What is everyday life of Dentist?

[daysinnnc]

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I was just wondering what is everyday life of dentist?
cuz i went to my dentist the other day and he did not do anything he was only there for five minutes and left it all to hygenist??
That is a heck of a good job and still get $120k

 

[jfitzpat]

That's because your dentist had bigger fish to fry than scraping the plaque off your teeth. He was probably off working on procedures that he couldn't leave in the hands of a hygenist.

However, from what I've heard (I'm still a predent), its a great way to make a comfortable living.

 

[docj1]

I was just wondering what is everyday life of dentist?
cuz i went to my dentist the other day and he did not do anything he was only there for five minutes and left it all to hygenist??
That is a heck of a good job and still get $120k

Most of the time I just drink coffee and check the hygenists. Sometimes I feel bad critiqueing their Root canal fills but part of my job and responsibility and liability is to make sure that my employees d a good job and take good care of our patients.

Your dentist charges 120k for 5 minutes. Damn you must be in hollywood

 

[DrJeff]

Here's an "average" day for me.

Up at 5:45. In the office by 7:30 after getting up, making breakfast, helping get the kids up/dressed/fed and dropping my 3 year old off at pre-school.

7:30-8: Finish writing up the previous days charts(if any), review todays charts, read the paper, surf the net for a few

8-1: My "morning session" which depending on how I'm scheduled/what I'm doing will have me seeing anywhere between 3 and 10 patients, and upto a dozen hygiene checks, plus any other practice management/administrative issues that need to be done. And surf the net!

1-2: Lunch at a local restaurant with either my partner and some other local dentists or my staff

2-5 (Tues, Wed, and Thurs - not Friday though since I'm done at 1PM😀 ) "Afternoon session" - I'll see anywhere between 2 and 6 patients depending on what I'm doing and upto 8 more hygiene checks and more administrative things if needed. And surf the net!

Then pick the kid up by 5:30, home and get dinner ready/eat, play witht he kids who are bathed and in bed by 8 at the latest. Workout from 8 to 9, then relax with my wife/discuss household issues/pay bills until about midnight and then off to bed!

There's my work week, 3.5 days, 29 hours and then probably another 3 to 5 hours of managment stuff.

 

[toofache32]

Your dentist charges 120k for 5 minutes. Damn you must be in hollywood

....and $70 went to the hygienist, leaving $50....of which about 60% goes to office overhead.

 

[Cam-MSU]

k

 

[DrJeff]

....and $70 went to the hygienist, leaving $50....of which about 60% goes to office overhead.

I better not let my hygenists see that $70 number, or else they'll want ANOTHER raise this month😱 For my office, the hourly total compensation number (i.e. wages, taxes, medical insurance, retirement contribution, C.E. courses, uniform allowance, and probably another 1 or 2 things I'm forgetting that I pay for them) is depending on the seniority of the hygenist in the $50 to $60 an hour range. The overhead remaining isn't that much, since I've already factored wages into that rate, so basicallly the remaining overhead before the profit is realized on the hygiene side of my practice involves supplies and the small percentage that goes into electric, etc.

 

[godbless]

let me tell you my dentist husband's average day..........
working hours M-12-8,TUES-10-8,W-12-8,THURS-8-3,FRI-9-5,Every other sat-9-3 😳 the endodontist specialist comes in every other week of his choice(for now)for about 8 hours.plus my husband puts in another 1.5 hours everyday 😎 apart from these patient care hours, for writing charts, paying bills online and other administrative issues, so basically on most days gets back home after 9 🙁.........but on most days we meet up for lunch between 1-2 🙂 since I am at home on most days if not working in his office as front desk once/twice a week, for another month before I start my D school.
When he comes back after 9pm, all he does is eat, and then doze off on the couch.......🙄

Here's an "average" day for me.

Up at 5:45. In the office by 7:30 after getting up, making breakfast, helping get the kids up/dressed/fed and dropping my 3 year old off at pre-school.

7:30-8: Finish writing up the previous days charts(if any), review todays charts, read the paper, surf the net for a few

8-1: My "morning session" which depending on how I'm scheduled/what I'm doing will have me seeing anywhere between 3 and 10 patients, and upto a dozen hygiene checks, plus any other practice management/administrative issues that need to be done. And surf the net!

1-2: Lunch at a local restaurant with either my partner and some other local dentists or my staff

2-5 (Tues, Wed, and Thurs - not Friday though since I'm done at 1PM😀 ) "Afternoon session" - I'll see anywhere between 2 and 6 patients depending on what I'm doing and upto 8 more hygiene checks and more administrative things if needed. And surf the net!

Then pick the kid up by 5:30, home and get dinner ready/eat, play witht he kids who are bathed and in bed by 8 at the latest. Workout from 8 to 9, then relax with my wife/discuss household issues/pay bills until about midnight and then off to bed!

There's my work week, 3.5 days, 29 hours and then probably another 3 to 5 hours of managment stuff.

 

[albany11]

let me tell you my dentist husband's average day..........
working hours M-12-8,TUES-10-8,W-12-8,THURS-8-3,FRI-9-5,Every other sat-9-3 😳 the endodontist specialist comes in every other week of his choice(for now)for about 8 hours.plus my husband puts in another 1.5 hours everyday 😎 apart from these patient care hours, for writing charts, paying bills online and other administrative issues, so basically on most days gets back home after 9


that seems like a lot of hours... is he a New graduate? does he need to work that much? Is this his choice or is it necessary.........I personally like to know if I can work 28-32 hrs /week as a dentist (not that I am lazy) but want to do other things....I know several who work this range...one works 8-17 hrs /week while the associate/hygiene brings in the cash....why doesn't he hire an associate and cut back his hours and still make more or even\
just asking

 

[godbless]

he graduated in 2002 and he is ambitious and i guess wants to grow fast.who doesnt wanna make money!😉 he did have 2 associates, one wud come every monday(4 days a month), other wud come only on every other saturday that my husband wudnt be working(2 days a month) , just to keep the office open as many hours as possible and on all days.....but then he thought he was giving away too much money(500$ or 33% whichever is higher for the day) so he kicked them out 😎 ........i know a lot of dentists who work way less,30-40 hours a week so it is upto you, what do you want in tihs life,How much and How soon..🙂 maybe we will cut down when I start working as a dentist too or/and when we have kids.🙂

that seems like a lot of hours... is he a New graduate? does he need to work that much? Is this his choice or is it necessary.........I personally like to know if I can work 28-32 hrs /week as a dentist (not that I am lazy) but want to do other things....I know several who work this range...one works 8-17 hrs /week while the associate/hygiene brings in the cash....why doesn't he hire an associate and cut back his hours and still make more or even\
just asking[/QUOTE]

 

[docj1]

godbless,

Now is the time for your husband to work as hard as possible. With no children yet and you going into DS, now is the perfect time to spend more time so when/if you have children you guys can really enjoy your time with them. It takes time to get established. Once you are praticing too you guys will have a great situation

all the best

 

[Daurang]

When I first open in 2001, my office hours were 9AM-9PM everyday, including Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Now I am down to a more reasonable 30hrs. week (M-F 10:00-5:00 with lunch 12:00-1:00). I occasionally do come in offhours and holidays if the patient lives more than 2 hour away and/or can selfpay a significant treatment plan.

 

[Daurang]

.

 

[daysinnnc]

so it basically depends on the exprience
if u have 5+yrs of exp. u get more than 150k
otherwise somewhere around 90k right...

 

[ItsGavinC]

so it basically depends on the exprience
if u have 5+yrs of exp. u get more than 150k
otherwise somewhere around 90k right...

It doesn't always depend on experience, but that's a factor. It depends on what region of the country you are in, what type of dental practice you have, what procedures you enjoy doing and are able to do well and quickly, whether you are working for someone (and whether you receive a base salary, or % of production, or % of collection, or some combination thereof), whether you are opening your own practice, etc.

Having said all that, your numbers are fine generalizations and nobody would be surprised to see a new grad making 90k and a guy out for 5 years making 150k. There's lots of variations around those figures though.

 

[vaio]

Here's an "average" day for me.

Up at 5:45.

😱

 

[scalpel2008]

😱

i was thinking thats pretty late too. must be nice to sleep in.

 

[I'mFillingFine]

i was thinking thats pretty late too. must be nice to sleep in.

Just as a comfort for those worrying that you won't talk with your spouse for 30 years: My dad has been in practice for ~30 years and is probably ~10 years fro retiring. His hours are: M: off T: 1-5 W: 9-5 T: 2-7 Fri: 9-12 With emergencies, probably brings it up to 25 hours. And he's been that way for a good 5 years already and is doing fine! Small practice (only him.)


And it's true that you'd might as well work now so that you may have more time with your kids ,but isn't there something to be said about spending a lot of quality/marriage-building time with your spouse during those first few years in practice? Those seem to be the trying time after school finishes, and if you keep putting off time until it "opens up", wouldn't things stagnate? My boyfriend and I are doing well (finishing my first year of dental school now)...so I'm confident. We'll see!

 

[afrosheen]

my philosophy is life can't be "it'll be easier when i'm done with ___." this would lead to "itll be easier when im done with d school" to "it'll be easier when i've been practicing for 2 years". might as well enjoy "now" and balance out as much as you can.

 

[OceanBlue]

It doesn't always depend on experience, but that's a factor.

....if you're a minority go to a place where there are a bunch of people of your kind, then smack your last name on the big post. People of your kind will start running to you like crazy. Voila, you're set.

 

[Cold Front]

....if you're a minority go to a place where there are a bunch of people of your kind, then smack your last name on the big post. People of your kind will start running to you like crazy. Voila, you're set.

I agree, but then...

Is practicing in a minority community a profitable market? 🙄

 

[Dental916]

I agree, but then...

Is practicing in a minority community a profitable market? 🙄

Totally agree on this. This kid my parents once knew was broke, his family was broke...he worked hard became a dentist, opened up shop in a minority community...he now has his own lil plane so much more. Basically all the East Indians go to him because many of them have language barrier problems. It may not be ideal, but the money is great!

 

[Daurang]

My friends told the three markets that are not profitable are the Indian, the Russian, and the Korean market.

 

[OceanBlue]

I agree, but then...

Is practicing in a minority community a profitable market? 🙄

in general, No! but it depends on what kind of minority we are talking about.....

 

[OceanBlue]

My friends told the three markets that are not profitable are the Indian, the Russian, and the Korean market.

what is wrong with the koreans?

 

[Daurang]

I love kim chi, korean bbq, korean massages, korean public bathhouses. I just don't want them as patients.