some depressing thoughts

[dWiz]

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i've seen so many small dingy dental clinics in really nasty strip malls in rundown areas and it's kind of depressing as a pre-dent to look at those and think to yourself, that is what i'm trying to accomplish one day......is it possible to find work or get a practice in an area of your choosing and still make money,,,or are the good areas saturated....the dentist i shadowed worked in what i would consider as the ideal location and setup....an upper middle class area, nice strip mall, small(i think about 3 chairs) clinic but spotless, diverse patient pool,etc..
But he too worked for six years in a clinic in a different city, which i visited, and holy ****<---- that's exactly what it looked like

 

[Demeter]

There are a lot of crappy dental clinics out there. I guess it has to do mainly with the capital you can invest in. Start talking to the dentist in the area you want to practice in and ask him if he might be interested in an associate later down the road. it is much easier to join a group practice of an older established dentist work for him and later take over his practice when he retires then to start off a clinic from scratch.

 

[ItsGavinC]

A clinic in a strip mall may be one of the best locations possible. Although, I would never have a run-down or "dingy" clinic, as you put it.

A clinic in a medical office complex or high-rise or whatever probably isn't in the best location.

Of course it depends on what type of customer you are catering to. If you want to get a lot of families in, then go ahead and put yourself in a strip mall next to a grocery store and dry cleaners and pet store. You're going to get tons of advertising simply from your location, while the chap in the medical office complex may not even get noticed.

 

[aphistis]

i've seen so many small dingy dental clinics in really nasty strip malls in rundown areas and it's kind of depressing as a pre-dent to look at those and think to yourself, that is what i'm trying to accomplish one day......is it possible to find work or get a practice in an area of your choosing and still make money,,,or are the good areas saturated....the dentist i shadowed worked in what i would consider as the ideal location and setup....an upper middle class area, nice strip mall, small(i think about 3 chairs) clinic but spotless, diverse patient pool,etc..
But he too worked for six years in a clinic in a different city, which i visited, and holy ****<---- that's exactly what it looked like

Your practice will be as good as you make it, no better. There's no magical property of dentistry that makes you business-savvy; you have to learn that on your own, and a lot of dentists never educate themselves on the topic.

 

[reccos]

i've seen so many small dingy dental clinics in really nasty strip malls in rundown areas and it's kind of depressing as a pre-dent to look at those and think to yourself, that is what i'm trying to accomplish one day......is it possible to find work or get a practice in an area of your choosing and still make money,,,or are the good areas saturated....the dentist i shadowed worked in what i would consider as the ideal location and setup....an upper middle class area, nice strip mall, small(i think about 3 chairs) clinic but spotless, diverse patient pool,etc..
But he too worked for six years in a clinic in a different city, which i visited, and holy ****<---- that's exactly what it looked like

It's surprising that such rundown clinics would exist, and it makes you wonder why they do? But, I've seen just as many run down doctor's offices, radiology clinics, accountants and lawyer's offices. On the other side, I've seen many professioanl looking a nd some posh offices as well.

Anyone aspiring to be any of the above professionals is surely just as ambitious aswe are and might also be surprised at the sight of a rundown place and feel the way you do. Just remember that you can make your practice as nice as you want it to be and as rundown as you want it to be (perhraps to keep overhead low).

 

[ProZackMI]

It's surprising that such rundown clinics would exist, and it makes you wonder why they do? But, I've seen just as many run down doctor's offices, radiology clinics, accountants and lawyer's offices. On the other side, I've seen many professioanl looking a nd some posh offices as well.

Anyone aspiring to be any of the above professionals is surely just as ambitious aswe are and might also be surprised at the sight of a rundown place and feel the way you do. Just remember that you can make your practice as nice as you want it to be and as rundown as you want it to be (perhraps to keep overhead low).

Very true. I've seen some nasty doctor's offices. Nothing can beat the chiropractic "clinics", however. I've seen vet clinics that are cleaner and nicer than some of the chiro clinics I've seen in the south and midwest. In Michigan, for the most part, dental offices tend to be the cleanest and most professional looking offices around. I think I've seen but one dubious dental office. Also, based on my experience, the staff at dentists' offices, RDH and clerical, are among the friendliest of any health care staff. Unlike the rude little snots who staff most doctors' offices (and I'm an MD!).

Be proud of dentistry; it's a noble and very ethical profession. I have two dentists as patients (depression and anxiety), but they are both hard working, intelligent, and very professional. One dentist thinks he made the wrong choice by choosing dentistry, but when I compare medicine to dentistry, I often believe he made a better choice than me.

 

[aphistis]

Very true. I've seen some nasty doctor's offices. Nothing can beat the chiropractic "clinics", however. I've seen vet clinics that are cleaner and nicer than some of the chiro clinics I've seen in the south and midwest. In Michigan, for the most part, dental offices tend to be the cleanest and most professional looking offices around. I think I've seen but one dubious dental office. Also, based on my experience, the staff at dentists' offices, RDH and clerical, are among the friendliest of any health care staff. Unlike the rude little snots who staff most doctors' offices (and I'm an MD!).

Be proud of dentistry; it's a noble and very ethical profession. I have two dentists as patients (depression and anxiety), but they are both hard working, intelligent, and very professional. One dentist thinks he made the wrong choice by choosing dentistry, but when I compare medicine to dentistry, I often believe he made a better choice than me.

These are very kind comments; thanks very much. 👍

 

[dWiz]

Very true. I've seen some nasty doctor's offices. Nothing can beat the chiropractic "clinics", however. I've seen vet clinics that are cleaner and nicer than some of the chiro clinics I've seen in the south and midwest. In Michigan, for the most part, dental offices tend to be the cleanest and most professional looking offices around. I think I've seen but one dubious dental office. Also, based on my experience, the staff at dentists' offices, RDH and clerical, are among the friendliest of any health care staff. Unlike the rude little snots who staff most doctors' offices (and I'm an MD!).

Be proud of dentistry; it's a noble and very ethical profession. I have two dentists as patients (depression and anxiety), but they are both hard working, intelligent, and very professional. One dentist thinks he made the wrong choice by choosing dentistry, but when I compare medicine to dentistry, I often believe he made a better choice than me.

thank you for your reply.... just out of curiousity, I know it's not related to this thread, but why do you think so (referrering to bolded section above).....

 

[ProZackMI]

thank you for your reply.... just out of curiousity, I know it's not related to this thread, but why do you think so (referrering to bolded section above).....

I spent a better part of my adult life in college, medical school, and then residency. Managed health care has ruined medicine and I'm bound by more adminstrative rules than I am my own clinical judgment. The movers and shakers in the health care industry, today, have JD and MBA degrees, not MD or RN degrees. That is a sad statement.

So, I went back to school...to law school. I plan on leaving medicine. Not all doctors feel like me, but I have a few friends who are dentists. In fact, my best friend Curt is a dentist in the Metro Detroit area. We started college the same time. He started dental school one year before I started med school. He finished in four years. I finished med school a year after him, only to go on for a residency. Curt left dental school in 4 years, went to work for a dentist in a nice clinic, and then when the guy retired, Curt bought his practice. He controls his clinic; hires his own staff. He works from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-T, taking Fridays off. He rarely has emergencies. He makes a lot of money. I have no idea how much, but my guess is more than $200,000. He has a family, a beautiful house, and much less student loan debt than me. I had to spend another six years in a residency program, whereas he went right out into the work force.

He is the boss. He controls what goes on in his clinic. I never hear him complain about insurance companies too much. In fact, some of his patients even pay him in CASH! Can you believe that? That is unheard of in medicine. If I had known what kind of life dentists have, I would have done the DDS/DMD thing rather than the MD thing.

For you dentists out there, don't ever feel like you're second rate to any MD or DO. You guys are highly trained professionals. You're among the most ethical of all health care professionals, ranking closely to pharmacists in terms of trust and respect. You guys are usually paid well. And...more importantly, at least to me, you guys (females too!) are among the friendliest professionals out there. Down to Earth, sincere, and NOT arrogant. I have yet to meet an arrogant dentist. Lawyers, doctors, and even nurses can be arrogant, but dentists and vets are incredibly intelligent, friendly, and just plain good folks.

I'm not kissing ass either. I mean it. So, I hope you guys don't regret your decision and I hope you have long and successful professional careers.

 

[dWiz]

I spent a better part of my adult life in college, medical school, and then residency. Managed health care has ruined medicine and I'm bound by more adminstrative rules than I am my own clinical judgment. The movers and shakers in the health care industry, today, have JD and MBA degrees, not MD or RN degrees. That is a sad statement.

So, I went back to school...to law school. I plan on leaving medicine. Not all doctors feel like me, but I have a few friends who are dentists. In fact, my best friend Curt is a dentist in the Metro Detroit area. We started college the same time. He started dental school one year before I started med school. He finished in four years. I finished med school a year after him, only to go on for a residency. Curt left dental school in 4 years, went to work for a dentist in a nice clinic, and then when the guy retired, Curt bought his practice. He controls his clinic; hires his own staff. He works from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-T, taking Fridays off. He rarely has emergencies. He makes a lot of money. I have no idea how much, but my guess is more than $200,000. He has a family, a beautiful house, and much less student loan debt than me. I had to spend another six years in a residency program, whereas he went right out into the work force.

He is the boss. He controls what goes on in his clinic. I never hear him complain about insurance companies too much. In fact, some of his patients even pay him in CASH! Can you believe that? That is unheard of in medicine. If I had known what kind of life dentists have, I would have done the DDS/DMD thing rather than the MD thing.

For you dentists out there, don't ever feel like you're second rate to any MD or DO. You guys are highly trained professionals. You're among the most ethical of all health care professionals, ranking closely to pharmacists in terms of trust and respect. You guys are usually paid well. And...more importantly, at least to me, you guys (females too!) are among the friendliest professionals out there. Down to Earth, sincere, and NOT arrogant. I have yet to meet an arrogant dentist. Lawyers, doctors, and even nurses can be arrogant, but dentists and vets are incredibly intelligent, friendly, and just plain good folks.

I'm not kissing ass either. I mean it. So, I hope you guys don't regret your decision and I hope you have long and successful professional careers.

Even though i am a pre-dent right now, i appreciate your comments. I am sorry medicine didn't work out for you. Best of luck in law and best wishes to you in the future

 

[Dental Mom]

I spent a better part of my adult life in college, medical school, and then residency. Managed health care has ruined medicine and I'm bound by more adminstrative rules than I am my own clinical judgment. The movers and shakers in the health care industry, today, have JD and MBA degrees, not MD or RN degrees. That is a sad statement.

So, I went back to school...to law school. I plan on leaving medicine. Not all doctors feel like me, but I have a few friends who are dentists. In fact, my best friend Curt is a dentist in the Metro Detroit area. We started college the same time. He started dental school one year before I started med school. He finished in four years. I finished med school a year after him, only to go on for a residency. Curt left dental school in 4 years, went to work for a dentist in a nice clinic, and then when the guy retired, Curt bought his practice. He controls his clinic; hires his own staff. He works from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-T, taking Fridays off. He rarely has emergencies. He makes a lot of money. I have no idea how much, but my guess is more than $200,000. He has a family, a beautiful house, and much less student loan debt than me. I had to spend another six years in a residency program, whereas he went right out into the work force.

He is the boss. He controls what goes on in his clinic. I never hear him complain about insurance companies too much. In fact, some of his patients even pay him in CASH! Can you believe that? That is unheard of in medicine. If I had known what kind of life dentists have, I would have done the DDS/DMD thing rather than the MD thing.

For you dentists out there, don't ever feel like you're second rate to any MD or DO. You guys are highly trained professionals. You're among the most ethical of all health care professionals, ranking closely to pharmacists in terms of trust and respect. You guys are usually paid well. And...more importantly, at least to me, you guys (females too!) are among the friendliest professionals out there. Down to Earth, sincere, and NOT arrogant. I have yet to meet an arrogant dentist. Lawyers, doctors, and even nurses can be arrogant, but dentists and vets are incredibly intelligent, friendly, and just plain good folks.

I'm not kissing ass either. I mean it. So, I hope you guys don't regret your decision and I hope you have long and successful professional careers.

Why don't you go to Dental school? With all the test taking experience that you have you will do very well. Seems like you like to work with people and have the compassion to help others...

Just wondering why Law school? Good luck with everything.

 

[busupshot83]

Why don't you go to Dental school? With all the test taking experience that you have you will do very well. Seems like you like to work with people and have the compassion to help others...

Just wondering why Law school? Good luck with everything.

bump

 

[WildcatDMD]

I'd say the name of this thread was completely turned around by the content. It's always nice to hear some good words about dentistry from outside the profession.