Orthodontist Income New Grad

[charlestweed]

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There are 30 programs for DA now?

When I got out twenty years ago, there were like 4 programs. That is an enormous increase.

So there are lots of people willing to pay above and beyond for sedation? What are all these grads doing?

Not a lot, but a lot at some pedo offices. Just like the impacted canines…not a lot of people have impacted canines, but we treat a fair number of impacted canine cases ( 2-3 cases a day) in our ortho offices.

My 3.5 yo nephew recently had his dental work done under anesthesia, which was performed by a DA. His dad (my brother) paid the DA $1000 for the anesthesia portion. Fortunately, the pedodontist, who placed 3 posterior SSC + 4 upper anterior crowns on his primary teeth, didn’t charge my brother a dime because she’s our friend.

My cousin’s a MD anesthesiologist. His friend, who is also a MD anesthesiologist, works F/T as a traveling dental anesthesiologist. He’s the one who recommended my cousin to do anesthesia in the dental offices.

 

[Lemillion]

Extremely helpful, thank you for sharing your experience after graduating!

Do you think you had a pretty easy time overall because you chose a rural market? I have been seeing some job postings in rural areas sitting for +2-3 years. But again, it's in a rural community where no one wants to live.

It seems like if I were to do ortho and pursue a metro market (which I would want to do), it would be pretty challenging to find full-time work. At least from your post and other orthos I've talked to. One ortho I talked to in FL was looking in certain cities but couldn't find work, so they settled for any location in FL and are in a rural area, which they don't enjoy much.

I would say it's easier but there are others that either grew up nearby those rural areas or willing to live there to make more money. The office I interviewed at had handful of other candidates interested in coming out to interview (esp those burned out from working in metro areas for less pay).

You're right the listings do stay on longer and I felt because ti was more rural, I was treated more consistently during the interview/recruiting process versus metro. Meaning-pay package, consistency of communication and flexibility with negotiation. That's not say you can get treated well w/ metro practices, it's that there's many interested candidates, it's hard to stand out especially if there's someone already living in the area and has experience.

 

[Lemillion]

Also, just did the math and say the average full-time ortho in a metro area is $1,350 and works 4 days a week with 4 weeks off a year. Comes out to $259k a year. Do you think it's reasonable to aim for 4 days a week in a desirable area, or is timing/luck/location really important with that?

I feel like, from what I've been hearing, I should be doing 3 days a week, $1,350 a day, 48 weeks a year = $195k if I'm in a highly desirable location.

I've been seeing so many ortho job postings that say 1-2 days a month, 8 days a month, etc. Difficult finding actual 4 days a week of work in the cities I'm looking at for ortho.

Yes, finding actual 4 days a week through one practice brand is trickier. Most of my friends worked at least 2 separate gigs. I met one ortho who worked at 9 different offices in the LA area when he first graduated to have a consistent work schedule. He now has his own successful practice with partners but it was humble beginnings from what he said.

Yes, timing/luck/location is important for 4 days a week in a desirable area. I had 2 corporate job opportunities that were offering that. In the first scenario, the office needed someone in the next month so they couldn't wait for 3-4 months. The second scenario, it was also a good fit but it was also corporate owned that they decided to go with someone local and had more experience. Both owners liked me but the corporate scenario didn't lend well in moving things forward.

 

[OncePreDent]

Yes, finding actual 4 days a week through one practice brand is trickier. Most of my friends worked at least 2 separate gigs. I met one ortho who worked at 9 different offices in the LA area when he first graduated to have a consistent work schedule.

9 offices is wild lol I couldn't even imagine trying to keep up with that 🤣

Yeah, I'll have to think about what to do. For sure is more difficult to find full-time work than general tho

 

[OncePreDent]

I would say it's easier but there are others that either grew up nearby those rural areas or willing to live there to make more money. The office I interviewed at had handful of other candidates interested in coming out to interview (esp those burned out from working in metro areas for less pay).

You're right the listings do stay on longer and I felt because ti was more rural, I was treated more consistently during the interview/recruiting process versus metro. Meaning-pay package, consistency of communication and flexibility with negotiation. That's not say you can get treated well w/ metro practices, it's that there's many interested candidates, it's hard to stand out especially if there's someone already living in the area and has experience.

Good to know they are more engaged/interested in hiring in the rural areas, but I think I'll be sticking to metro areas no matter what right now at least