Salaried Dentists

[Dr. Wexler]

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I'm interested in opportunities in dentistry where you wouldn't have to run your practice. I don't know how good I would be athandling the business side of a practice. What kind of institutions would hire a dentist on a salary or hourly basis. What kind of working conditions do they have. I have thought of a couple such as military and public health clinics. Are there any others?

Thanks.

 

[Darksunshine]

I'm interested in opportunities in dentistry where you wouldn't have to run your practice. I don't know how good I would be athandling the business side of a practice. What kind of institutions would hire a dentist on a salary or hourly basis. What kind of working conditions do they have. I have thought of a couple such as military and public health clinics. Are there any others?

Thanks.

Yes, out west here there are a couple of companies called Kaiser Permente and I forgot the other one. (Starting with a W.) Basically they are like HMO organizations. They hire dentists, hygienists, assistants, and specialists. They provide salary, office space, equipment, and a whole bunch of other miscellaneous costs.

I am not sure what the pay is but there are probably many other companies like them where you are at. They offer stock options, health insurance, and all the other stuff you would have to worry about in private practice. Hope this helps get you started.
BTW I am a dental hygienist who works out here and has had a few friends work for these companies as dentists and hygienists. The denist friend I had was really happy working there because it was a lot less stress she said than when she had her own practice. I don't know if everyone would be happy doing this, but you could always look into it. I believe they require you to sign a contract for a set number of years.

 

[joel4sale]

You are looking at many options. Large companys, Like Dark had said, often HMO org. would hire dentists with salary. You can be either Associate or Employee to a clinic and get daily salary. Public health also hire dentists with fix salary.

But it's not fix rule, some large HMO company would also pay base on production.

The salary varies, for newly grads, i had heard from as $350/day to $650/day.

I am currently working for a big company now. Pay is on the low side, but working enviroment is excellent. Got a supervisor that is more than willing to teach, got a regional director that's got 45 year of experience and had been clean after me (can't find the canal, bust a root tip..etc). Besides, since it's big company I got all the great resource (free CE course, on-line article..etc). I don't have to worry about production, don't have to rush myself, I don't have to be stingy on materials, don't have to worry about not enough patient, don't have to talk pt into doing unnecessary expensive tx, I can get ALMOST every instruments that seems necessary (took a little whining though)....etc I am happy with my job and fix salary is plenty for a single guy like me.

 

[no2thdk999]

Not wanting to run the business aspect of a practice does not limit you to salaried positions.

You could go into academia, the military, IHS, Public health clinic, a chain dental clinic, or be an associate in just about any type of practice you want. Most associates do not deal with the business side but rather get paid a salary or a percentage. You could work in the swankest Beverly Hills practice doing only cosmetic dentistry as an associate in someone else's practice and never have to worry about the business of doing dentistry.

Very few new grads start out in a position where they run the business, so you'll likely start out like the rest of your peers. Don't give up on running a business this early though. After a few years you may like the freedom of choice being an owner can provide you and realize that while making buiness decisions can be a pain, it is not overwhelming or impossible.

JMHO
Rob

 

[aphistis]

Not wanting to run the business aspect of a practice does not limit you to salaried positions.

You could go into academia, the military, IHS, Public health clinic, a chain dental clinic, or be an associate in just about any type of practice you want. Most associates do not deal with the business side but rather get paid a salary or a percentage. You could work in the swankest Beverly Hills practice doing only cosmetic dentistry as an associate in someone else's practice and never have to worry about the business of doing dentistry.

Very few new grads start out in a position where they run the business, so you'll likely start out like the rest of your peers. Don't give up on running a business this early though. After a few years you may like the freedom of choice being an owner can provide you and realize that while making buiness decisions can be a pain, it is not overwhelming or impossible.

JMHO
Rob

...With the exception of some associateships, aren't those all salaried positions?

 

[no2thdk999]

...With the exception of some associateships, aren't those all salaried positions?

It depends.

Most academic positions have a base salary but allow you to work in a faculty practice to increase your compensation.

IHS and prison dentists would be salaried but I don't know of many that have chosen to make this a long term career. Most take advantage of the loan repayment and then head for sunnier pastures after a year or three.

The medicaid clinics at least in my state are privately run. Most after a few years move you up the ladder to a place where your pay is based on the office profit. Dental chains are the same way, most want you to be on a percentage so that you are motivated to produce more.

The only long term salary option I would think anyone would go for is the military. This would be the right fit for the person who likes the security of the set pay, low business responsibilities, and the benefits of being a federal employee.

My point being that very few dentists outside of the military stay salaried (and for good reason). That doesn't mean you have to be involved with the business side.

JMHO
Rob

 

[luder98]

Yes, out west here there are a couple of companies called Kaiser Permente and I forgot the other one. (Starting with a W.)

Is it Western Dental? My dentist started with WD. They don't increase your salary that much though. These days they start you around 350-450/day depending on what you have to offer.

 

[JMJRDH1]

Is it Western Dental? My dentist started with WD. They don't increase your salary that much though. These days they start you around 350-450/day depending on what you have to offer.

Does it seem worth it to you guys/gals, strictly from an educational time/cost/benefit point of view, to practice dentistry and make the same or only slghtly more than a hygienist? Of course there are other subjective reasons for becoming a DDS/DMD, but the $$$ factor seems to weigh heavy against the 350-450 per day salary rate. 😳

 

[J2AZ]

any of you folks know anything about the IHS programs?

Check out the "student repayment programs" thread.

 

[Darksunshine]

Is it Western Dental? My dentist started with WD. They don't increase your salary that much though. These days they start you around 350-450/day depending on what you have to offer.

Willamette or something... pretty sure it wasn't Western Dental, although that company could exist.

 

[luder98]

Does it seem worth it to you guys/gals, strictly from an educational time/cost/benefit point of view, to practice dentistry and make the same or only slghtly more than a hygienist? Of course there are other subjective reasons for becoming a DDS/DMD, but the $$$ factor seems to weigh heavy against the 350-450 per day salary rate. 😳

How much do those hygienists make? I thought it was somewhere in $20/hr range. 350-450 is where you start. I thought that was decent to begin with. When you have your own office(s), and go into specialty, the sky is your limit 😀

 

[Zurik5]

i pretty sure heartland reinburses for CE courses....but i don't think they are in oregon.
which big company out west pays for the doc's CE?

Are you interested in Heartland? Their home office is in my hometown (pop. 12K) so I?m pretty familiar with the way they do things.

 

[Zurik5]

well..
i have not had to to make a decision where to practice yet...so i've been trying to keep all of my options open.

they (heartland) are an attractive company for a new dentist.
so..i've researched the company a bit and i do have an interest...
...albeit, my info is limited to the material on their webpage.
http://www.heartlanddentalcare.com/doctors.htm

If you plan on practicing in the Midwest, then I could see where Heartland would be a great option for a new doc. They?re the real deal and are going to be around for a long time. I haven?t found a large group practice that can offer what they do, yet?.

 

[ItsGavinC]

any of you folks know anything about the IHS programs?

Yes, lots.

 

[luder98]

FYI...

 

[aphistis]

FYI...

Salary.com is an extremely questionable authority.

 

[luder98]

I verified a few areas in my field. I think it's pretty accurate. Maybe off at most 5g. Profession like dentistry, of course, will have a larger range. But I think those curves reflect pretty close what a new dentist will make. Don't you think? Take ~$400/day for an example, that would give ~100K.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I verified a few areas in my field. I think it's pretty accurate. Maybe off at most 5g. Profession like dentistry, of course, will have a larger range. But I think those curves reflect pretty close what a new dentist will make. Don't you think? Take ~$400/day for an example, that would give ~100K.

Yeah, those may be close to reflecting what a new dentist will make, but I believe salary.com collects data from ALL salaried dentists, regardless of whether they have just entered the profession or not.

Salary.com is questionable, for sure.

 

[Darksunshine]

To answer Luder:

In Idaho in 1999 I started at 28/hr with little benefit's. (Twin Falls, ID)
I moved to OR and started at 32/hr again benefits are highly vairable for hygienists and ended up at 30% production or 50/hr. Average up here is about 35-40 an hour for hygienist's. I needed to finish several pre-req's and didn't work during that time too much.

 

[gregp]

If you plan on practicing in the Midwest, then I could see where Heartland would be a great option for a new doc. They?re the real deal and are going to be around for a long time. I haven?t found a large group practice that can offer what they do, yet?.

PDSI Pacific Dental Services are the Heartland of California.

They pay a base of $450/day and/or a percentage based on production. After three months it is sink or swim by production.

Anyone worked for a few years with either?

 

[ItsGavinC]

PDSI Pacific Dental Services are the Heartland of California.

They pay a base of $450/day and/or a percentage based on production. After three months it is sink or swim by production.

I'm wondering how that works out (production after 3 months) for those who have done this route.

 

[JMJRDH1]

How much do those hygienists make? I thought it was somewhere in $20/hr range. 350-450 is where you start. I thought that was decent to begin with. When you have your own office(s), and go into specialty, the sky is your limit 😀

As a hygienist, I make between 336-405 (42-45 per hour for 8-9 hours) on any given day that I work. Of course there are days that I may work a short day or a 1/2 Saturday, but I prefer to keep to a full day or a day off. This is where 350-450 a day for a DDS/DMD seems too little compensation.

 

[lnn2]

These posts make me want to drop out of d school and apply for the hygiene program 😀

 

[Supernumerary]

These posts make me want to drop out of d school and apply for the hygiene program 😀

I'm with you there, Inn2. 😀

 

[luder98]

I guess I underestimated hygienists. You guys do make good money. I guess the difference is this region is where you guys approach the peak while dentists start out. It's somewhat similar to tech/engineer. I was pissed when I found out some techs made about the same or more than what I started with. I have learned that these people deserve it. They know much more than a new engineer (of course just on the practical side).

 

[lnn2]

True for Tech/Engineer but I wonder what else do we need to know about SRP? Dentists know/do much more than hygienists!

 

[albany11]

As a hygienist, I make between 336-405 (42-45 per hour for 8-9 hours) on any given day that I work. Of course there are days that I may work a short day or a 1/2 Saturday, but I prefer to keep to a full day or a day off. This is where 350-450 a day for a DDS/DMD seems too little compensation.

Yes, most Hygienists do very well. And they deserve it (most get paid 33% to 44% production- the rest they provide the owner dentist 😳f course it goes into overheads, etc but hey it's still a chunk)

I know a hygienist in California making
$54 per hour. This is significantly more than RNs.

What schooling is required to get into hygiene school? Is it difficult to get in? 🙄


Thanks

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

Hygiene is a 2 yr program plus any pre-reqs the school may stipulate - usually no more than can be accomplished in a semester. It's not that hard to get in; many community colleges (though not enough) have DH programs.