a practice? When can a new Dent start making a decent buck? Not that I'm thinking of this for the $ (can make more doing what I am currenly doing) but , everyone has bills and newly found student load debt! So, open a practice at 50 - spend 15 years doing it. It's almost like retiring into Dentistry.....

I don't think dental school makes financial sense for a 40 y.o. software engineer.

It costs $200,000 to $250,000 in tuition, plus living expenses, but the starting salary is only around $115,000 to $130,000. A 26 year old dentist shouldn't have a problem repaying those loans over 15-25 years and having a nice lifestyle on that salary. But you are already 40, and as a software engineer, you are already making close to that amount without any debt.

The equipment to open up a practice can cost an additional hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, that's close to half a million in the hole. We're not even considering the experience needed to successfully run a practice/business.

You also need to consider what kind of shape you will be in. Dentistry is physically demanding. What if you get arthritis in your hands, your back gives out, etc.?

I would consider med school because the starting salaries are higher, the employment rates are much higher, and costs of opening up a practice are much lower.

The people on the dental forums can probably give you more insight.

 

[ManBroDude]

I don't think dental school makes financial sense for a 40 y.o. software engineer.

It costs $200,000 to $250,000 in tuition, plus living expenses, but the starting salary is only around $115,000 to $130,000. A 26 year old dentist shouldn't have a problem repaying those loans over 15-25 years and having a nice lifestyle on that salary. But you are already 40, and as a software engineer, you are already making close to that amount without any debt.

The equipment to open up a practice can cost an additional hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, that's close to half a million in the hole. We're not even considering the experience needed to successfully run a practice/business.

You also need to consider what kind of shape you will be in. Dentistry is physically demanding. What if you get arthritis in your hands, your back gives out, etc.?

I would consider med school because the starting salaries are higher, the employment rates are much higher, and costs of opening up a practice are much lower.

The people on the dental forums can probably give you more insight.

I hope you're not that old! I agree with you on all other points otherwise.