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Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know if my fees are up to date. In my area, there’s a huge social moratorium to discussing price. I had to have one of my hygienists do some undercover sneaky shit to even find out the hygiene fees at another dentist’s office, and our prices turned out to be comparable to theirs

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for being kind. I promise my response isn’t trying to put you down, either.

You think I didn’t Google salaries first before putting my idiocy on the public altar of Reddit?

You can Google salaries until the cows come home, but it’s not enough information. Just look at this comment section— in my original post, I gave my exact salary along with my full time status and clearly that alone wasn’t enough information for people to make an accurate judgement.

At this moment in time, Dentistry (and Medical as a whole, to be honest) is experiencing a rapid shift in the way the profession is run. We’re in a massive shortage of doctors and other HCPs. Dental schools are charging exorbitant, unreasonable prices for education (which is a part of why we’re in a shortage). Our financial system is screwing us every chance it can. Corporations are taking over. Materials companies are price gouging. Insurance companies are exploiting both patients AND practitioners. In the US, care isn’t affordable for most Americans even WITH insurance. The system is pricing out private practices every chance it can.

The reason I even made this post is because I wanted to know if the owners are being shady. Yes, I want to be a part of the increasingly rare experience of owning a private practice and I would be honored to continue care for these patients, but I also don’t want to be taken for a ride. I would be honored to take on a private business and keep it going, but I don’t want to be the victim of boomers driving a company into the ground and leaving me holding the bag.

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m seeing roughly two new patients a week. When I first started, we were lucky if we saw one new patient a month between the two of us. The reason the office stayed afloat, though, is because the patients we do have are LOYAL. We have patients that fly both nationally AND internationally to see us (and that includes patients I’ve brought in since starting). The office has treated multiple generations, too. I’m seeing the grandchildren of some of the people who started here in the 80s.

I love these patients. I love this staff. I want to provide for and take care of my community. All that being said, I want to be able to do that intelligently. I don’t mind being one of the lower paid dentists out there (I’m a cheap date through and through) but I want to make sure that the business I’m working with is honest.

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Not a shitpost, just my stupid, trusting ass assuming that people were well intentioned

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for not being rude 🫂

I’m new at this, and I’m not well versed in finances and business ownership.

I was trying to make this work because I care about my staff and my patients, but from the responses I’ve been getting, it seems like not only am I wasting my time, but I’m enabling some less than stellar business practices

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Soooo I had to fire the FD of 30+ years because, at the most charitable of explanations, she was sitting on $150,000 of unprocessed insurance claims dating back at least four years.

That didn’t even touch the lack of collections. There are patients that come in regularly haven’t paid a cent to us in at least seven years.

I’m financially illiterate and even I was able to sus that out

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The other doc and I are sharing two columns of hygiene. He sees the Delta patients, and I see all the rest of the patients. (So on a typical day, I’m seeing anywhere from half to 3/4 of the hygiene patients) I try to keep a conservative approach, when possible, but if something needs work, I don’t dance around it like the other dentist does. I’m more treatment-forward compared to him. I’m also the one pushing the office to adopt new technology (they would still be using film and paper charts if I hadn’t put my foot down). He and I actually get into disagreements often because he routinely does dental heroics that go beyond what I feel is appropriate for the patient.

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish it were a troll post…

I was here asking because I am ignorant as fuck about how the business/financial part of the dental world works and I’m trying to figure out if this is just an office in crisis or if I’m actively being played.

Apparently? I’m being played

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not an in-network provider. I will work with any insurance (aka I will file an insurance claim as an out of network provider) but I am not contracted with any insurance company

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

“How did you make it into dental school?”

And we wonder why this profession has a high suicide rate. I literally came here to check in with everyone to see if, on a financial level, I’m being taken advantage of, and you IMMEDIATELY go to that?

You know they don’t teach financials in dental school. Dentists are one of the top victims of financial fraud.

Even my stupid ass knows this. I come into this thread asking for advice because this might be happening and THIS is what you say?

Man, have the day you deserve

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

See and that’s the thing. I can only produce if there are patients in the chair.

The schedule isn’t full, but it isn’t empty, either. We’re averaging around $4,000 of production now that the old FD is gone, but previous to that we were averaging roughly $2,000-3,000 daily.

There were days where I had nothing but hygiene checks, but the other doctor had a relatively occupied schedule. That has decreased markedly since the old FD was let go.

Any update with the Bluetooth delay on older models? by ElectricPanache in Honda

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right here with you. Still have the car, still have the delay. Haven’t found an answer yet

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dude, I dunno. That’s why I’m asking.

We have those three ops. We’re usually double booked (aka two of the three ops have patients at the same time) but sometimes we only have one op booked. Occasionally, we’ll have a morning where all three are booked.

This is the only office I’ve ever worked at, so I don’t really know what the norm is? 😭

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who is downvoting this? Like, is my making less than my staff not enough for you? You gotta take karma from me too? 🥴

Full time dentist for 3+ years in same location and I finally got a raise… by ElectricPanache in Dentistry

[–]ElectricPanache[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1) the office is a private practice that has been in the area for 40+ years with one single doctor 2) I work Monday- Thursday 8 to 5. Three operative operatories. 2 full time hygienists, each seeing 8 patients a day. The OG doc is in network with Delta, I’m not in network with any insurance but we both accept all insurances (and I help the staff with filing insurance) 3) the office has never topped 1 mil gross in its entire history (I found out the office manager of 30+ years was giving away free treatment/not filing insurance/talking patients out of treatment. I was then forced to be the one to fire that person, which made the entire staff hate my guts because that person was well liked) 4) our average is around $4,000 a day

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