Anyone care to share their experiences with transitioning into civilian general practice from the military? Good, bad, or indifferent.
Transitioning into civilian practice.
- Thread starter DMD4the$
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You have several options for transitioning to private practice. You can purchase a start-up, purchase an existing solo practice, buy-in to a practice, work as an associate for a solo, group, or corporate practice, or work VA/Public Health, etc. I left myself with about 2 weeks terminal leave, so I'd have some pay when I left the Navy. I got out in mid-June, started as an associate with a solo practice in early July. One thing to remember is you'll probably be at least a month without pay, so plan for that in whatever you do. I had to learn to work with a staggered schedule vs. 1 hr appts in the Navy. You learn to speed up and make time for hygiene checks, etc. I found that I was experienced with most procedures, it was more working with different materials/methods that took a little more time to get used to. After about 6 months, I realized that I was really ready to be on my own. Our agreement was for a 3-year transition. He didn't want to slow down, so after about 3 months I was scrounging for patients. I ended up working as a locum for another dentist and worked a few paid days/wk at a community dental center. It really sucked knowing that I'd have to do that for 3 years. My opinion was that if I was buying the practice, it should be 50/50. He didn't see it that way, so I left the practice.
I worked at the community health center for about 3 months to make ends meet. I even went as far as doing everything to return to the Navy except sign on the dotted line when another practice came up for sale. I did not want to associate again and he wanted out. He worked his last day Friday, I came in on Monday. All the staff stayed, and he wrote a very nice letter regarding our transition and that the patients should give me a try. He was producing about $300k when I bought the practice, and I was on pace for $450k my first year on a 3 1/2 day week. The guy in the practice next door decided to retire 6 months later, all his staff retired except his hygienist. I bought his practice ($300k/yr) and merged it with my other practice and moved to a 4-day/wk practice. I think I produced about $620k my first year. I love being in a solo practice. I like the control I have over my schedule. My staff have a vested interest in the success of the practice. I take CE/vacations for about 2 weeks/yr. I also travel to Europe every other year for about 2 weeks (except this year, Brazil for the World Cup). The money is certainly better in private practice, but there are many things about the Navy that I enjoyed that you won't see in private practice.
I worked at the community health center for about 3 months to make ends meet. I even went as far as doing everything to return to the Navy except sign on the dotted line when another practice came up for sale. I did not want to associate again and he wanted out. He worked his last day Friday, I came in on Monday. All the staff stayed, and he wrote a very nice letter regarding our transition and that the patients should give me a try. He was producing about $300k when I bought the practice, and I was on pace for $450k my first year on a 3 1/2 day week. The guy in the practice next door decided to retire 6 months later, all his staff retired except his hygienist. I bought his practice ($300k/yr) and merged it with my other practice and moved to a 4-day/wk practice. I think I produced about $620k my first year. I love being in a solo practice. I like the control I have over my schedule. My staff have a vested interest in the success of the practice. I take CE/vacations for about 2 weeks/yr. I also travel to Europe every other year for about 2 weeks (except this year, Brazil for the World Cup). The money is certainly better in private practice, but there are many things about the Navy that I enjoyed that you won't see in private practice.
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haha, I wish. I keep my OH at around 54%, so my net is not bad. I think the average practice grosses around $720-740k. FYI, just a ballpark norm for a purchase is around 65% of gross, so it's a chunk of change to consider. Also, you don't have to manage people as much in the Navy, ie most staff issues are handled by your LPO or CPO and you have many "geographic successes" with patients who may have had questionable long term results but PCSd before you could follow-up properly. Quarterly taxes and the business of dentistry are things you have to deal with right away and can be a bit overwhelming at first.
I don't care what anyone says on here, you will make more money in private practice. If the military pay was equal to civilian pay, you would see everyone trying to join. I think the demographic is like 7% of graduates go into the military. What you get in return is substantially less student debt, experience in dentistry,maybe some travel experience, and an appreciation for the military and what it represents.
I don't care what anyone says on here, you will make more money in private practice. If the military pay was equal to civilian pay, you would see everyone trying to join. I think the demographic is like 7% of graduates go into the military. What you get in return is substantially less student debt, experience in dentistry,maybe some travel experience, and an appreciation for the military and what it represents.
