Read it and weep.

[slackerjock99]

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Just wanted to share a dirty little secret. Upon reading this, you may want to consider taking the DAT along with the MCAT.

04-28-2004, 11:56 AM
My wife is an orthodontist, and this is what I know:

- private practice average income = $420k, based on a survey by the American Assocation of Orthodontists
- average # days worked: 4
- average # hours worked per week: 32
- average malpractice insurance : <$5,000 per year

 

[jebus]

You'll make way more money selling blow.
I can't believe I woke up at 11:00 for this claptrap. F•ck this and f•ck you.

PS. Your wife is ugly and so are you.

 

[slackerjock99]

You'll make way more money selling blow.
I can't believe I woke up at 11:00 for this claptrap. F•ck this and f•ck you.

PS. Your wife is ugly and so are you.

dont hate the messenger love, hate the gam. bitter huh

i was pretty pissed when i read that post, but i know i can do something about it. ie take the DATs

 

[jebus]

you smell like an elephant's butt.

 

[slackerjock99]

you smell like an elephant's butt.

dude

 

[humuhumu]

Orthodontists have a great lifestyle, no doubt about it. Go for it.

 

[NonTradMed]

What's your point? You think this is the first time people have posted stuff like that around here? Sorry, I've read stuff like that and I'm most certainly NOT weeping.

You mention in your past post that you have decided to go into dental school because you are BORED and want to make some cash on the side? Good way to decide to invest in a career costing your hundreds of thousands of dollar and four years of your life. 😉

Getting into dental school guarantees acceptance into an ortho program as surely as getting into medical school assures acceptance into radiology or dematology (practices with similar # hours worked for money earned as ortho). If you are going into dental school because you think you'll get into ortho, I recommend you reconsider it. Ask some of the dental students about the difficulties of getting into an ortho program....but I guess you figure you will just kick ass on your boards and wow your dental professors that the ortho people will HAVE to accept you into the ortho program of your choice. Good luck. 🙄

 

[Rogue Synapse]

If all you're concerned about is making the most money... sure, go for it. I want to play with brains, which is something you get to do surprisingly little of after dental school.

 

[slackerjock99]

What's your point? Getting into dental school guarantees acceptance into an ortho program as surely as getting into medical school assures acceptance into radiology or dematology (practices with similar # hours worked for money earned as ortho). If you are going into dental school because you think you'll get into ortho, I recommend you reconsider it. Ask some of the dental students about the difficulties of getting into an ortho program....but I guess you figure you will just kick ass on your boards and wow your dental professors that the ortho people will HAVE to accept you into the ortho program of your choice. Good luck. 🙄

My point is that as an orthodontist, one will make a **** load of money workin 32 hours a week. Nothing in medicine compares to the $$/hour.

My second point which I have neglected to mention, is that as a GENERAL dentist, you'll make about 200k working 3 days a week. If you're not a slacker, $500k ~ 60 hours a week. Yummie.

 

[slackerjock99]

If all you're concerned about is making the most money... sure, go for it. I want to play with brains, which is something you get to do surprisingly little of after dental school.

Neurology is an amazing specialty. $350k. No emergencies, tons of cool procedures. $1500 in your pocket for one overnight sleep study. I doubt you'll get a neurological surgery spot, tho. Sh*tty lifestyle anyways.

 

[NonTradMed]

My point is that as an orthodontist, one will make a **** load of money workin 32 hours a week. Nothing in medicine compares to the $$/hour.

My second point which I have neglected to mention, is that as a GENERAL dentist, you'll make about 200k working 3 days a week. If you're not a slacker, $500k ~ 60 hours a week. Yummie.

I've heard that 200k three day a week thing too....haven't seen any proof outside of SDN on this part. I would like more proof than "I know this dentist who cracked half a mil" and the "ADA surveys of self-selecting dentists says this". General dentists, like any professional, can make good money if they work hard at it, but I have seen no proof (other than what annoymous strangers write on here) that dentists spent most of their waking hours after graduation on permenent vacations.

Hardworking dentists making half a mil? Only if you are a good businessman. Remember, a good businessman could make a lot of money in pretty much any field as long as they have business acumen. But if dentistry float your boat, go for it. Just don't think we're all sitting on our butts wishing we had gone to dental school---because some of us had thought about it but after exploring the possibility, decided against it.

 

[SoCuteMD]

420K would be great...if I WANTED to be a dentist/orthodontist.

Since I don't, think I'll stick to medicine.

 

[nmnrraven]

My point is that as an orthodontist, one will make a **** load of money workin 32 hours a week. Nothing in medicine compares to the $$/hour.

My second point which I have neglected to mention, is that as a GENERAL dentist, you'll make about 200k working 3 days a week. If you're not a slacker, $500k ~ 60 hours a week. Yummie.

That information about dentists is totally off. The median salary for a dentist is: $118,848/year working 4 days a week. The median salary for an orthodontist is likely quite a bit higher than that. But, the all important question is: If you're so smart and are so dedicated to people, wouldn't you feel like you're doing a job that is beneath your potential by being a dentist? I would.

 

[slackerjock99]

I've heard that 200k three day a week thing too....haven't seen any proof outside of SDN on this part. I would like more proof than "I know this dentist who cracked half a mil" and the "ADA surveys of self-selecting dentists says this". General dentists, like any professional, can make good money if they work hard at it, but I have seen no proof (other than what annoymous strangers write on here) that dentists spent most of their waking hours after graduation on permenent vacations.

Hardworking dentists making half a mil? Only if you are a good businessman. Remember, a good businessman could make a lot of money in pretty much any field as long as they have business acumen. But if dentistry float your boat, go for it. Just don't think we're all sitting on our butts wishing we had gone to dental school---because some of us had thought about it but after exploring the possibility, decided against it.

dentists generally lack brains, but they are smart in keeping their salaries hush-hush. I have enough evidence to support the 200k 3 day thing. You will not find this 'evidence' convincing, but its amazing how much dentists lose by day trading. financial planner friend told me about a 60 year old dentist lost $1,000,000. still has $5,000,000, so its not too tragic. they've since capped his personal trading account at $200,000 a year.

 

[DoctorPardi]

I couldn't be excited about going to my job everyday knowing I am going to be straightening teeth or filling cavities.

Anyway dermatologist probably make more than 400,000 average and I bet they don't work much more. With a comparable amount of chances of getting into either dermatology out of med school or orthodontics out of dental school.

I also wouldn't want to be a dermatologist, I need to have a job where I can really be excited about what I am doing, that is if I am going to spend 10 years of my life learning how to do it. (not to say some people can't be excited about dermatology or about orthodontics, it just isn't my thing)

 

[slackerjock99]

That information about dentists is totally off. The median salary for a dentist is: $118,848/year working 4 days a week. The median salary for an orthodontist is likely quite a bit higher than that. But, the all important question is: If you're so smart and are so dedicated to people, wouldn't you feel like you're doing a job that is beneath your potential by being a dentist? I would.

Yes, the same report lists MD median salary at $148,495 working 5 days a week. I dont know any doctors making that little. Do you? From the handful of docs i know, its more like $200-500k.

In a simliar logic, you state the median dentist salary is 118,848 working 4 days a week. I dont know any dentists making that little. Do you? From the handful of dentists i know, its more like $200-500k.

Granted, I dont know practitioners who dont like money, i.e. nonprofit clinics and stuff.

 

[slackerjock99]

But, the all important question is: If you're so smart and are so dedicated to people, wouldn't you feel like you're doing a job that is beneath your potential by being a dentist? I would.

Give me a break, you holier than thou punk. You'll realize in your 3rd year of residency (or sooner) how ridiculous that sounds. And how your peers hate medicine and DESPISE 28 yr old bankers making $250,000. (no, thats not way off. think hedge funds, private equity, trading f/x)

Call me in about 7 years and tell me if being an MD has met your expected "potential", whatever that means.

 

[drmota]

i'm with jebus on this one. orthodontists are all freak shows
-mota

 

[Sanctuary]

As a corporate patent attorney, the mean salary (according to CNN.com) is $310k. So why not do that? You don't have to deal with people; working after 5pm is unheard of, and you get all the corporate perks that make that life wonderful (eg, stock options, profit sharing, etc.).

The reason we are not pursuing that is because WE WANT TO BE DOCTORS. Do you think I care about the salary? In case you didn't know, your SALARY is not how you become wealthy. In fact, according to the IRS, President George W. Bush and the First Lady had a combined TAXABLE INCOME Of $735,180 for the 2005 tax year. Do you think they only made $735k that year? Hell no, they have more than $44 million to their name. Further, doctors and dentists are some of the lowest accumulators of wealth, with small business owners being at the top of the list of accumulators of wealth. So perhaps you should pursue a small business?

Get a life.. thx

 

[DoctorPardi]

He just came here to flame and start ****. Sadly it turns out that it wasn't all that funny nor was it anything to be upset about. No one here wants to be a dentist because we want to be doctors. That is, this is the pre-allo forums, not the pre-dental forums lol.

Anyway a mod should close this because he is just going to start getting more ridiculous with his claims about the virtues of dentistry.

 

[Law2Doc]

As a corporate patent attorney, the mean salary (according to CNN.com) is $310k. So why not do that? You don't have to deal with people; working after 5pm is unheard of, and you get all the corporate perks that make that life wonderful (eg, stock options, profit sharing, etc.).

While I agree with the gist of your post, to correct you a bit - in-house corporate attorneys (patent or otherwise) deal with people significantly. You have bosses, support staff, meet with the engineers whose patents you are putting together, you attend corporate meetings, you meet with examiners at the patent offices, you deal with external lawyers. It's not a job where you can hole up in your office from 9-5. And you have to be pretty high up the totem pole to feel comfortable leaving at 5pm unless you got in at 7am.

 

[Rafa]

I don't get this. Do doctor wannabees troll the pre-dental boards telling folks there how much their jobs will suck?

No?

Then why are you, slacker Dental wannabee *here*, trolling the pre-allo boards? Get a clue - no one wants you (to troll) ! 🙄

 

[Dr_Frank_II]

I thought dentists also had the highest suicide rate of any profession?!?

 

[slackerjock99]

He just came here to flame and start ****. Sadly it turns out that it wasn't all that funny nor was it anything to be upset about. No one here wants to be a dentist because we want to be doctors. That is, this is the pre-allo forums, not the pre-dental forums lol.

Anyway a mod should close this because he is just going to start getting more ridiculous with his claims about the virtues of dentistry.

educate not flame. how many 20 yr olds do you know who can competently describe their interest in medicine? How many premeds know what they're getting into when they choose to pursue a career in med?

 

[NapeSpikes]

04-28-2004, 11:56 AM
My wife is an orthodontist, and this is what I know:
- private practice average income = $420k, based on a survey by the American Assocation of Orthodontists
- average # days worked: 4
- average # hours worked per week: 32
- average malpractice insurance : <$5,000 per year

Thanks for the info, but I wouldn't know what to do with all that money anyway. I'll stick with getting my M.D. and its chump change. 😀

P.S. Why did you time and date it like that, O Great Oracle?

 

[Rafa]

Thanks for the info, but I wouldn't know what to do with all that money anyway. I'll stick with getting my M.D. and its chump change. 😀

I'll turn my degree into a paper cup and use it to beg for change on the streets!

 

[slackerjock99]

As a corporate patent attorney, the mean salary (according to CNN.com) is $310k. So why not do that? You don't have to deal with people; working after 5pm is unheard of, and you get all the corporate perks that make that life wonderful (eg, stock options, profit sharing, etc.).

The reason we are not pursuing that is because WE WANT TO BE DOCTORS. Do you think I care about the salary? In case you didn't know, your SALARY is not how you become wealthy. In fact, according to the IRS, President George W. Bush and the First Lady had a combined TAXABLE INCOME Of $735,180 for the 2005 tax year. Do you think they only made $735k that year? Hell no, they have more than $44 million to their name. Further, doctors and dentists are some of the lowest accumulators of wealth, with small business owners being at the top of the list of accumulators of wealth. So perhaps you should pursue a small business?

Get a life.. thx

Its amazing how they only earned $700k off of $44M. Can someone tell me if capital gains is considered income? If so, 700k is a terrible return.

Unfortunately, I'm not sitting on millions of dollars and living off 5%. Thus I need to rely on a salary (or regular cash flow). =\

I've pursued a small business. check my other posts. I'm bored with all the free time i have and i'm looking for more stable income.

 

[DrHuang]

slacker, your post has convinced me to abandon medince in favor of dentistry. DDS FOR LIFE!!!

 

[BozoSparky]

i want to make a difference and medicine is the path for me.

right now, it pays -55k/year, and i love it. 😍

 

[slackerjock99]

As a corporate patent attorney, the mean salary (according to CNN.com) is $310k. So why not do that? You don't have to deal with people; working after 5pm is unheard of, and you get all the corporate perks that make that life wonderful (eg, stock options, profit sharing, etc.).

amazing. my Skadden corporate law buddy works until midnight 5 days a week. saturdays til 8pm ish. age 28, pulled in about 150-180k as a second year lawyer. thats about 70 hours a week. he'll be capped at under 500k until he makes partner somewhere (prolly in about 7-9 more years).

conversely, my 28 yr old dentist buddy who went straight to dental school after high school has been practicing for about 2 years and makes about $200k. 35 hours a week

Yes, the earning potential for my skadden law bud is a lot greater. I doubt he'll make partner at Skadden, but he WILL make partner somewhere and pull in $1,000,000+. But my motto is searching for the easy buck, not the last buck - and dentistry seems to fit the bill.

 

[slackerjock99]

slacker, your post has convinced me to abandon medince in favor of dentistry. DDS FOR LIFE!!!

smart chinese guy🙂

 

[Law2Doc]

amazing. my Skadden corporate law buddy works until midnight 5 days a week. saturdays til 8pm ish. age 28, pulled in about 150-180k as a second year lawyer. thats about 70 hours a week. he'll be capped at under 500k unless he makes partner somewhere.

When someone says "corporate patent" that generally would mean to me "in house counsel", meaning you do patent law for your corporate emplyer (client). That's very different from the law firm job you describe. At law firms corporate and patent are two distinct things/departments. Folks at Skadden earn about what you say, (give or take a low five digit bonus) and do tend to work long hours. You either make partner in 7-10 years or you move on elsewhere.

 

[Adam_W]

This thread is ridiculous. As a pre-dental student (DDS, class of 2010), let me say that this guy doesn't represent the typical attitude. Most of us chose our prefoession for a variety of reasons (for me, it's mostly because I want to help patients and do surgeries, while at the same time have the excitement of running my own business). I would guess that this slacker guy will lose interest in dentistry very soon and hopefully find a different group of people to annoy. Either that, or it's just a troll.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I'll just throw in my own little tidbit. I personally know quite an excellent dentist who makes $400k+. This was before he opened his second office. I know this for a fact, I've seen the paperwork... He does everything, though, including cosmetic surgery.

Anyway like the others mentioned, it's better to do something you love to do than do something just to make mad cash. Although it certainly doesn't hurt if the two happen to coincide!

 

[63768]

smart chinese guy🙂

wow, not really quick on the sarcasm, are we?

for all your bashing of premeds and wanting money, why are you so fixated on how much orthodontists make? why is it a huge pissing contest to see who makes more money? when will people learn that medicine is not about the money? dentists go through school for 3 yrs + 2 yrs for orthodontic speciality (i think). med school is 4 yrs + 3 (or more) years of residency. if i wanted to make money, i wouldn't have quit my quest to become an investment banker.

i smell a troll.

 

[slackerjock99]

when will people learn that medicine is not about the money?

For most, it IS about the money or some juvenile concept of prestige. For you, it is not. Welcome to the real world. You should thank me for redirecting moneyhungry premeds AWAY from your field and INTO dentistry.

dentists go through school for 3 yrs + 2 yrs for orthodontic speciality (i think). med school is 4 yrs + 3 (or more) years of residency.

dentists go through school for 4 yrs + 2 yrs for orthodontic speciality. med school is 4 yrs + 3 years of residency (unless u want to be poor, except gas). med school is 4 yrs + 6 (or more) years of residency if you want to make money and pay off your 200k MD +40k undergrad debt.

if i wanted to make money, i wouldn't have quit my quest to become an investment banker.

Its rare to find a premed with your level of wisdom. congrats on ur decision to pursue your interests.

i smell a troll.

Why are you not the first person to say this? Are my opinions ridiculous and/or untrue?

 

[^=^]

This guy is a troll...trust me

 

[Taurus]

It's funny how ridiculous some of the #'s are on here. I heard from a friend of a friend of friend. 🙄 Before getting swayed by them, take these #'s with a grain of salt.

 

[^=^]

Exactly

 

[slackerjock99]

It's funny how ridiculous some of the #'s are on here. I heard from a friend of a friend of friend. 🙄 Before getting swayed by them, take these #'s with a grain of salt.

Interestingly, these salaries are fairly accurate.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

It's funny how ridiculous some of the #'s are on here. I heard from a friend of a friend of friend. 🙄 Before getting swayed by them, take these #'s with a grain of salt.

Um, I've seen on a Federal Tax Return form the numbers I cited earlier, and the dentist I know is a close family friend. I don't think he's representative of the average dentist salary, though... he's got multiple practices now and he does everything including cosmetic surgeries...

He's fantastic though! Very cool guy, with the exception of the guilt-trips he gives me everytime I visit him and he finds cavaties

Anyway, honestly arguing over this topic is like beating a dead horse. Been there, done that. Just do what you love and be good at what you do. That's all you can really strive for, if you want to be happy anyway. 🙂


--- edit made to illustrate this might be a non-standard case...

 

[JohnnyOU]

WooHoo...
Installing braces all day sounds KICKIN!!!!!!!!! 😴

I'd rather be a forensic proctologist in Iran.

 

[crazy_cavalier]

WooHoo...
Installing braces all day sounds KICKIN!!!!!!!!! 😴

I'd rather be a forensic proctologist in Iran.

Man that made me laugh out loud! The best part is you know there's at least a couple of those out there!

I wonder when the mods will close this thread 😴 😴

 

[slackerjock99]

WooHoo...
Installing braces all day sounds KICKIN!!!!!!!!! 😴

I'd rather be a forensic proctologist in Iran.

LASIK procedures all day sounds KICKIN!!!! 😍
Rectal exams, mmmm 😍




Get off ur high horse, short coat.

 

[slackerjock99]

WooHoo...
Installing braces all day sounds KICKIN!!!!!!!!! 😴

If you really love it you can do it 5 days a week, $500k.
If you dont really love it, 2 days a week, $200k sounds enticing, no?

Isnt it amazing how this job is so SCALABLE? $100,000 per year per day.

 

[Zargos]

Robots are the answer!

 

[MedicineNutt]

I thought dentists also had the highest suicide rate of any profession?!?

highest divorce rate and the highest drug abuse 🙂

it's because the stress of recovering debt they accumulated by opening their own practice...FYI most dentists have their own practice

 

[slackerjock99]

highest divorce rate and the highest drug abuse 🙂

curious how the drug abuse stat would compare with anesth, plastic surgery, and rads.

 

[lilnoelle]

I've heard that 200k three day a week thing too....haven't seen any proof outside of SDN on this part.

My brother works four days a week as a dentist and made 200K his second year in the office in a small town (11,000 people). He tried to talk me out of med school to go to dental school. I just don't really want to be digging around in people's mouths all day. I want more variety and more options available to me. Plus I just like medicine more than dentistry. And money isn't everything... Generally people that have it just spend it and a person who makes $200K and spends it wisely can live as well as someone who makes $400K and doesn't spend it wisely.

 

[slackerjock99]

it's because the stress of recovering debt they accumulated by opening their own practice...FYI most dentists have their own practice

Hmm, thought MDs had private practices too. Oh, they're in groups? Oh ok, funny, orthodontix join groups too. ur ignant.