Public Healthcare concerns in Dentistry

[Dr. Chase]

Hello everyone! This is not a political driven post. Being pre-dental students, we know of the huge amount of debt that we are about to bite into but find comfort in knowing that being a Dentist gives you ability to pay back that debt, live comfortably, and help improve the health of others. I have started to worry about the future of this profession considering that America seems to grow closer and closer to a universal public healthcare system that would decrease the financial potential of this career. Again, it is not all about the money, but when you have 350K or more in debt you need to be able to pay it back. Has anyone else had this worry or thought?

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[DMD12345]

Shhhh you're not allowed to talk like that here...too many left-winged people. But yes, I'm honestly extremely stressed and scared about what Biden's presidency will bring.

 

[Blueshirts]

There is nothing wrong with contemplating how you will be able to payback your debt and feed your family/put a roof over their head, anyone that says otherwise should have their head examined. No one should feel guilty about working hard and earning an honest living.

 

[PreDentGator2021]

From my understanding, the dental lobby in Washington is so strong that there would have to be a seismic shift in politics for dentistry to come under the government purview, above and beyond a universal healthcare system. I think it will be a potential problem for dental students/hopefuls down the road from now, but I just don't realistically see anything like that happening over our careers. I would also imagine any government plan would include loan forgiveness, or else both physicians and dentists would take to the streets with pitchforks. And to be quite honest, I enjoy the idea of dentistry as a career enough that I would take a pay cut for no debt and a less competitive environment, but that's just me.

EDIT: Also I am by no means trying to claim I am an expert on public health or politics, this is just my opinion from my own research and talking to currently practicing dental professionals.

 

[SirBrotherJam]

I enjoy the idea of dentistry as a career enough that I would take a pay cut for no debt

Not saying that the debt isn't an issue, but you will have dedicated a lot of time... and money to achieving the dental status and you should have earned the privilege to at least a higher initial income. Where it goes from there is up to determination and hard work. Go to Europe if you want a government paid education and make less all the while getting the same satisfaction of helping people... or join the military and make less than your counterparts, have less to no loans, and serve for a higher cause.

seismic shift in politics for dentistry to come under the government purview

Not really that hard to fathom and if things keep trending towards socialist views, yes it could happen sooner than you think. We live in an age where people think they are entitled to everything and dentistry need only be put on their radar like medicine was.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

The country is going dead broke funding the entitlements already on the books. There is no sound way to add more “free stuff.” Within the next 10-15 years we’ll be facing a sovereign debt crisis.

Big Hoss

 

[PreDentGator2021]

View attachment 324774

The country is going dead broke funding the entitlements already on the books. There is no sound way to add more “free stuff.” Within the next 10-15 years we’ll be facing a sovereign debt crisis.

Big Hoss

Hopefully they will pay for my HPSP before things get too out of hand, lol

 

[PreDentGator2021]

Not saying that the debt isn't an issue, but you will have dedicated a lot of time... and money to achieving the dental status and you should have earned the privilege to at least a higher initial income. Where it goes from there is up to determination and hard work. Go to Europe if you want a government paid education and make less all the while getting the same satisfaction of helping people... or join the military and make less than your counterparts, have less to no loans, and serve for a higher cause.

Not really that hard to fathom and if things keep trending towards socialist views, yes it could happen sooner than you think. We live in an age where people think they are entitled to everything and dentistry need only be put on their radar like medicine was.

I 100% agree with you, I think with the current system it’s more than fair that dentists have higher compensation and the potential for some extremely high income numbers when you consider the competitiveness and debt required for the schooling. I was more so trying to make a point that student loans would have to be forgiven in order for any sort of government intervention in dentistry to be remotely palatable. I’m hoping my time in the military if I get the HPSP will put me in a position to buy a practice or specialize without debt hanging over my head, personally.