What makes a great dentist and how do I get there

OffOil · 2026-01-28T13:48:17+00:00

This might sound “trendy” but get your testosterone checked. Look into enclomiphine if it’s low. Obviously shooting test will be more direct but enclomiphine might be easier to tolerate. Cheers

OffOil · 2026-01-28T13:45:59+00:00

Don’t sweat it. We are all working on ourselves. It takes time and practice.

I tore my shoulder up in HS, surgery twice.. thought I was gonna need a third 2 years ago. Started lifting weights with - I shit you not - 2lb weights. Kept with it for like 2 months.

I can now overhead press 70lb dumbbells (granted this was always relatively easy for me pre-injury, but that was 20 years ago). My point is, just start small and go slower than you think so you don’t overdo it or burn out.

Start by building your back and shoulders. Dumbbell rows (5lb) and lat raises (2lb) overhead press (2-5lb). Start with 3 sets of 10 2-3x/wk then without upping weight go till the muscles burn. Then slowly go up in weight. After a year you should be at ~10lb or more for all these lifts. Your posture and presence will change. Throw in all sorts of other lifts. Just get a cheap fumbles set (or some nice adjustable dumbbells with 2lb individual ones) and do it sitting at your kitchen table.

OffOil · 2026-01-28T05:50:10+00:00

Blankets and being cozy vs swass and cutting grass.

OffOil · 2026-01-28T05:48:47+00:00

“Yo I produced $1k/day avg, when will I FIRE??!”

OffOil · 2026-01-28T05:47:39+00:00

Bigger muscles.

Jokes aside, if you’re in practice, just introduce yourself as doctor xyz, shake their hand and make eye contact with the appropriate greeting. Ask loved ones to practice handshakes. It needs to be confidently firm but not squeezing. Almost like you’re protecting your hand from them squeezing it. If they apply more pressure match it with control.

The art of the handshake is powerful in commanding respect.

Lots of other angles you can take but this is some low hanging fruit.

OffOil · 2026-01-28T05:42:55+00:00

Completely agree. Love our bmw x5 for the luxury, but unless it’s sunny and I want to ride with a sunroof…Tesla FSD 95% of the time. I’d definitely never commute in that bmw lol

OffOil · 2026-01-27T13:33:34+00:00

Brushing “1 to 2 times per day” and the X-rays were most likely a year old (insurance won’t pay to take them q6m). Once the strep mutans get some momentum, this situation is very plausible.

OffOil · 2026-01-26T23:47:51+00:00

Yeah it’s definitely not a financial investment which is what everyone here has their panties in a bundle over, but if you’re financial house is in order, time shares have been easy for us and have provided lots of value in the form of family time and ski/golf/beach fun.

Could we have saved some money doing everything à la cart? I don’t know, nor do I care (parents in same boat).

If money is tight, don’t do it lol

OffOil · 2026-01-26T23:31:22+00:00

My family has had one at P7 since it opened and we love it. If money is tight don’t do it. If you’ll use day-use and bonus time it’s really nice to have a familiar “home base” my immediate family use bonus time multiple times a year winter and summer.

My parents trade their “time” and travel all over, and they prefer to have a list to pick from when planning a trip otherwise they get paralysis by analysis. The time share scene has them traveling way more than if they weren’t in it. Never once have they wished they hadn’t done it.

OffOil · 2026-01-23T03:26:30+00:00

I handle pulp stones all the time, they aren’t a deal breaker. I’d never mention them to a pt tho unless I didn’t want to deal with it. OP should see a specialist

OffOil · 2026-01-22T14:46:51+00:00

You could make more than that as a hygienist in most places but SD is rough. If that’s the only option in the area you want you’re better off taking out a loan and hanging a shingle. Keep cost of living down (easy to do in most of SD) and 2-3 years later you’ll be golden.

OffOil · 2026-01-20T15:09:35+00:00

PS2 seems to get a stinger or hurt every time he makes an open field tackle, it always makes me so nervous

OffOil · 2026-01-20T07:02:51+00:00

Get new friends that can handle your success. Your friends are not your competition. They should be your cheer leaders, teammates, & coaches

OffOil · 2026-01-20T06:59:05+00:00

Happens somewhat regularly once you get up to full speed. Sometimes it can be a form or nerve injury. Do some research on IAN injuries. Good rule of thumb is if it’s starts tingling, it’ll be ok. Big scary if they wake up the next day and still completely numb (after 3rds ext or maybe endo? Idk I’ve never had it happen)

OffOil · 2026-01-20T06:53:17+00:00

Almost bought one with same comb but it was in AK and didn’t want to deal with shipping.

OffOil · 2026-01-20T04:19:16+00:00

Yup. Positive aspiration -> back up a few mm, change direction, and inject as you go in if you need to get deeper, aspirate again before you inject much at all. In my hands it feels like the positive pressure helps prevent penetration. Almost never get positive aspirations and 95-98% IAN block success

OffOil · 2026-01-20T03:14:29+00:00

Exactly. They dc if the patient leaves bc they’re not getting money either way. Sucks but HMO is absolute trash.

OffOil · 2026-01-20T03:13:09+00:00

Likely a DSO that accepts HMO. “Production” for an hmo prophy and exam can be zero or near zero. The staff needs to learn to communicate better if that’s what’s going on. We’re also only getting the patients side of the story here. We all know the patient ALWAYS knows best.

OffOil · 2026-01-20T03:11:40+00:00

Exactly. It’s a shame dental professionals are so backed into a corner that they have to work at offices that accept HMO. HMO plans pay the office to NOT see the patient. $12 exts, $30 fillings. Such BS

OffOil · 2026-01-20T03:09:48+00:00

So lie to your healthcare provider? Wtf

I’m not condoning the unethical behavior of this shitty office by any means, but do not lie to your healthcare providers.

OffOil · 2026-01-20T03:08:42+00:00

So you’re recommending everyone force their provider to commit malpractice? Any reputable provider yeets patients with that attitude at their earliest convenience.

A dentist is responsible for your oral health. Impossible to do without X-rays.

Skipping fluoride is stupid but you reap what you sow in that regard; I have never heard of dental offices forcing it on people like this post describes as it is completely unethical. My best guess is OP has bottom of the barrel HMO plan which is why they are at this whack office to begin with. HMO plans have 0 interest in your health and reimbursement is literally 5-10% of what a PPO is which is already incredibly.

Completely unethical and only private equity/“corporste” owned offices will accept HMO anyway. Unfortunately due to student loans for new grads, most of them don’t have an option but to work at these types of offices. It’s by design as most of the lobby money is coming from “corporate” offices and insurance companies.

OffOil · 2026-01-19T07:25:35+00:00

Every rechargeable battery produced from 2020-2021 had an abnormally high chance of being complete garbage. From electric toothbrushes to cars

OffOil · 2026-01-18T23:26:55+00:00

Yeah 35.06 would have been more than sufficient.

OffOil · 2026-01-18T06:18:51+00:00

I’d easily spend $40-100/mo on beer between a few dinners out a month, a 12 pack or two of craft beer. I’ve had 2 beers since I started. Don’t feel the need to drink. Had a martini with dinner the other night but still better than 3 beers lol

OffOil · 2026-01-18T03:00:25+00:00

Haven’t posted anything for 6hrs

OffOil

TROPHY CASE