Hey! I am tossing around the idea of marketing myself as a practice consultant. Throughout my years of dentistry as a dental assistant, I have been on the ADAA board, accomplished public speaking on Dental Topics, and overall have coached many practices and other assistants throughout the years on how to be successful. I think that I have the skills to guide an office to be extremely successful in finding and maintaining employees, patients, and more. I really want to focus on how an office has high production by helping train staff where needed, and being an advisor to the doctor. I myself and looking at dental school and just graduated with my B.S. Thoughts? How would I even go about this? It seems scary to put myself out there but I have these skills and advice I want to share! Thank you so much.

I got into dentistry by googling “how much do dentists earn” and it seemed so glamorous but fast forward to completing dental school and working the pay is absolutely the worst. I’m barely make a minimum wage in my country where I’m practicing (India). The maximum I’ve made by working full time at someone else’s clinic is Rs. 20,000 which is basically 236 USD. And I’ve spoken to a few big shot dentists here who have told me to not purse masters cause “it’s not worth it anymore” but I won’t even get a 10k raise without doing that and I’ll be stuck at 20. Opening your own practice seems pretty scary to me. I look very young and I’m just not sure how to go on about it. I don’t have any guidance from my family or my peers and at 25 years of age I feel like I’m at my lowest just cause of the financial gap that I have when I see my friends in other domains being financially stable while I still depend on my mother. I feel like a failure, I wanna switch careers but idk if it’s too late for that now and my family is fully against it due to the financial investment that has gone into my education already.

I’m screaming and crying out loud. I feel very very lost in life right now. Do I lack motivation, am I just lazy or do I not have the drive to be the best? But how do I manage to overcome all these obstacles

As the question states. I am wondering what kind of adhesives do you use to cement veneers in that do not really change the hue.

While it isn't exactly a well known source of truth, social media is somewhat reflective of the way people think about things. Take this YouTube short for example:

https://youtube.com/shorts/WmS_O4f84ig?si=oxVk9gbqTz3lLyd5

It's a common sentiment that I've heard echoed in real life: two different dentists give two wildly different diagnoses about the state of your teeth, particularly with one saying you need a lot of (expensive) work done. The comment section is filled with people agreeing with the speaker in the video.

Is this phenomenon even real? If so, can it just be explained away by some dentists being overly conservative about what constitutes a cavity/when treatment is needed?

Hi! Currently traveling in Japan and would like to buy a reliable dental highspeed handpiece. Are there any dental supply stores near Ueno that I could buy one from? My budget is at least below 20,000¥ but I could extend slightly. Thank you!

Hi everyone

I run a popular dentistry meme page on instagram and I’m exploring ways to monetize it. I was thinking of digital products that resonates with dentists/hygienists/assistants. What digital products do you think would work well? Is there anything you’ve purchased or wished existed in the space?

I’d love to hear your ideas or experiences—thanks in advance!

I fired most of the staff two weeks ago. It was awkward and sucked, because I'm antisocial maybe. Hired all-stars. Paying them strong wages. Schedule is full. Patients are happy. Things are clean, organized, supplied, tracked. So much administrative stuff no longer on my plate. Stuff I didn't know I had to do, stuff I didn't know I'd want or need, all taken care of. I debate crying when I'm presented with what they do lol. Cannot praise them enough.

What I learned: If you have alternatives to staff that undermine you, have a poor work ethic, or just don't work well with you...make changes. BTW I gave the shitty staff raises and it didn't help in the least bit.

What CE are you doing or looking forward to? I’m a 2024 grad looking to up my game. I do bread and butter, easy dental school style dentistry, no implants. I make good money right now doing about 18-22k/month pre tax.

Hi,

If you bought a office and real estate from a dentist and you took out a huge loan to pay the seller, is it right for the seller to expect free cleanings for them and their family?

How do you deal with a lazy front desk? Office managers that tell stories, receptionists that have the attitude of why work if I’m already getting paid to do nothing etc etc..

I’m a hygienist and I know I’m not getting the same respect as the doctor which is totally understandable, but I’m sure the doctor has to be annoyed when there are so many errors due to outright laziness.

I can’t ask the front desk for anything and at first I thought it was that they lacked the training to complete certain tasks (checking insurance fees, if the insurance is valid, calling to confirm the patients for the afternoon that they left as unconfirmed while I’m back to back with patients all day long) etc etc..

How do doctors just take the high road all the time and not rip into people who suck at their job?

I’ve been lucky enough to work with exceptionally reasonable dentists and I’d never ask them what I’m asking Reddit. A huge reason why I’m applying to dental school after 8 years of hygiene is to not have this kind of frustration and let laziness from the staff bother me but lately it’s driving me absolutely nuts. I always keep my cool at work. I’m also the only male in the office so I’m super careful not to cause any issues. The woman are much more direct with one another than I could ever be, and if I do delegate a task (one that is their responsibility anyways) it’s like a big deal to whoever wasn’t doing anything in the first place.

I’ve worked at offices that were excellent and some that were not. I’m doing my best to ride this out, but today I caught the manager lying right to my face about a scheduling issue and It really rubbed me the wrong way. They knew they were caught in a multiple lies (she made up a story pretty much) and we moved on.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

I keep getting staining on instrument and hand piece sterilization pouches no matter what brand pouches are used. I use the stat dry daily, make sure all instruments are dry prior to putting in pouches, empty the water reservoir daily and clean the cassette daily (which once a week is recommended). Any ideas why this could be happening? I see some staining on the clear long tubing coming from the back of the machine, unsure if that is related. Thank you in advance for your help

I cemented crown #11 last week and the patient has called saying her lip has "swollen" up.

No pain, no discomfort. Patient is insistent that it's an allergy.

Patient will be coming in next week to have it looked at. I hypothesize that it's the contour of the crown pushing the lip out, but won't know until she comes in.

Have you heard of a cement allergy before? I used RelyX Luting cement.

Hello I'm fellow dentist who completed graduation, I am confused over whether to open my clinic or pursue masters degree for 3 years and then enter in market 3 years later... Pls need advice

Hello my friends. I am not a dentist, but I am an office manager who is taking my office out of network for all insurances.

We are a healthy pediatric practice and in network with most PPO plans. Solid new patient numbers. I want to slowly, start unwinding ourselves away from these contracts with the eventual goal being fee for service.

I wanted to see if any of you had any good tips or suggestions or any experience in a situation like this that you would be willing to share with me. Thanks!

I did a crown for a patient 3 to 4 months ago and this past week should developed sensitivity and swelling (feels swollen but not obvious when she looks in the mirror). What could it be?

I manage 2 doctor columns and 2 hygiene appts. For most part I am on time but sometimes things happen like hygiene check runs longer because of more tx needs to be discussed and questions to be answered. My next patient on my own column ends up being seen later. Patient gets upset. Things of that nature. How do you guys manage your time between patients? How do you manage patients who get upset?

I am 2 years out of school.

Should I be worried about the language of this clause in my contract...?

"Attorneys’ Fees. In case of any action or proceeding to compel compliance with, or for a breach of, any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party all costs of such action or proceeding, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, costs, and disbursements."

Hi! Someone at Torch Dental reached out for us to use Torch Dental at our practice, but we were wondering what exactly is the benefit of it?

Our practice orders almost everything we want from Henry Schein, so not sure how consolidating our suppliers would be helpful, if we only order from one supplier. Has anyone used TorchDental before? What's been the most helpful thing about it? Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I’m a dentist from Ukraine with a Master’s degree in Dentistry from Kharkiv Dentistry University.

I recently escaped the war in Ukraine and am now in the UK.

I’m looking to understand my options for working and starting to practice dentistry here.

While I’ve completed some training in the past, I haven’t yet worked in a dental practice.

Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated!”

I have recently completed my BDS in Nepal and I want to go to abroad to work for few years and get my post graduate degree. But I cannot seem to choose one country. It's overwhelming, there are opportunities everywhere but acquiring license or even the idea of attempt in foreign country feels intimidating. I would really appreciate it if anybody could guide me.

So just trying to get some general advice from people who probably have been through this situation before. I’m at a DSO, on the east coast outside of a major metro city. I got this job cause my dentist works for them too and he was buddies with my father since dental school. My dentists plan is to retire eventually, he’s 80, but has no definite timeline, he says 5 ish year but who knows. But he said I’ll eventually take over his office. Which is very profitable.

So I’m working at 2 offices, 4 days at my main one and 1 day at my dentists office. I’m currently on daily for 6 months. The office I’m working 4 days at is an absolute mess. Every doctor hoards their own supplies, hand pieces, liners, burs, you name it they hoard it. They say it’s due to the turnover they experience that some docs would take stuff as they leave… probably first red flag.

I’ve been here 3 months now and I’m still just a glorified hygienist, seeing mainly other docs pt’s for cleanings.. I just looked at my 3 month production, almost half of it is hygiene related; POE, cleaning, X-rays, etc. I’ve done 6 crowns, 2 RCT and 30 fillings…
I know I’m not gonna be rolling in the dough yet and doing crowns everyday but there’s no chance for me to grow as a clinician. I’ve never once made over my daily in these 3 months. I’m seeing on good days 7-8 patients a day but for cleanings. I’m getting my own pt’s from docs who have left but these people don’t need anything done. I have no idea if I can even produce a decent day of actual dentistry being here. Some days I can do multiple fillings in an hour, some days it takes me a bit longer cause I’m not doing them everyday. At the other office I think it’s more of a shadowing experience watching him do his procedures since he does everything (molar Endo, implants, crowns etc) which is fine while being on daily but once I’m off daily what’s the point? I see maybe 1 pt a week there if I’m lucky and I’ve gotten my friends to come in to just get cleanings done but they don’t see any dental work done.

As I said the office environment at my main office (4 day office) is just a mess. Fighting for handpieces, asking docs to use their supply of stuff that they hoard (which the company paid for so it should be in central for everyone to use). Some docs lock up their materials/supplies. I don’t have a full time assistant, I either share one with the other new doc or they get a temp. My manager says “we won’t get you one till you’re busier”. Probably another red flag… Multiple patients have told me “oh you’re the 4th doc I’ve seen here in 3 years”.

The office manager just gets flustered if you bring up any problem and says she doesn’t have time to deal with it. Pt’s cancel and no one follows up with why they canceled and they disappear from ever being scheduled.

My contract is for a year but once I’m off daily I don’t think I’m gonna survive. I’m way over doing cleanings everyday. I get new patients here and there but they don’t need much. I’m probably asking for a lot but there’s gotta be some offices where new grads can see a lot of stuff and produce and grow.

Everyone here is basically part time, no one works a full week. A lot of docs are one day a week. Hygiene isn’t even full time 2 of them work 3 days a week leaving us to fill in the hygiene gaps on day they aren’t here.

I’m back in my hometown. I love this area, all my friends are here, my life’s here and it’s good to be back after being away for couple years. I’ve considered going to the rural part of the state to work but just having to pack up again, make new friends and move just annoys me. I get it’s for work/life and I’m sure I can find something else in this area. I don’t know if this is the norm for new grads everywhere but I don’t think it is.

I’ve expressed by concerns to a higher up who said he’ll work on it and maybe move me to another office in the area. But who knows. When I told him all my concerns of the office he was blown away about how dysfunctional it is here. I’ve expressed to the staff too about changing some things since there’s no way this can continue and they just say “oh no that won’t work here”

So yah I don’t think it’s looking bright for me here. I’m trying to be optimistic that it’ll change soon enough by getting busier but I’m pretty sure I won’t last a year here.

I decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my 4 main chairs to electric high speeds. Now I need a dozen new handpieces and would rather not spent $15k on them. I've heard good things about woodpecker handpieces but I'm not so sure when it comes to repairability in the US. I've been using Coxo handpieces for years and have loved them, but I have the same concerns with finding somebody to service them in the US.

Can anybody recommend a good affordable electric high speed that isn't going to break the bank?

I’m a 29 year old guy. Been practicing for about 2.5 years and looking for disability. I don’t really have any medical conditions and don’t take any meds for anything, but I was diagnosed with mild scoliosis when I was in high school. They suggested physical therapy and never really needed any follow-up or anything since and not sure if this is something worth disclosing on my application.

Reading around, I found principal and Guardian to be favorites in the sub and decided to shop around with them. Is there any benefit to going to their websites directly vs using an agent like Breeze where they compare rates from multiple carriers and help me get disability? I know the big things are noncancelable, own occupation, and ability to modify policy as needed to add if needed or remove in the future. I did also have a physical 2 months ago and not sure if they will ask me to get another once.

A place to ask questions about your first job, associate contracts, how real dentistry and dental school dentistry differ, etc.

You know how it goes—dental equipment tends to break down from time to time. Finding a technician to fix it can really drain your wallet and eat up your time. A lot of the time, it's just a quick fix. Are there any online courses, books, or resources out there that show you how to handle those simple repairs yourself?

How do you take maternity leave as a female dentist in private practice? I do not work for a DSO and I work in a very rural private practice with one older doc, who could retire any day now. There are no “temp dentists” and no associate dentists available in this area, because we’ve been actively looking.

Just wondering what my options are and how female dentists have made this work? I’ve also been talking to the older dentist about buying him out, but then if he retires and I’m a solo owner I really don’t see how I’d be able to take maternity leave at all.

Anyone else dreading going back to work today after being off for the holidays? How many emergencies will call in after a long weekend?

My friend who lives with me is a dentist from iran and now lives here. She can’t really afford to do any more schooling at all. She has a full DDS but of course it isn’t useable here directly. She

1. Wants to do something medical or dental related where she can use her knowledge and brain
2. She probably doesn’t wanna be a dental assistant forever
3. She can’t afford school unless she receives a huge scholarship from some kind of medical degree. She even considered MPH but I saw they don’t usually give big scholarships

Is there anything she can do based on what she has now long term? She could theoretically work at a dental college but I’m not sure how. I want her to be able to do the most advanced and skill required job she can without more schooling. Sorry if this sounds impossible but I’m really shooting for the stars and hoping we land on the moon. I even saw one immigrant from Gabon was working as a dental ceramist. Thanks for the ideas in advanced.

1. Protocol: Standardisation in Fixed Prosthodontics by Marko Jakovac
2. Interdisciplinary Esthetic Dentistry The Big Picture by Eric Van Dooren

Welling to exchange or buy I have a lot to offer 😊

Background: female 2023 grad. Signed a 2 year contract with a DSO. The renewal conversations have began. Started great, now this job it’s sorta meh. 401k match was removed right after I started. A yearly trip they had for us dentists was also canceled.

Pros- Manager is great, fully staffed and RDH. Clinically I call all the shots, and feel supported. Pay is fair. I’ve seen growth in the past 5 months. Cons-Analog impressions and no ortho/clear aligners is probably my biggest setback. I want to be with the times and scan! I’ve seen my production increase as I gain experience. No PTO. Solo dentist practice. Can’t take time off without basically closing the practice

My main concern is if it’s worth trying to negotiate my renewal and spending another year with this DSO or just call it quits and move on to a new practice when I’d be 2 years out and can have my scanner lol.

I do have a noncompete clause, so not renewing would mean moving which I’m not totally opposed to it. I’m ready to move back to the city.

TLDR: contract is expiring unsure if I should move on or negotiate extending. Is negotiating raises in dentistry a thing?