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What is your life like as a dentist
Main Post:
I'm currently a dental student, newly married, hoping to have a family after graduation, excited but scared at the same time for the future. I'm hoping some of the practicing dentist friends can share with me what your life is currently like. (Eg. Salary, work schedule, families, hobbies, biggest struggle/stress, current and future goals, satisfaction with your life).
Thanks all :)
Top Comment: Life is good. Let me elaborate. I work 4 days per week in FQHC. Salary is close to 300k before taxes, but I also have full benefits for me and my family. We get about 40 days PTO per year as well, so for example I'm working 3 days next week, then I have a 4 day weekend, then I work 3 more days, then I have 6 days off. I own a house, two reliable cars, and have a big family with kids. We play videogames when I get home from work and spend weekends at the lake or hiking or sometimes just chilling. Anyways, the 10 hour shifts are tough but the work/life balance is there and I couldn't be happier.
Should I be a dentist despite all the things reddit dentist say?
Main Post: Should I be a dentist despite all the things reddit dentist say?
Why do so many dentists hate being a dentist?
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First, I know this subreddit doesn’t totally reflect reality. Unhappy people are more likely to vent. But it seems like a common enough theme that it’s not unusual to hear in the real world.
From the outside looking in, dentistry sounds like a great career.
Making a difference and helping people, great pay, freedom to control your schedule, and ability to be a business owner if you want.
I know there are downsides like student loan debt, dealing with patients, and insurance.
But there are aspects that suck in all jobs, and I’d argue most other jobs are worse.
Top Comment: dealing with people. people are fucking annoying, me included. People I love are also fucking annoying
37M. Failed as a dentist. Am I the only one?
Main Post: 37M. Failed as a dentist. Am I the only one?
Does anyone not trust dentists as much as doctors?
Main Post:
I’m a resident, and I had a weird experience recently that’s got me side-eyeing dentists. I went to this new office for a routine checkup, and the whole vibe was off. The hygienist was basically running the show, and —comes in, looks at me and says I’ve got "extensive periodontal disease," a bunch of cavities, and need periodontal cleaning. Like, no discussion, no options, just “this is what we’re doing.” after I said, I only want a regular cleaning, they leave the room and there was some chattering going on in the background. Then the dentist, who looks like a year post dental school, comes in, looks at my teeth for two seconds and says the same thing. When I said, can I wait and schedule an appointment in a few weeks, he looks visibly nervous and says why would you want to wait
It felt sketchy, so I went to another dentist for a second opinion. They told me everything was fine—no periodontal disease, no cavities, nothing.
Now I’m wondering, do you guys trust dentists? Or is this just something we all deal with in healthcare, where you don’t know if it’s legit or just a sales pitch? Would love to hear if anyone else has had this kind of thing happen.
Top Comment: I’m a pediatric dentist. Your experience sounds similar to how a lot of corporate offices function. They thrive on over-diagnosing periodontal disease so that they can treatment plan Scaling and Root Planing (done in cases of periodontitis) which reimburses higher than a regular cleaning. The dentist was probably nervous because the office manager will probably get on his case for not pushing the scaling and root planing. Like others have said, there are sketchy dentists just like how there are sketchy physicians. There are plenty of good, ethical dentists out there
Any honest and professional dentists in Chicago?
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Can anyone help me out please? Any good dentist out there? I've had dentists who alter their schedule a day before my appointment causing me to have to change my appointment date. Then there's dentists that say I have cavities that I clearly don't have or they see I have cavities and tell me I don't. Also, don't get me started with the trying to scam me by adding in the charge of them drilling two surfaces when the cavity is only on one surface... Food traps created by incorrect manner of filling the teeth is infuriating as well considering the additional time and money needed to be wasted.
Top Comment: William J. Millon DDS literally the best in Chicago, people will cry when he retires