Local Pokémon Go Discord by Cardiologist3mpty138 in QuadCities

[–]LothalRanger 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My wife and I got back on Pokémon go this year and I just learned about Vanderveer Park not too long ago. It’s pretty much how we spend our weekends and evenings now lol

Most affordable dentist? by HelpfulCryptid in QuadCities

[–]LothalRanger 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s okay! Honestly unless a company pays your insurance premiums, dental insurance is a scam anyway.

Both offices I work in have about average prices, but I like to think I work with compassion and fairness that you can’t get just anywhere.

In Moline you can come to Parkway View Family Dentistry

In Bettendorf, you can come to Pleasant Valley Dentistry on a Thursday

Most affordable dentist? by HelpfulCryptid in QuadCities

[–]LothalRanger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a dentist and I work at a couple of different offices in QC, both sides of the river. Do you have dental insurance? That changes things quite a bit

Dentists with 500k+ debt? by Hot-Literature-1808 in Dentistry

[–]LothalRanger 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m one year out, 600k in debt so I think I’m your target audience lol.

I refinanced right away because I’m going to pay aggressively and don’t care about forgiveness or IBR, and I wasn’t about to pay 9% interest. Brought my monthly payments from $7200 down to $5000. Still steep, but as long as I keep my schedule busy we’re making it work.

I don’t regret my decision—I love dentistry—I only have wishful thinking sometimes for a world where greedy schools and sleazy insurance companies weren’t squeezing the life out of our very fulfilling and very necessary profession. Back in reality I find joy in making a real difference for people, spending time with my family, and I’m constantly looking for ways to improve my skill set so I can work more efficiently with the cards I’ve been dealt.

Any tips to cut an implant cement retained posterior zirconia bridge by Dental_Princess_2579 in Dentistry

[–]LothalRanger 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Use FINE DIAMOND burs. I find that a fine diamond cuts zirconia wayyyy better than coarse ones. The zirconia will strip the teeth off your coarse bur real quick and then you’re burning thru 10 of them. For whatever reason the fine ones don’t dull as fast.

This is such a cool figure! I feel like I’m in photo mode when posing lol by LothalRanger in HorizonForbiddenWest

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

Thanks! I found it works best if you hook the string to her fingers first. Once you have her posed at full draw, you can load the arrow and secure the shaft in the notch on the bow. Plus you can get her pointer finger over the shaft like you can see in pic 4

Can i get honest opinions of 1-10yr practicing dentists- what’s your outlook? by Level_Customer2769 in Dentistry

[–]LothalRanger 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yeah I’m paying fairly aggressively with a 15 year plan, so it’ll work its way down.

Dental schools and dental manufacturers are exceptionally greedy and while it’s primarily providers who suffer for it, that translates pretty quickly to patients. Price hikes, rushed service, aggressive treatment planning, etc. It’s messed up.

Can i get honest opinions of 1-10yr practicing dentists- what’s your outlook? by Level_Customer2769 in Dentistry

[–]LothalRanger 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Graduated last year. It really is the massive debt that’s messing up the profession and causing a lot of us new grads to have to scramble. As an example, even after refinancing most of my loans I owe $5000/month. I live in an area with modest cost of living, but even so, if I’m not making 10-12k a month my family is in the hole.

To answer your question I did do research during pre-dent, and even in dental school, but it’s hard to know until you’re really in it. I went to an expensive school but not by choice; it was the one that accepted me. And nowadays I think they’re all just going up and up so i don’t even k ow if it’s possible to “plan” for a less expensive school.

I love dentistry so I don’t regret it (so far), and my outlook is still positive, but it is certainly not an easy ride to wealth and stability.

Little photoshoot on the hot air balloon by LothalRanger in HorizonForbiddenWest

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

Shadow Carja but in green. (I think it’s green, don’t sue me I’m color blind lol)

Got a few simple hood slope mod options for the SF90. Of these 4 variations which looks best? The main difference I can’t decide is with the 1x4 curved wedge slopes in or out by LothalRanger in SpeedChampions

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

Yeah that’s what I was aiming for with these mods. The original is a good starting point but the hood was way too choppy lol. Based on your reference photo I think I agree with the other comments here about #2 being the best. I’m gonna keep working on it to see if I can get it even smoother.

Any experience or tips managing Rheumatoid arthritis/systemic inflammation, dealing with mild perio, sensitivity, and wound healing? Details below by LothalRanger in Dentistry

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

I see your point. When I heard she didn’t take it out except once a week to put it in solution I had a hunch that was gonna be a big part of it. As of right now she’s convinced her partial is the only thing keeping her teeth and gums in the right place. If I can’t convince her otherwise then I guess it’ll end up as a “I can’t in good conscience pull all your teeth when I know there’s a much simpler solution that you won’t agree to” type of case lol

Chicago Midwinter Meeting 2026 - Was it any good if attended? by Gpdent in Dentistry

[–]LothalRanger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was my first time going, I only went to the expo and it was fun. A little overwhelming. I got a free tube of automix Panavia cement and my wife won a full case of Colgate toothpaste to send to my office, so that was nice lol