Women who will own dental clinics?

[AlexOdentchkin8]

I was talking with the dentist that I shadow (who happens to be a wowan) and she said that dentistry will face a shortage of dentists in 5-10 years from now because many woman choose to become associate dentists and work part-time to take care of their family etc. and that only a small percentage of women actually end up owning their own dental practice. My question is, how many woman own practices and how many female pre-dent and dental students plan on owning their own practice?

I'm curious because it seems that half of the dental schools are women now and I'm thinking that if women are more likely to work less hours then man and less likely to own their practice, would that not create a shortage of dentists in 5-10 years from now?

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[study girl]

I don't plan on owning my own practice right at first, but maybe once my kids are in school I plan on working full time.

A female dental admission officer I spoke to said that she has observed that women and men work about the same over their careers. Girl's- although they work less right at the beginning, usually work full time once they raise their families. Girls also tend to retire later than males.

However, males work more early on, and either retire early or cut back to a couple days a week as they get older.

In the end... its about even.

 

[John Durian]

Girls also tend to retire later than males.

However, males work more early on, and either retire early or cut back to a couple days a week as they get older.

Or it's because we die younger...

 

[charger fan]

Statistically Alex is correct. Very few women "own" their own dental practice. But, without question, dentistry is the best part-time job anyone could want. ADA stats are that the "average" dentist works 36 hours/wk and takes home over $200k. Cut that in half and work 18 hours (3 days 6 hours) and take home $100k. Not a bad deal.

 

[dentalWorks]

I was talking with the dentist that I shadow (who happens to be a wowan) and she said that dentistry will face a shortage of dentists in 5-10 years from now because many woman choose to become associate dentists and work part-time to take care of their family etc. and that only a small percentage of women actually end up owning their own dental practice. My question is, how many woman own practices and how many female pre-dent and dental students plan on owning their own practice?

I'm curious because it seems that half of the dental schools are women now and I'm thinking that if women are more likely to work less hours then man and less likely to own their practice, would that not create a shortage of dentists in 5-10 years from now?

Dentistry is an amazing field for woman, especially those who wanna have children and spend a good deal of time raising them while still working light hours and making a significant income.

My friend just switched from being pre-med to pre-dent when she found out how much physicians work....NO I WAS NOT INSTRUMENTAL IN HER DECISION 😀

My sister owns her own practice, works 4 days a week and about 35 hrs per week. And she has 3 children and is 41 years old.... Her business is doing very well

 

[SparklyFresh]

I can't speak for other women, but as for myself, I don't plan on having children (too much to do in life, too little time!) and would like to own my own practice. Of course, I'm pre-dent, and there are a lot of factors that can change between now and then. I can definitely believe that statement about women dentists though, judging from the professional women I know and the issue of raising a family.

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

I understand why women choose dentistry as a profession. We (both men and women) will be well-paid and it offers flexiblity in our life. However, when you think about all the baby boomer dentists retiring, I'm going to assume that the majority of dentists that were accepted to dental school 30-40 years ago were men. I'm also going to assume that the majority of those men owned their own practice.

Now, more recently, more women have been accepted to dental school than ever before. My question is, since there are more women dentists and they are less likely to start their own practice than men, won't that create a shortage of privately owned clinics and an over supply of associate GP's?

 

[dentalWorks]

I understand why women choose dentistry as a profession. We (both men and women) will be well-paid and it offers flexiblity in our life. However, when you think about all the baby boomer dentists retiring, I'm going to assume that the majority of dentists that were accepted to dental school 30-40 years ago were men. I'm also going to assume that the majority of those men owned their own practice.

Now, more recently, more women have been accepted to dental school than ever before. My question is, since there are more women dentists and they are less likely to start their own practice than men, won't that create a shortage of privately owned clinics and an over supply of associate GP's?

you will never have a shortage of dentists in major cities. Its wayyy to populated with dentists as is.

For example, go to google maps and type "dentistry in Detroit Michigan".... Just the detroit area alone will return approx 10,000 hits... thats about 10,000 offices. Even if 50% of those offices retired in the next weeks, you still have 5000 offices to service the greater metro detroit area.... still significant..... The difference between 10,000 vs 5000 is... your income will increase almost exponentially along with the amount of hours you'll work. But shortage of dental care will never be a problem in major cities

 

[youknowthedrill]

Don't forget the basic concept of supply and demand. I personally don't think there will be an oversupply of associate dentists. If there is, competition will drive their salaries down and some will choose to open their own practices.

 

[study girl]

I can't speak for other women, but as for myself, I don't plan on having children (too much to do in life, too little time!) and would like to own my own practice. Of course, I'm pre-dent, and there are a lot of factors that can change between now and then. I can definitely believe that statement about women dentists though, judging from the professional women I know and the issue of raising a family.

I think life is too short not to have kids. I am 99.9% sure that if you ask any dentist or professional what brings them the most happiness to their life... family will beat work any day.

 

[Sunshine12]

I think life is too short not to have kids. I am 99.9% sure that if you ask any dentist or professional what brings them the most happiness to their life... family will beat work any day.

Majorly agree...not a girl though so I'll be the one working 😀

 

[SparklyFresh]

Haha, I'm not choosing to not have children because of work. Just life in general (travel, work, volunteer, relationship, etc). It's a personal choice, I'm just not into taking care of kids.

 

[TuckerT21]

I don't plan on owning my own practice right at first, but maybe once my kids are in school I plan on working full time.

A female dental admission officer I spoke to said that she has observed that women and men work about the same over their careers. Girl's- although they work less right at the beginning, usually work full time once they raise their families. Girls also tend to retire later than males.

However, males work more early on, and either retire early or cut back to a couple days a week as they get older.

In the end... its about even.

This doesn't make any sense to me. From what every D-School Dean/admissions person and practicting dentists tells me, the ratio of 50/50 men to women is a recent trend. That would mean this is something that has been evolving over the past 10-20 years to what it is now. Now keeping that in mind, how could someone have any accurate data to support the statement "women and men work about the same over their careers" when the majority of women dentists are prolly not even 50 years old? To have any substantial data, a large amount of women dentists would have had to graduate in the late 70's/early 80's in order for them to have even 20-25 years of career practice. I'm not saying women don't end up working many hours late in their career, but using entering class data over 60's/70's/80's you would see they are majority men (so HOW MANY women dentists are truly out there in the USA that have been practicing for 25+ years...probably not thousands and thousands)

 

[FreewheelingFrolicker]

Dentistry is an amazing field for woman, especially those who wanna have children and spend a good deal of time raising them while still working light hours and making a significant income.

My friend just switched from being pre-med to pre-dent when she found out how much physicians work....NO I WAS NOT INSTRUMENTAL IN HER DECISION 😀

My sister owns her own practice, works 4 days a week and about 35 hrs per week. And she has 3 children and is 41 years old.... Her business is doing very well

I'm a recent college grad with a BS in biochem and a 6-month old baby girl and I want to apply to dental school within the next 5 years. I have some questions about your sister's situation.

How long after graduation from dental school did it take for your sister to start up a practice?

Were her kids already in at least elementary school when she began her practice?

Finally, what year did your sister graduate from dental school?

 

[dentalWorks]

I'm a recent college grad with a BS in biochem and a 6-month old baby girl and I want to apply to dental school within the next 5 years. I have some questions about your sister's situation.

How long after graduation from dental school did it take for your sister to start up a practice?

Were her kids already in at least elementary school when she began her practice?

Finally, what year did your sister graduate from dental school?

-8 years... but she coulda done it 2-3 years after graduation. she put that project aside cause she got married and had children RIGHT away. She was happy working as an associate 24 hrs a week as a newbie mother.

-She opened her office in summer of 2008 (brand new building construct), her 3 children were 4, 3, and a 1.5 year old.

-graduated 2000, married in 2003, had kids in 2004, 05, and 06.

 

[FutureDentalSt1]

Dental Works...your sister is my inspiration!

 

[Winter Wind]

I can't speak for other women, but as for myself, I don't plan on having children (too much to do in life, too little time!) and would like to own my own practice. Of course, I'm pre-dent, and there are a lot of factors that can change between now and then. I can definitely believe that statement about women dentists though, judging from the professional women I know and the issue of raising a family.

I guess that explains your post in the other thread about how you would give up your theoretical left nut...I thought it was a joke, but now I see you were serious!

I understand though. I'm not sure about having kids either. Then you would have to worry about divorce and things etc. While I like the idea of having a family, I always consider the issues that could arise with one. Maybe someday I'll decide differently, but yeah right now, too much to see and do.

 

[SparklyFresh]

I guess that explains your post in the other thread about how you would give up your theoretical left nut...I thought it was a joke, but now I see you were serious!

I understand though. I'm not sure about having kids either. Then you would have to worry about divorce and things etc. While I like the idea of having a family, I always consider the issues that could arise with one. Maybe someday I'll decide differently, but yeah right now, too much to see and do.

Hahaha... I didn't really connect the two posts.. but I guess you can see where my mind is at! I understand what you're saying.. I think it's a touchy subject with some people, they feel the need to vehemently defend marriage, children, etc. It's a personal choice. As long as you're happy.. who cares! 😀 Life is fluid and so am I!

 

[FreewheelingFrolicker]

I think life is too short not to have kids. I am 99.9% sure that if you ask any dentist or professional what brings them the most happiness to their life... family will beat work any day.

All the older career women I know that chose not to have kids in order to pursue their career ambitions full-throttle are regretting that they didn't have a kid or two now that they're getting older and their career lives are slowing down.😳

But really, if your choice of not having kids boils down to you not having the personality for it, then I have nothing against your decision. Overpopulation is a true and serious threat.

 

[FreewheelingFrolicker]

-8 years... but she coulda done it 2-3 years after graduation. she put that project aside cause she got married and had children RIGHT away. She was happy working as an associate 24 hrs a week as a newbie mother.

-She opened her office in summer of 2008 (brand new building construct), her 3 children were 4, 3, and a 1.5 year old.

-graduated 2000, married in 2003, had kids in 2004, 05, and 06.

Your sister sounds like she could be my role model: striving for success in both family and work! She must have went to a cheap dental school for her to be able to afford opening a practice only 2-3 years after graduating. Where'd she go and where is she currently practicing? I saw your posts about your opinions on oversaturation of dentists and I whole-heartedly agree.

 

[OCDFlosser]

Your sister sounds like she could be my role model: striving for success in both family and work! She must have went to a cheap dental school for her to be able to afford opening a practice only 2-3 years after graduating. Where'd she go and where is she currently practicing? I saw your posts about your opinions on oversaturation of dentists and I whole-heartedly agree.

Yes, I'm curious to know how she managed to do all this.

My ideal timeline looks a lot like hers: Graduate; Marriage; Work a little and have lots of happy, cute, adorable, cuddly babies (while simulataneously paying off my debt 😕); Open private-practice and work full time.

Sounds so easy, right? 😎

 

[chippy]

One great way to make it all work is to marry one of your dental school classmates. Open/buy a practice together.

 

[destinedsirius]

Been discussed with my bf of six years that if we are still together by the time I'm done with d school and settled with a job, we're just gonna pop a couple out and he'll be the stay at home dad. Haha

 

[dskies]

I think it's possible to do it all. My mom, who graduated in '79 (sooo long ago!!) had 4 kids, and within 10 years had her own practice. She always worked 4 days a week, never 5. She is an example, however, of marrying your classmate. Well, not exactly, they were in the same class, and my mom said there was no way she would date someone in her class so my dad happened to fail microbiology that year....suspicious? Anyway, that was off topic.. I don't think there will be a shortage of dentists, we might all just have to step up one day and work a few more hours here and there. I plan to own my own practice, it's a lot of work but definitely worth it 🙂

 

[OCDFlosser]

Been discussed with my bf of six years that if we are still together by the time I'm done with d school and settled with a job, we're just gonna pop a couple out and he'll be the stay at home dad. Haha

lmao. My bf is hoping to be a DPM Surgeon, but he says if he doesn't get into Podiatry school he is just going to be a stay-at-home dad.

Needless to say, I've been helping him score higher on his MCAT...

There's NO WAY I'm going to be the bread winner. lol