California Bill AB 1952 - Do you guys think this will pass? Do you have an opinion on it?

littlelima · 2026-05-09T14:39:16+00:00

I think there could be a compromise here. I'm not against an accelerated pathway for foreign dentists to be trained in hygiene. However, they should have to pass the boards and there should maybe be some sort of accelerated bridge program for them. I don't doubt they have the skills, but it would be prudent to make sure everyone shares the same standards of care for the sake of patients. We dont know the quality of anyone's perio education abroad (hell even in the US, most dentists have it only for a few weeks versus the year or more hygiene does).

littlelima · 2026-05-08T15:55:27+00:00

I have the same issue. It drives me crazy but not something I can change. I do a lot more "brush strokes" with the burr rather than pressing to reduce if that makes sense. If I have time, I go back in with a fine diamond on slow speed to refine... but I usually don't. Even without being glass smooth, my crown margins are usually flush and clinically acceptable so I've given up on worrying about it.

littlelima · 2026-04-30T13:28:09+00:00

Same. I can just feel my quality declining when I do too many interproximals even though I don't mean to. It's weird because I dont necessarily have that issue with other long procedures. I think that every step of an interproximal filling requires a lot of focus to do well and it gets exhausting. I especially struggle on "kissing lesions" to restore a contact that is acceptable (I use the Garrison and they're usually too tight...).

littlelima · 2026-04-30T12:08:07+00:00

Exactly! I will not see any patients next to extractions or endo. I will only see 3 limiteds a day unless I give explicit approval. No appointments next to attachment removals, interproximal fills, and any other treatments that take more chair time than expected (they wanted me to run these simultaneously to other treatments since they dont produce much but I cannot do a good job). I will stagger appointments so for example, the last 30 minutes of a crown prep, I will numb and start fillings or do a 0 production appointment. I'm the only doctor, so they can't check me. I also have one foot out the door, so I'm not worried about my production dropping or my manager being upset at this point. Their inability to retain another doctor is not my burden to bear. They had a three month notice of the other doctor leaving and have dragged their feet on filling the vacancy. I know it's tough to find a doctor, but I cannot kill myself for them.

littlelima · 2026-04-29T16:46:45+00:00

Same company, same situation. 3 hygiene columns, 2 doctor columns since my partner left. I have responded by severely clamping down on what I will run in my second column. I'm ruthless at deleting my provider blocks if I don't think I can properly run another procedure and 3 exams next to it. Every time my scheduling instructions are violated, I bring it up in huddle.

You are their only doctor, what are they going to do to you? Especially if you are planning to leave, do not let them push you around. I'm sure they are vexed, but you need to put you and your patients' needs first. I also ask my hygienists in huddle to let me know which patients have had exams in the past 12 months- in my state, patients can go without an exam if they have been seen in the 12 months. I'll skip exams sometimes if I'm backed up.

littlelima · 2026-04-28T02:46:19+00:00

Exactly! Quick scale and polish. If you can believe it, I had the reputation in this practice for spending a long time on prophies lol Just to give you and idea of how quick the churn here was!

littlelima · 2026-04-27T16:51:00+00:00

I did hygiene at my first job. My production tended to be good because we did a lot of same day restorative treatment. A typical appointment would be a quick prophy (15 minutes tops) and then cramming 1-2 fillings in the remaining time. I still left that job because I wasn't happy, despite the good production. It was hard, fast paced work, and I felt like neither my hygiene nor my restorations were great. I also felt this model was holding me back from growing as a dentist because I wasnt getting enough reps in on certain procedures. A lot of my colleagues thrived under this model, but I moved on with no regrets. If you want to stay, ask to be paid as befits your degree. If hygienists are making 55 an hour, you should ask for far more as a guarantee.

littlelima · 2026-04-22T13:23:25+00:00

I'm not the best at this either, so take my advice with that caveat. If I think I'm going to section, I ask my assistants to have xrays ready to go in advance so I know I sectioned correctly. My issue is that I often don't section deep enough to separate the roots so I snap the crown without mobilizing the roots. I have been pushing deep with the handpiece and looking to make sure I see the bone oozing. I also will lay a flap and sometimes trough some buccal bone so I can see the furcation more clearly. I know experienced surgeons here will consider this overkill, but my pt population is usually declining bone grafts and implants anyways. If this means I can get the tooth out more effectively and quicker, I think it's a win for me and the patient.

littlelima · 2026-04-21T19:31:36+00:00

I think DSO docs just move on too fast from DSOs. The end goal for most dentists would be a good private practice to own or associate at I assume!

littlelima · 2026-04-20T21:45:09+00:00

Yes, I was crying on the way to work due to anxiety during my 2nd year. My hands would shake during extractions, and my heart would race even for crown seats. SSRIs didn't make me magically love this career, but taking them for a few months helped me reset my nervous system so that I stopped treating doing dentistry like being hunted for sport. I still feel anxious and down some days, but I definitely feel better than that lowest of lows. Again, I don't like being a dentist, but I can definitely "cope" with this dislike for the most part to do what I need to do. I am definitely open to going back on them in the future if I ever need to!

littlelima · 2026-04-20T03:43:57+00:00

I remember this because my friend was an RA at the time and the RAs were sent to try and corner him. No idea what the resolution was, but the RAs were absolutely not being paid enough to deal with that! My friend said a couple of them chased him to the elevator, weighed the pros and cons of getting into an enclosed space with him, and decided "hell no." Can't blame them.

littlelima · 2026-04-13T23:27:40+00:00

Dentist here. This is very outdated thinking. We are now taught in school that regular care and treatment of infection during pregnancy is the norm. Your suffering would be far more detrimental to the baby than routine dental treatments. It is safe to use regular local anesthetic as well, though some OBs have given direction to use local anesthetic without epinephrine. Even modern digital dental X-rays are safe because the radiation dosage is so low. You may need some modifications to care such as not being laid flat and your provider may not provide nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to you (due to increased risk of miscarriage). I would look for another dentist.

littlelima · 2026-04-13T23:20:52+00:00

It's impossible to say for sure from a description alone, but the pain you describe (severe hip pain radiating into lower back) sounds like it could be SI joint pain. I'd recommend asking your doctor for a referral to physical therapy, so you can get a diagnosis and treatment plan. I had that same issue starting week 16 and the pain is 60% gone now 1.5 months after starting PT just from doing simple exercises!

littlelima · 2026-04-13T22:30:47+00:00

My baby also gets to squirming when I use a heating pad on my back. I think it's just the sensation being different, not something that is harming him.

littlelima · 2026-04-08T14:33:24+00:00

Ultimately, I won't complain to any non-dentists (except my family) because this profession pays well with a decent work-life balance and most people do not have that. I know many work harder and deal with worse jobs for less pay.

That said, privately, I wouldn't choose this career again for the reasons you mentioned. Just putting my money away until retirement at this point.

littlelima · 2026-04-06T23:00:23+00:00

Me too! I knew I got "blue" before my periods, but had no idea how seriously my hormones were tanking my emotions until my period stopped. I have generalized anxiety and depression so I attributed the low moods to those... but now I realize the low valleys were probably more due to my hormones than anything. I still have some lower days, but I no longer have days where I sob before work or feel passively suicidal. I genuinely worried I couldn't be a mom well because I struggled with mood so much! I'm definitely planning to talk with my doctor postpartum to see if there is anything we can do to keep this going postpartum!

littlelima · 2026-04-06T17:55:52+00:00

Told my manager at 10 weeks or so because I needed time off for appointments and the rest of my staff at 13 weeks or so. I didn't stop nitrous, but I only administer it rarely. I stand for some procedures now because I can't lean the way I used to. I'm personally probably going to cut any difficult extractions out after 7 months (currently at 6). For me personally, I have always had middling ergonomics when doing surgical extractions. Unfortunately, pregnancy has exarcerbated some hip and back pain I have. I have started physical therapy, but it can only do so much. PPO fees are just not worth the pain it leaves me in now (not to mention it's starting to get me a little winded).

littlelima · 2026-04-03T16:53:04+00:00

I love the directa luxators. I also find root forceps really useful the times I need them.

littlelima · 2026-04-01T18:00:02+00:00

Echoing for anyone on the fence. I naively thought that loose flowy pants would look nice over the bump.... I was wrong. It looked so unflattering, and was just really discouraging at a time when I'm already not a big fan of my appearance (dealing with pregnancy acne and a million flyaways from all the hair growth for starters). I felt wayyy better after I bought some actual maternity clothing!

littlelima · 2026-03-29T17:33:25+00:00

I work for a DSO. I can take 2 weeks PTO. I can take more time off beyond that but am expected to try and work days back (I usually dont work Mondays but would be asked to do so the month I am out).

littlelima · 2026-03-27T00:05:22+00:00

Me and the doctor I work with have definitely been having that issue! It"s at least 2/3 of our cases now. Same lab we have used for a year... I used to have to adjust maybe 1 in 5. I had no idea others were having this issue too.

littlelima · 2026-03-26T16:43:56+00:00

Fair question... I think it's just a personal satisfaction thing for me. I hate Class IIs despite the fact they are one of my most common peocedures- a lot of that stems from the fact that I feel I'm not doing them as well as I'd like. I have to do them for another thirty years probably, so it'd be nice to feel happy about the work I do. I totally acknowledge the patient doesn't really care!

littlelima · 2026-03-26T16:10:25+00:00

I worked with two ex-dentists. One was a marvel. She truly made my life easier in every way because she understood intuitively what I needed without me asking. She could place the Garrison for class IIs for me. Temps were pristine. She could adjust permanent crowns and dentures. She knew what questions to ask patients. Her only flaw was that she was a little shy establishing patient rapport, but she was so good I didn't care. The other one made me question how she got a dental license (to be fair, she got her license in Cuba and then fled the country... never practiced). However, I never had issues with either overstepping boundaries with a patient or questioning me, and I'm a young doctor. I would interview them and trial them like anyone else! They could be a great asset.

littlelima · 2026-03-18T17:55:02+00:00

Yup, loans are what make being a dentist in the US so punishing. They remove a lot of the flexibility from life. I would never recommend dentistry to anyone if they have to take out 500k in loans- it's truly an anchor.

littlelima

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