Salary.com: Dentists Vs. Physicians

[Fantasy Sports]

Here is an interesting survey comparing the salaries of dentists and physicians, which I thought my dental counterparts would find interesting. Basically it shows that doctors make more money....plus we have an intellectually stimulating, well-respected career actually saving people's lives instead of cleaning teeth all day. Enjoy!

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000220.html
http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000025.html

Note: the physician salary is for a generalist, a plurality of US doctors are specialists

PS. See pre-allo if you are confused by the post

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[Dr.BadVibes]

HAHHAH, Fantasy Sports, you're classic! Anyways, for people who have no clue, we are discussing the recent Wall Street Journal article which references reputable sources such as the ADA and AMA and not some shoddy salary.com website. You can read the WSJ article here:

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/0,,SB110531516417121170-H9jgYNhlaF4nJynZICHaaWEm4,00.html

Also, I think its convenient that the comparison is made between a suburban dentist and an urban general practioner. I mean, why not just compare Ross Medical School grads to Harvard Dental School grads and write an article about that (I actually dont know what the best dental school is, or even whether Harvard has one for that matter).

Also, I notice you say that the Wall Street Journal article is BS, because of the faulty comparison. However, that was not the main point of the article. Here are some quotes that seemed interesting to me....

Earning Potential ON AVERAGE:

On average, general dentists in 2000, the most recent year for which comparative data are available, earned $166,460 -- compared with $164,100 for general internal-medicine doctors, $145,700 for psychiatrists, $144,700 for family-practice physicians, and $137,800 for pediatricians.

Sure medical specialtists make a lot, but so do dental specialties:

Many specialist physicians, such as cardiologists and radiologists, continue to rake in large incomes, generally exceeding those of specialist dentists such as oral surgeons and periodontists. But specialist dentists, too, have seen their paychecks increase at a much faster rate than their physician counterparts.

Hours worked ON AVERAGE:

dentists tend to put in 40-hour weeks, the ADA says, while the AMA says physicians generally work 50 to 55 hours -- and the discrepancy is even greater.


Why the discrepancy you asked?:

In part, it's because dentists have avoided being flattened by the managed-care steamroller, and instead many have turned into upscale marketers. Dental care makes up less than 5% of the overall U.S. health bill, and hasn't been a major focus of cost-cutting.

The turnabout in fortunes has made some dentists pity their physician colleagues. Robert H. Gregg, a dentist in Cerritos, Calif., says he had an operation for a snapped Achilles tendon a few years ago, which required him to go under general anesthesia for more than an hour. He was amazed his insurer paid just $2,000 to his orthopedic surgeon for the procedure. "I get about $3,000 for a three-unit bridge," Dr. Gregg says. "He's getting pennies on the dollar to what his skill level was."

 

[eric23]

oh but it's not about money right guys?

 

[edkNARF]

oh but it's not about money right guys?

It should never be entirely about the money, but there is nothing wrong with wanting financial security.

 

[datu]

It should never be entirely about the money, but there is nothing wrong with wanting financial security.

For me, it's about MORE money. I make more money than either sitting on the toilet.

 

[Biogirl361]

why would a pre-med come on the dental forums and post that doctors make more money? he's obviously a troublemaker... we should not give him the satisfaction of replying further to this post.

 

[souperman]

I read the article and I too thought it was very interesting

 

[crazy_sherm]

why would a pre-med come on the dental forums and post that doctors make more money? he's obviously a troublemaker... we should not give him the satisfaction of replying further to this post.

It's because Dr. Badvibes posted the wsj article in the pre-allo forum to "put cocky pre-meds in their place" as he put it. It just ended up getting some of them riled up. Mods ended up closing the thread.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=171962

 

[cowsgomoo]

I don't know this guy thinks he is. I mean the wall street journal clearly stated on average dentist make more money then a GP based on data from the ADA and AMA not just that the dentist in article makes moe money then by coincidence his brother in law. What an ignorant basterd! i hope he is not going to be one of the GP's of the future. Actually that would be bad mouthing all the other sane pre-med hopefuls that would not post such petty comments.

 

[USUaggie]

Lets not forget the major advantage most dental professionals have over the medical field: We get to be our own boss. The money is nice, but I just like being in charge. My own family physician has told me he wishes he would have gone dental instead of medical.

 

[dexadental]

I actually attend school in Gainesville but my mom called me up after reading that Wallstreet Journal article about how dentists make the most, even more than doctors...I totally believe it.

 

[ByrnBabyByrn]

I just wanted to mention what I think is one of the bigger flaws with the wsj article. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe recent AMA stats show that only about 30% of US allopathic med graduates are training in primary care specialties. The article appears to ignore the majority of grads who pursue other specialties and who are likely to be making a whole lot more than the figures stated in the article.

 

[gUmNuMmEr19]

I just wanted to mention what I think is one of the bigger flaws with the wsj article. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe recent AMA stats show that only about 30% of US allopathic med graduates are training in primary care specialties. The article appears to ignore the majority of grads who pursue other specialties and who are likely to be making a whole lot more than the figures stated in the article.

That maybe true ByrnBabyByrn, but don't forget the fact that dentists can also pursue specialities such as orthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, endo, etc.... and these specialists make a whole lot more than a GP also. The point of the wsj article was that on AVERAGE dentists are making more than physicians. Why can't you pre-meds just swallow your pride and accept the facts the article presents.

 

[Rezdawg]

Dont forget about the hours doctors work compared to dentists. Physician's may make more money, but they also dont have a life outside their profession. ENJOY!!

 

[ByrnBabyByrn]

That maybe true ByrnBabyByrn, but don't forget the fact that dentists can also pursue specialities such as orthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery, endo, etc.... and these specialists make a whole lot more than a GP also. The point of the wsj article was that on AVERAGE dentists are making more than physicians. Why can't you pre-meds just swallow your pride and accept the facts the article presents.

First off, I'm not a pre-med. Secondly, I never put anyone down or boast in any way; I merely discussed the article. Thirdly, read it again because that is not the point of the article. Fourthly, when did i say dentists can't specialize? That was not the point of my previous post.

 

[jk5177]

Here we go again. Threads about comparing between doctors and dentists.
Don't you guys have better things to do?
Memorize some amino acids or learn some anatomy. As Napoleon Dynamite would say. GAWD

 

[ByrnBabyByrn]

Here we go again. Threads about comparing between doctors and dentists.
Don't you guys have better things to do?
Memorize some amino acids or learn some anatomy. As Napoleon Dynamite would say. GAWD

You're right. I have seen the light. Please continue quoting lines from overrated movies 😉

 

[airvent]

Your not superstitious...kudos to you..Had to try.

 

[captaintripps]

Dental hygeinists clean teeth - a$$hole

Here is an interesting survey comparing the salaries of dentists and physicians, which I thought my dental counterparts would find interesting. Basically it shows that doctors make more money....plus we have an intellectually stimulating, well-respected career actually saving people's lives instead of cleaning teeth all day. Enjoy!

http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000220.html
http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000025.html

Note: the physician salary is for a generalist, a plurality of US doctors are specialists

PS. See pre-allo if you are confused by the post

 

[ItsGavinC]

Closing.