Sadly, when I went to dental school, I was under the impression that it was like medicine–if a patient needed treatment , you just did it, without quotas or corporate pressure (although it’s happening in medicine, too). Trouble for me is, I didn’t think dentistry was so elective. That, the recent economic downturn for which we have not yet covered, rising student debt etc, guarantees over treatment. When the average loan is $300k, cost of ownership $400k+, and average associate salaries $120k or so (insurance compensation hasn’t increased keeping wages stagnant) how can we survive on sealants? The average patient’s income is also fixed so our recommendations are often compromised by lack of funds. Troubled waters ahead.

Well said

Your brief summary mirrors mine… thank you for commenting as it makes the realization much less daunting knowing others have tried and been ultimately dissatisfied with the consistent pursuit of some ultimate associateship that , at least for me, is just not materializing,

I never wanted to own either. I really didn’t want the added stress and responsibility. For me, it was the right fit, but I can see how others are a lot happier when they get to call the shots. I will admit though, that unlike Cat III’s most recent experience, I did have a lot of autonomy in those jobs– even if they weren’t ideal for so many reasons. I guess there were other negatives, that not being one of them. I also think the staff is harder to work with when you’re an associate. At the end of the day, many of them know who signs their paycheck, and that does affect their behavior. Stay tuned… I might be able to help you through your journey…

Hi, I’m with you on this. My situation was rather complicated. I had an illness that forced me to get disability benefits after ten years of private practice; that in conjunction with a dental consulting job at an insurance company made the switch easier. But I was restless. The job is a mindless, cubicle computer job and if you’re anything like me, we didn’t go to dental school to have a 9-5 corporate job. So, recently, I went back to try to associate par time after a five year hiatus from clinical to see what I was missing. As dreary and boring as the insurance job is, working for other dentists has been a nightmare. Now, several years ago prior to my illness, I did open my own office. It was very stressful but at least I called my own shots. If I didn’t feel like doing molar endo (a nightmare), I referred. Having gone back to being an employee, I didn’t enjoy such freedoms. My last job lasted all of two days when the owner took me to task for not treating a tooth that didn’t need treatment. It was more important he could afford his Porsche Panamera payment. I left reminded how much I dislike what has become of our profession. It is no longer trusted and corporate has destroyed any hope. There are not many teaching jobs, either. So I have thought about getting out of this altogether; yes, I’ll need to get a different degree, perhaps something in health care but probably unlikely. I’ve become disillusioned. I’m writing this to tell you that a short break may help you put it in perspective. There are no easy answers because we have been trained to do just one thing, and that’s treat peoples’ oral health. Outside of that, it will take some risk and creativity. But it can be done. Hang in there

Hi, I am a dentist working as an associate. I have no desire to open up my own practice, knowing that it would eat up all my time. I wanted to gain some experiences as an associate and get some mentorship in the process. I came to the realization that not a lot of dentists are willing to teach or learn. Most of the ones I have worked for are stuck thinking about the bottom line. Their staff become very sour and eventually it started eating me up. Anyways…I want 2017 to be my year to break free…I just don’t know how to approach it and what opportunities are out there. It definitely takes one step at a time…but it does come very slowly.

We all feel each other’s pain. 😉 Are you a dentist working for bad owners, or are you another dental professional? I had a few bad bosses that definitely didn’t help my challenges in dentistry.

Glad you found us here, Shepherd Lady! I can definitely confirm how much “lighter” I feel. I also can confirm that I had all the same fears and questions you have… as we all do. Start the process now… start to discover what you like to do, even if it’s not the final destination. One door will open the next one, and who knows which door will be the one to set you free! Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing and if you make any progress, and let me know if I can help you.