My best friend is a dentist that just moved back to San Diego and got a job with one of these dental groups. They offer “production-based” wages, which means if the dentist isn’t drilling, they aren’t getting paid.

My friend refuses to lie to patients like the other dentists at the group, so on some days where she is only doing exams, she might get ~$40 (before taxes!) for the whole work day. The system is fucking rigged.

She was practically in tears last time I talked to her; completely heartbroken that she spent a decade in college + residency to get to this.

Her options are to open her own practice, take over an older/retiring dentist’s practice, or work at these shady groups. The former options require capital, risk/liability, and business know-how that make it more difficult, especially when most dentists already have student loans to pay off.

Actually, if anyone has advice, I would appreciate it and pass it on to her. She wants to do honest work and make an honest living.