Working at a prison. What's it like? Pros and cons?

[Mauricio45]

There is an opportunity for a prison dentist in my area for 1-2 days a month. I'm considering it in addition to my other associateships. They didn't post salary though in the ad.

Just curious if anyone here has done it or know someone else who has? How much were you paid?

I've read a few posts on DentalTown that it seems largely a stress-free environment but can be "boring" since you're just doing mainly basics such as simple fillings and exos. No crowns or implant crowns.

The ad says I have to provide an assistant on site which is a bummer.

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[periopocket]

My aunt worked at a prison all her life as a general dentist.

She made good money, roughly 150k with tons of benefits and after 30 years, she was able to retire with a 100k per year pension for the rest of her life.

She had nothing but good things to say about her career.

Hope that helps!

 

[Mauricio45]

My aunt worked at a prison all her life as a general dentist.

She made good money, roughly 150k with tons of benefits and after 30 years, she was able to retire with a 100k per year pension for the rest of her life.

She had nothing but good things to say about her career.

Hope that helps!

Thank you. I imagine it would get boring fairly fast since you don't do any crowns, implants, etc. The prison probably doesn't let dentist to do any molar endos but extractions instead. But if your aunt is the type that likes "simple" stuff, more power to her.

I wonder how that works with referrals? I mean, it's a prison. If you don't want to do certain cases (impacted, dentures), does the prisoner make an exception in granting a prison to see a specialist? That must cost money and resources to the prison and they won't like that.

 

[periopocket]

Thank you. I imagine it would get boring fairly fast since you don't do any crowns, implants, etc. The prison probably doesn't let dentist to do any molar endos but extractions instead. But if your aunt is the type that likes "simple" stuff, more power to her.

I wonder how that works with referrals? I mean, it's a prison. If you don't want to do certain cases (impacted, dentures), does the prisoner make an exception in granting a prison to see a specialist? That must cost money and resources to the prison and they won't like that.

No specialty care from my understanding.

Extractions, cavities, dentures.

Yup, deff monotonous.

But can be a good career.

Never underestimate a pension the rest of your life. Also her salary was based on a 3 day schedule, you could always get your fix the other 2 days.

GL

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

“Working at a prison. What's it like? Pros and cons?”​

I don’t know about pros, but the place is full of cons. See what I did there...

Big Hoss

 

[Saddleshoes]

There is an opportunity for a prison dentist in my area for 1-2 days a month. I'm considering it in addition to my other associateships. They didn't post salary though in the ad.

Just curious if anyone here has done it or know someone else who has? How much were you paid?

I've read a few posts on DentalTown that it seems largely a stress-free environment but can be "boring" since you're just doing mainly basics such as simple fillings and exos. No crowns or implant crowns.

The ad says I have to provide an assistant on site which is a bummer.

This sounds like a JAIL job not a PRISON job. It also sounds like a contractual deal not an employee deal.


Do you know the difference between a jail and a prison?
----------Both can be good places to work but the needs are very different as one is "pre-court" with shorter terms and one is "post-court" and longer terms. One is working for the county and one is working for the state.

Do you know the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?
---------Both have advantages and disadvantages. One you have taxes taken out of your pay and hopefully a good benefit package. The other one you get paid and you are resonsable for the taxes and no benefits.

 

[Mauricio45]

This sounds like a JAIL job not a PRISON job. It also sounds like a contractual deal not an employee deal.


Do you know the difference between a jail and a prison?
----------Both can be good places to work but the needs are very different as one is "pre-court" with shorter terms and one is "post-court" and longer terms. One is working for the county and one is working for the state.

Do you know the difference between an employee and an independent contractor?
---------Both have advantages and disadvantages. One you have taxes taken out of your pay and hopefully a good benefit package. The you get paid an you are resonsable for the taxes and no benefits.

It's a "correctional center" which I think is a jail here in Canada.

It is unheard of in Canada for associates to be employees. We are all independent contractors. But given this is a jail (I.e. government job), I may be considered an employee in this case.

 

[Saddleshoes]

It's a "correctional center" which I think is a jail here in Canada.

It is unheard of in Canada for associates to be employees. We are all independent contractors. But given this is a jail (I.e. government job), I may be considered an employee in this case.

Canada!!!!
I have a lot of experience with corrections in the USA, but I know nothing about corrections in Canada.
Forget I said anything.

 

[Mauricio45]

Canada!!!!
I have a lot of experience with corrections in the USA, but I know nothing about corrections in Canada.
Forget I said anything.

Lol. Canada is known to be super lax towards criminals. You can literally kill someone and have babies in prison. It's pathetic. But that's a whole new different topic.

 

[2TH MVR]

I have a lot of experience with corrections in the USA,

So. Curious. Were you wearing stripes or a lab jacket?

 

[PerioDont]

So. Curious. Were you wearing stripes or a lab jacket?
View attachment 345744View attachment 345745View attachment 345744

What if he was wearing his scrubs

 

[allDAT]

You don’t want to be responsible for providing an assistant. If you can be an employee within the system and everything is provided, I have heard it isn’t a bad deal.

 

[Rube]

Did it for 2 years. Easy and really boring day in and day out, punctuated by moments of excitement. Don't waste too much time there, have the experience make some money and enjoy the stories you will have for the rest of your life.

 

[yappy]

Does it bother you that you would be rendering aid, at the tax payers expense, to criminals?

 

[Mauricio45]

Does it bother you that you would be rendering aid, at the tax payers expense, to criminals?

If it's good easy money, why not?

But I wouldn't ask them about their crime. I wouldn't want to know especially if it's violent or sexual in nature.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Does it bother you that you would be rendering aid, at the tax payers expense, to criminals?

Not everyone sent to prison is guilty...



Big Hoss

 

[yappy]

If it's good easy money, why not?

But I wouldn't ask them about their crime. I wouldn't want to know especially if it's violent or sexual in nature.

I suppose there are some people who are willing to do anything for easy money.

 

[PerioDont]

Does it bother you that you would be rendering aid, at the tax payers expense, to criminals?

I don't really see why this would bother me. They are still human beings with teeth pain that need to be treated. There is also a chance they were even wrongly convicted etc

would you feel guilty seeing Medi pts at the tax payers expense? some are milking the system etc as well.

 

[yappy]

I don't really see why this would bother me. They are still human beings with teeth pain that need to be treated. There is also a chance they were even wrongly convicted etc

would you feel guilty seeing Medi pts at the tax payers expense? some are milking the system etc as well.

It’s nice that you support people who hurt others. They’re lucky to have people like you to take advantage of.

 

[GoldMouth]

It’s nice that you support people who hurt others. They’re lucky to have people like you to take advantage of.

This can't not be a troll

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Does it bother you that you would be rendering aid, at the tax payers expense, to criminals?

I'd feel a lot better treating veterans than prisoners with our tax money

 

[cmjacks5]

Does it bother you that you would be rendering aid, at the tax payers expense, to criminals?

What does that mean???? These people don’t deserve care because they are in prison??? Make it make sense.

 

[White_Sponge_Nevus]

I'd feel a lot better treating veterans than prisoners with our tax money

My $0.02: prisoners are, in aggregate, more thankful and pleasant patients than any other patient population, in aggregate. Residency sees prisoners and also rotates through VA.

Different discussion of whether the prison system or VA system is a poorer steward of tax dollars, but the experience with the patients themselves is what I'm referring to

 

[Mauricio45]

My $0.02: prisoners are, in aggregate, more thankful and pleasant patients than any other patient population, in aggregate. Residency sees prisoners and also rotates through VA.

This is a good point. Although, I've heard the opposite too that they can be PITA patients who are more likely to sue you because they have nothing better else to do.

 

[White_Sponge_Nevus]

This is a good point. Although, I've heard the opposite too that they can be PITA patients who are more likely to sue you because they have nothing better else to do.

I have not experienced this, however I'm still in residency so perhaps I've been shielded from it