Where to get out of California?

[bayleaf]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've been practicing dentistry in California for 12 years and I've had it.It might be the best state with great weather and cool beaches for professional surfers, artists, celebrities and reality stars, but for dentists it is the worst place to be.
I'm so tired of barely making a living that I'm ready to pack my family and go anywhere, from Alaska to West Virginia just to provide for my kids.The thing is, I've never worked outside CA and I don't know how is the job market in other places. Me and my husband have quite all right private practice in S.-F.BayArea. It's constant struggle to survive. Dentist to patient ratio is 1/400. All CA is extremely oversaturated with dentists. So, even with aggressive marketing and advertising you just temporarily shifting the balance.Next month your fellow neighbor dentist start active advertising and ratio goes back. You can be twice as good as a dentist and people's person, there are still more dentists than convenience stores.
Plus, CA is extremely business unfriendly, huge chunk of what we make goes to supporting government social structures. My poor overworked fellow dentists are hungry, aggressive and desperate. We do everything here, as GPs - implants, sinus lift, wisdom teeth, ortho.So, I guess it's not good for specialists either. My husband recently took pedo conscious sedation courses to compete in market. So, we see quite a lot of kids.Still, after paying all the taxes and living expenses there is so little left, I still feel like we are working at Starbucks.
O.K., enough whining, it was my choice and my decision to stay here. Now I'm willing to compromise a lot of things: weather, lifestyle, etc.(rural areas are fine for us too).The question is - where to go? Have anybody had similar experience with uprooting at the age of 40 and go live and practice in another state. Are there any places still left where dentist can make comfortable living and provide for his family?

 

[djeffreyt]

Rural Texas, Kansas, West Virginia all have come across my eyes before as places people still talk about doing quite well.

 

[ushaseos]

That sucks. I am sorry I can't offer any input given my current standing as a pre-dent, but this is giving me the motivation necessary to search through other areas. I guess I will have to remove the "live in California" from my list of things I'm looking for in the future. If the situation is so bar around SF, around my future dental school is going to be as bad as, if not worse than, your experience.

Good luck!

 

[Saddleshoes]

How about reversing the old Grapes of Wrath thing and follow old Route 66 to Oklahoma.
Steinbeck would be proud.

 

[Newgoalsdentdoc]

Hi Bayleaf,
I truly understand how you feel. My husband and I just left NC to relocate. We are presently in NY (Upstate). We had been in NC for a number of years, but I wanted more of an opportunity to practice dentistry and teach. I am a firm believer that there is a season for all things. It may just be your time to leave CA. There are a lot a of great places to practice. I encourage those coming out of school and who are looking for places to practice to go where no one else wants to go. This is not to say that you should compromise on living in a place where you won't enjoy life, but go where it's not so saturated. I never thought in a million years that I would choose Upstate NY. Salaries are beyond what I ever imagined for my career, people are friendly, cost of living is good and for right now, it's something I am doing to get to the next level or season in my life. Never thought I'd leave the South. Sometimes you have to "move" and it's good. I have heard a lot about CA and I am from MD and I can also say that it's saturated with dentists. I almost moved to CA before accepting a hospital position here in NY.
There are so many areas in NC to practice. The need for dentists is also great. Great schools for children, good weather, beach to the East, mountains to the West and so much to do. I loved NC, but it was time for us to go because of my pursuit of teaching. Where you choose depends on your needs.
Virginia is a good place to practice as well. SC, GA and some other states on the East coast. Just my take. Do some research, decide what it is you and your family really want and take time to visit and weigh the pros and cons. Taking that initial step is a little hard at first, but it sounds familiar from your post that this is your season to reflect, scope out new areas, and possibly consider a move.
Best wishes. Please feel free to Message me if you need more info or advice.

 

[supraopticus]

I kind of feel you pain. florida is not as bad as cali but its pretty horrible. I think what breaks the camels back is if you're not fluent in spanish, ghetto as hell, or a redneck then you pretty much dont fit in here. I think anywhere you go is going to be saturated in the metro areas and will have a need in the rural areas. problem is the rural areas are rural for a reason...NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE THERE especially me (I dont like money enough to live out there). I'm about to start a residency at UCSF and would like to stay on the west coast if at all possible, but honestly I'll go where there's opportunity as long as its not the south or the middle of no where. Keep in mind the east coast really is different from the west coast; the people, the attitudes, the manners. If you want to live in a small town, you can go just about anywhere. good luck

 

[cfar83]

This is so bad to read! I am about to get my dental license in CA. I am fluent in Spanish, is this an advantaje for me??

 

[fairydoc]

I'm from southern California and moved to NC last year. I was reluctant to relocate at first but now glad I did it. It's true California is very saturated, even for specialists and sad to say most new grads starting per diem is $400 per day (I've heard can be less in parts of LA) unless you move further away from big cities inland or to central California. Not to mention, California has one of the highest income tax rates in the country. Other things to consider are property taxes, gas, etc. Sure I miss some things in California that I can't get here in NC but overall, this is a great state with good universities, safe to raise a family, and dentists are needed. I live along the coast here, beaches are cleaner and not crowded. Cost of living much more affordable and I get paid better here than in Cali. PM if you want more info.

 

[Newgoalsdentdoc]

I would say it's not a bad idea, but it would be good to keep your options open. Every state is the same to a certain degree when it comes to dentistry. I wanted to practice in or near NYC and it was unbelievable what low salaries I was offered for all the experience I have. I asked someone about this after several interviews and one of my very good friends who lived in NYC mentioned that it's so saturated in the area, they know there's competition, they know everyone wants to live in and near Manhatten, etc., that they unfortunately offer less. Then a lot of my colleagues encouraged me to go Upstate. Huge, huge difference in salaries. I'm talking a difference as much as $50k or more a year. Again, when you go to areas that are in great need, they will offer more. Upstate NY is not where I see myself longterm, but it's a stepping stone to where I want to be in the future with dentistry/teaching. So, either you sacrifice for a few years or you go where it's saturated and take a chance. Life is all about taking chances and launching out into the deep. You won't know unless you try. CA is a large state. I believe you'll have your pick of places to be. I am also sure that speaking Spanish is an added asset to health care altogether. If CA is where you want to be, don't let people's opinions or experiences dictate yours. No place is perfect.

 

[aznboi89x]

try phoenix, san antonio, dallas, austin, houston?

 

[suarez 7]

try phoenix, san antonio, dallas, austin, houston?

4 Texas cities. I always hear about how dentists should go to Texas and get rich there. However, aren't those cities saturated as well? Or does it not matter because the population and economy in Texas is growing much more rapidly than the rest of the US?

 

[jda02624]

4 Texas cities. I always hear about how dentists should go to Texas and get rich there. However, aren't those cities saturated as well? Or does it not matter because the population and economy in Texas is growing much more rapidly than the rest of the US?

It's a combination of factors. The economy in Texas is strong and the job market is good not just for dentistry, but for most fields. That and the fact that housing and overall cost of living is very affordable makes it an attractive place to live, so people are moving here (I'm in TX). There is no state income tax, but property taxes tend to be fairly high. In comparison to California or places like NYC, one can live very well for relatively less.
I don't know about dentists moving here and getting rich, but it's probably better than a lot of places in the country right now. I think in the last few years there were many dentists getting rich by exploiting the Medicaid system here. Unfortunately it was not monitored well and many unscrupulous practices and practitioners got fat off the system. That all changed in last year (especially for ortho) and many places went from huge to almost nothing. I don't think the jobs are as plentiful as they once were because a lot of these places let go their doctors. There still is opportunity here, much better than other states, but it's not some mythical place where you can hang your shingle and make a million in your first year. Besides, it's hot as hell in the summer and 90% humidity. Not ideal for everyone.

 

[aznboi89x]

4 Texas cities. I always hear about how dentists should go to Texas and get rich there. However, aren't those cities saturated as well? Or does it not matter because the population and economy in Texas is growing much more rapidly than the rest of the US?

you are correct, Texas cities especially Dallas and Houston are growing so fast. Oil industry in Houston is always booming.

Dallas and Houston covers a VERY LARGE RADIUS with businesses spread out and some close to each other. Some parts of town are saturated and some not, but everyone gets a piece of the pie.


Most young people live in Austin or San Antonio due to its scenery and outdoorsy activities.
It is true that Houston is hot due to its humidity. (I live in Houston all my life)

 

[Xigris14]

Cali is in Big Trouble. I know plenty of people leaving because if that reason. Typical Obama Politics. I left for the same reason brother. Government needs to spend less not tax those that create business.

Also States like Cali and Florida will always be saturated. Avoid those States.

 

[alxspider]

you are correct, Texas cities especially Dallas and Houston are growing so fast. Oil industry in Houston is always booming.

Dallas and Houston covers a VERY LARGE RADIUS with businesses spread out and some close to each other. Some parts of town are saturated and some not, but everyone gets a piece of the pie.


Most young people live in Austin or San Antonio due to its scenery and outdoorsy activities.
It is true that Houston is hot due to its humidity. (I live in Houston all my life)

Houston has dentist on every corner. Austin is also saturated, because it is a nice city to live in. However, if you move out to more rural areas of Texas, you can do pretty well. Texas cities, like all other major cities, are saturated overall.

 

[aznboi89x]

im sure Houston isnt like LA or NY.

 

[alxspider]

im sure Houston isnt like LA or NY.

Have you been there? I live in Houston. I know many people who are working several part time jobs, as they can't find full time jobs. The grass always seems greener.

 

[docdok]

Have you been there? I live in Houston. I know many people who are working several part time jobs, as they can't find full time jobs. The grass always seems greener.

That is interesting....i live in SoCal...it's ridiculously hard here. However, there are those who do well and those who are doing terribly..

Yup grass is always greener.......

I realized it is a lot of luck; being patient; but most important it is the person.......

 

[aznboi89x]

I live in Houston as well, have you seen Bellaire blvd (chinatown) ? its saturated but not like Cali.

 

[Newgoalsdentdoc]

Fairydoc, you're in a good place. I just left NC after 7 years. Finding a job there was never hard. There are so many places to practice in NC as there is a lot of dental disparity and a lot of rural areas.
I'm in NY, now, but NC will always be a special place. Hope all is well there.