Sacrifices made to receive the coveted DDS

[deleted696582]

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This gets me to ask this question. With the rise of corporate dentistry and saturation of dentists in major urban areas, will this industry still be as profitable in say 10 years? Also, I am kind of a novice when it comes to understanding health care reform and its effects on health care workers. I just know that many in the medical field look at Obamacare with disdain. In my case I have always solely wanted to be a dentist, but I know many of those who once were looking at med are now looking at dent as a career.

My belief is, however, that since people in the medical and dental fields go through so much adversity and training early on, they should be compensated as such once they are in the workforce.

Corporate dentistry is still a career path that pays well in relation to other career choices. Sure, you hear of ethical dilemmas from time to time, but you'll make much more at a dental chain then you would at most other jobs straight out of college undergrad. It comes down to your loan situation I guess. If you go to a ridiculously expensive school, and you work at corporate or as an associate afterward, your spending habits and choice of location will be the deciding factors as to how you live later on down the line. If you go to a inexpensive school, corporate or associate work might only be necessary for a few years, and then you can look at opening up your own place.

As far as the question about whether the industry will be profitable in 10 years, I'm not sure. Either the US moves toward a nationalized health care system, or it sticks with the current system. Repealing the current system seems unlikely. As future healthcare providers, I think we all ought to imagine a society where no one goes without dental benefits. This leads to a happy, healthier, and more productive country. Nationalized healthcare would seek to ensure everyone has those benefits, but would most likely have a negative impact on the wages of dentists. Government health insurance doesn't reimburse providers well.

The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) doesn't affect dentistry greatly, but by 2018 5% of adults are expected to gain dental benefits when they didn't have them before (ASDA website). Most of this increase in access is through Medicaid. Reforming Medicaid and reimbursement to market levels would increase access to dental care as well, but currently looks improbable. Taxes would have to increase, or budget cuts elsewhere would be needed.

I would agree with you that healthcare providers should be compensated for the work they put in toward earning their degrees. The real question is, are healthcare providers willing to be paid less if it meant that healthcare was a right under nationalized care (in theory)? Or would the general public be okay with more taxes or budget cuts to other programs if it meant more access for the most disadvantaged in society (through upping Medicaid reimbursement instead of going the nationalized route)?

In all likelihood, nothing will be accomplished by the government in this realm for the next 10 years at least. So for now, I'd say we all try to pick inexpensive schools and work hard and smart once we get our degrees.

 

[Michael_Scott]

Corporate dentistry is still a career path that pays well in relation to other career choices. Sure, you hear of ethical dilemmas from time to time, but you'll make much more at a dental chain then you would at most other jobs straight out of college undergrad. It comes down to your loan situation I guess. If you go to a ridiculously expensive school, and you work at corporate or as an associate afterward, your spending habits and choice of location will be the deciding factors as to how you live later on down the line. If you go to a inexpensive school, corporate or associate work might only be necessary for a few years, and then you can look at opening up your own place.

As far as the question about whether the industry will be profitable in 10 years, I'm not sure. Either the US moves toward a nationalized health care system, or it sticks with the current system. Repealing the current system seems unlikely. As future healthcare providers, I think we all ought to imagine a society where no one goes without dental benefits. This leads to a happy, healthier, and more productive country. Nationalized healthcare would seek to ensure everyone has those benefits, but would most likely have a negative impact on the wages of dentists. Government health insurance doesn't reimburse providers well.

The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) doesn't affect dentistry greatly, but by 2018 5% of adults are expected to gain dental benefits when they didn't have them before (ASDA website). Most of this increase in access is through Medicaid. Reforming Medicaid and reimbursement to market levels would increase access to dental care as well, but currently looks improbable. Taxes would have to increase, or budget cuts elsewhere would be needed.

I would agree with you that healthcare providers should be compensated for the work they put in toward earning their degrees. The real question is, are healthcare providers willing to be paid less if it meant that healthcare was a right under nationalized care (in theory)? Or would the general public be okay with more taxes or budget cuts to other programs if it meant more access for the most disadvantaged in society (through upping Medicaid reimbursement instead of going the nationalized route)?

In all likelihood, nothing will be accomplished by the government in this realm for the next 10 years at least. So for now, I'd say we all try to pick inexpensive schools and work hard and smart once we get our degrees.

if healthcare providers were told to make less, sure, just make the length of schooling less + make my post bachelor degree less or FREE. A lot of other countries do that, but then that leads to a whole lot of other problems like inexperienced professionals etc. I think we have a good model in the US but the government needs to figure out how to put a leash on these corrupt insurance companies which will fix a lot or most problems (which the ACA does not solve)...

 

[californiway21]

I just spent the last 20 minutes shopping online for eyeshadow palettes while looking up every time he says "you need to know this".

Side note, most of the D2s+ have told me "don't s*** where you eat" when it comes to dating. Seems like relatively safe advice.

I just spit out my coffee!

 

[deleted696582]

if healthcare providers were told to make less, sure, just make the length of schooling less + make my post bachelor degree less or FREE. A lot of other countries do that, but then that leads to a whole lot of other problems like inexperienced professionals etc. I think we have a good model in the US but the government needs to figure out how to put a leash on these corrupt insurance companies which will fix a lot or most problems (which the ACA does not solve)...

I wonder if it's even possible for insurance companies to be dealt with considering the influence they have as lobbyists.

 

[Samin23]

I just had to sacrifice time. I remember my friends were out partying it seemed almost every night, I had to stay home and study and turn them down a lot.

That's been me the entire semester. My schedule worked out perfectly and I'll get to party for halloween though

 

[fogorvostan]

I just spit out my coffee!

Hahaha it's good advice 😉