Rich ass dentists

[easttexaslefty]

Fuck um. You ever noticed none of them work on Fridays anymore? Notice what they drive?
You need a dentist & you're poor, or even middle class, you're screwed & tattoed.
They charge a fortune. They suck

[AllFieldsRequired]

1. I just wish everybody made more money.

[yeoman6987]

2. When I was in college, I thought about dentistry,

But chose education. How dumb....JK. I love teaching. I am not sure if many students think of studying dentistry in college. Maybe they should if it is that good. I suppose at 46 I could go become a dentist but no, I'll stick to teaching. Not a ton of money but I like the job. I have nephews coming up to college age. I might suggest dentistry to them. It is awesome the possibilities my nephews have to chose from in school. I hope they chose money over passion. I didn't but that really is where the money is.

[HereSince1628]

71. I thought about dentistry...for about 2 minutes. But I'm glad others chose it...

Day after day of looking into the miserable or terrorized faces of those with decaying teeth...not for me.

I chose higher ed. and a life-style that let me get to see what is in the big-house how it's occupants get to live... so long as we didn't touch anything.

But, you know academics we just can't help ourselves when it comes to poking around. So we went ahead and ruined that with pushing for dreams of a better bigger house with rooms for everyone...

[easttexaslefty]

3. They make more money than god

No shit. And very few donate they're time unless going to a third world country to save the "heathens".

[underahedgerow]

72. I don't trust ANY doctor who's entire reason for being in the medical trades is to get rich. Ever.

They simply cannot be trusted to be ethical and reasonable and to use all avenues to aid their patients. They're going to be the guys who pimp the high priced pharms and the ones who charge the most.

I would rather go to a doctor in a decent little clean office with old magazines than go to a fancy, high concept artsy building, all paid for by their patients.

Medicine should be practiced by people who put their patients first, not by the guy who wants to drive a new porsche every year and pay 50K to kill lions and rhinos.

My friend was telling me that she knows many doctors who are protesting and 'going broke' because of 'Obamacare'. They can't maintain their wealthy way of life on realistic pricing for general medical procedures. Well whoa is them. Why should it cost 100 bucks to go to a doctor who looks at you for 5 minutes and writes a prescription? It should cost about 10 bucks, max.

[Xithras]

79. You realize that's MOST doctors, right?

I've had this discussion with my daughter a few times, who was a pre-med student at UC Davis until she changed her life goals.

As a pre-med student, she knew dozens of other students who were pursuing the same degrees. Of all those students, no more than two or three were in there for altruistic purposes. In fact, she once told me that there are basically four types of medical students.

1. People who just want a job that makes a lot of money
2. People who were basically groomed/pushed into it by their parents. For one reason or another, becoming a doctor was "expected" of them (this is WAAAY more common than most people realize).
3. People who are interested in problem-solving and challenges, and see medicine as a life spent solving puzzles. They aren't as interested in the "patient" as they are with the problems the patients bring in.
4. People who are genuinely interested in helping other people and making the world a better place by curing medical ills.

The sad part? That list is in order from most to least common, and the 1's outnumber the 4's by an order of magnitude. Altruism is uncommon in medicine. Not unheard of, but uncommon.

My daughter, for what it's worth, was a #3. Then she discovered epidemiology and found a whole new set of puzzles to play with. She'd rather play with bugs and rats than with people.

[underahedgerow]

83. Your daughter sounds great! I have no problem with someone in the sciences who is doing

what they love! I totally get the list, and it's sad that 4 should be 1. That's why I stick to women doctors. I find that for the most part they're in medicine for reason #4...

Never trust a male ob/gyn lol!!!

[Duppers]

89. My future d.i.l., a med student observed the same. nt.

[redstateblues]

4. The broad brush is not accurate

I have a good friend that just retired from dentistry. He drives a 5 year old KIA. He worked for other dentists and he made a good living but he is far from a "rich ass dentist". He always cut friends a deal on crowns when he could. Stupid post really.

[easttexaslefty]

16. Ok.

That's my experience.

[elias49]

5. Why the 2nd highest rate of suicides among many professions?

"Doctors" being 'first'. Never heard a good explanation.

http://www.newhealthguide.org/Highest-Suicide-Rate-By-Profession.html

[redstateblues]

13. It's because they inflict pain on clients

People are not happy to see them. When I would get together with my dentist friend and I'd say how are you he would always say "I just got back from the land of bad breath and blood". It's not a fun gig!

[easttexaslefty]

17. Aparently, it's not such a bad gig

Check out your local dentist office hours. Need them if you don't have much money. Guess that not YOUR particular problem. Lucky you.

[easttexaslefty]

18. I'd be thrilled to see one

If only I could afford it.
I can dream anyway.

[Fla_Democrat]

6. This could get interesting....

Isn't there a dentist that posts here quite frequently?

[lonestarnot]

43. Yep.

[Codeine]

7. We actually have a dentist who is a valued member of DU.

I'm sure he can enlighten you.

[easttexaslefty]

12. Good for them

They'really in the minority. Maybe they could come to Texas and educate the greedy mother fuckers here

[easttexaslefty]

29. Oh! I wait with baited breath for enlightenment

From the valued member!

[Dr. Strange]

8. You antidentite bastard!

Next you'll be saying they should have their own schools.

[easttexaslefty]

20. I love dental colleges

Ever try getting an appt at one?
Line up starts at 3 am. First 10 get appts for a tooth pulled. Yippee!

[herding cats]

9. My dentist and his wife have a private practice.

He's had it for just over 10 years now, and I was one of his/their first patients. We go to dinner occasionally together. Which is always fun since they're good company. They have two young children which I've been around to see them try for and have. They moved her widowed mom in with them a few years back because she was having money problems after her husband passed away.

They're kind and amazing people. They're not rich, they're in debt up to their eyeballs, like most of us are. Their plan is for them to be on top in about the next 10 years or so. I hope they achieve everything they've been working for. They deserve it and then some.

[WillowTree]

10. My dentist works on Fridays.

I usually make my appointments for Fridays. He also does cleanings himself for his patients and the hygienist only does the final polishing. Love that guy.

And by the way, dentistry is a very stressful way to make a living. Totally unfair to generalize as if they're among the so-called "idle rich". They do extremely important work and it often takes a great deal out of them.

And, parenthetically, I find that most of them have seriously lost their knack for inflicting pain. Dentists are among the ranks of the Good Guys and should, in general, be admired and respected.

[easttexaslefty]

15. You must have enough money to afford one

Good for you.
That's not a lot of us

[WillowTree]

22. I am fortunate to have pretty decent dental insurance through my employer.

Sounds as if that's an irritant to you. I'd say sorry 'bout that, but actually, I'm not. Nope, won't apologize for making use of a benefit that I work pretty hard for.

Hope your day improves.

[easttexaslefty]

24. Aren't you special :)

[WillowTree]

30. Why so unpleasant? I've done nothing to you.

And it's not my fault that you don't have access to a dentist. Why would you begrudge it to someone else? What kind of a progressive mindset is that?

[easttexaslefty]

32. I could ask you the same question

Why so unpleasant to someone who can't afford it?

[WillowTree]

40. All I said initially was that I have a good dentist who treats his patients well.

And you responded all resentful of what you assume my financial situation might be, a subject that you know less than nothing about.

Try taking that chip off your shoulder. Your lack of resources isn't the fault of others who may or may not have somewhat more than you after 40 years of working. Carrying around resentment isn't good for you, won't improve your circumstances and won't serve to bring me down to your level (which also wouldn't actually accomplish anything for you, either.)

I hope life improves for you.

[sorefeet]

60. I'm with you

I have $4000 saved for teeth and that will only cover half the cost of extractions and new dentures. The biggest clinic here just built a new multi million dollar office, has 10's of thousands of dollars of tv commercials and when he smiles his own teeth look like Mr. Ed smiling. The VA refuses to even just pull my teeth, even though they are making me ill. Dentistry is another racket in America. Sorry pcintern.

[cwydro]

84. Seems like he's more upset that any of us can afford dentists,

than he is with dentists.

[WillowTree]

25. And by the way.......

.......whether or not I have insurance or an ability to pay for his services myself doesn't change the fact that my dentist is a decent, hard-working guy who provides good care and doesn't deserve to be dissed.

[easttexaslefty]

34. Good for YOUR dentist

Happy you can afford him. YAY YOU!

[easttexaslefty]

35. Poor poor misunderstood rich dentist

I weep for their pain

[sorefeet]

61. The first tooth I ever had pulled cost

$12.00 dollars in probably 1970, the last tooth I had pulled cost $300.00 in 2013. I offered to paint a dentist entire house inside and out for teeth he said, no.

[hfojvt]

48. I've always been able to afford one

and I've never been rich. Dentistry has been the only health care I could not afford to do without. That was from 1986 to 2004 before I got dental insurance. Always had periodic cavities that needed to be taken care of.

Many seem able to afford them today, one way or other, because their appointments are usually booked solid for a month. I know a guy from church though, who said he could not afford the extraction he needs. I went through many months of tooth pain too. It is not fun.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

11. I couldn't handle looking into people's mouths all day and smelling their stomach contents

I guess it's not as bad as a proctologist but I don't know if they could pay me enough to handle the saliva, the gingivitis, and rotting teeth.

[redstateblues]

14. See post 13. Love your avatar!

[MrMickeysMom]

19. I think many of them have mental anguish for some reason...

Even my dentist rides that stuff on the edge at times.

Look… Hardly anyone who has a great mouth has it outside of nature without dropping near $10 grand these days… It's fee for service, and so long as they have their clientele, they can get it.

I wonder why the rate of suicide for them is reported higher?

Is it because they die unless they kill something? Is it the Novocain?

[easttexaslefty]

21. Not dentist honey

Their suicide rate is low.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. Not according to this. They are #2.

http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/06/top-11-professions-with-highest-suicide-rates/

I can't vouch for the accuracy of any of these data, but there seem to be consistent reports that dentists have a significantly higher suicide rate than the public in general.

[hfojvt]

50. hard to tell what they are doing with the data

Do they distinguish, for example, between a person with a terminal illness who kills themselves and somebody who is, say, in their 30s and in perfectly good health?

One the one set of statistics they seemed to only be looking at white males.

Also, they apparently calculated the "rate" by taking number of deaths by suicide divided by number of total deaths, instead of by number of people in the occupation. The two should be somewhat similar (a larger number of people in an occupation would generally also mean a larger number of deaths) but it would also mean a dangerous occupation or a dangerous lifestyle would skew the results. (by lifestyle I mean that perhaps a lower paid occupation means a more dangerous neighborhood, less ability to get nutritious food or medical care)

For some reason I was thinking suicide would be rare. The article though, said it accounted for 4% of all doctors' deaths, which I found to be shockingly high.

[cwydro]

81. Their suicide rate is very high.

My childhood dentist committed suicide.

He was a very nice man who calmed my fears and was always available if needed. Luckily, I had good teeth.

He had a small office, so I doubt he was rich.

[easttexaslefty]

23. Other doctors yes.

High suicide rates. Not dentists tho

[MrMickeysMom]

26. Really… ??

Is this "conventional wisdom" on dentists just a phony theory? I've been given that figure for years.

[easttexaslefty]

37. Yes. Totally half baked

Disregard the 8 yeats ive spent in the suicide community.

[elias49]

46. So all these articles are wrong?

http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/06/top-11-professions-with-highest-suicide-rates/
http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2015/05/top-10-professions-with-high-suicide-rates-3157524.html
http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/the-biggest/the-10-professions-with-the-highest-suicide-rates/?view=all
http://daddu.net/7-jobs-highest-suicide-rates/

I can provide 5 or 6 more links.

[WillowTree]

49. Crickets..........Figures

[demmiblue]

53. The poster is flagged for review.

After being locked out of this thread, he started another one in the Lounge. I alerted it on as an SoP violation, but the hosts didn't lock it. Someone else alerted on it as a community standards violation, and the thread was hidden.

[cwydro]

82. On the Cecil thread, he called for dentists' heads to be mounted.

Someone must have a REALLY bad toothache!

[MrMickeysMom]

52. I knew it!

Access to potent drugs, high cost of med school, demanding patients, criticism of patients…

I knew doctors were high on list, and though those jaw breakers were, too!

Thanks, elisas!

[sorefeet]

62. My computer is too slow

to read all that. Does it include the 22 military Veterans that commit suicide every single day??? Of which the majority have been to a VA clinic seeking help only to "fall through the crack", as they call it.

[elias49]

65. I didn't see any reference to that stat.

Good point. And sad!

[Oilwellian]

77. I haven't seen any conventional wisdom from the OP'er

Just a lot of ignorant stereotyping and envy.

[yuiyoshida]

28. Ya know a few years back

I visited Tahiti, and guess what? Most of the American tourists we met were American Dentists.

[easttexaslefty]

36. Go figure that? N/t

[Skittles]

31. my dentist takes a half-day on Fridays

he says people tend to not make dentist appointments on Friday afternoons

[easttexaslefty]

38. NOT so much

They love their 3 day weekends and their safari hunts!

[Skittles]

39. my dentist is always available by cell phone

you could not pay me enough to essentially be on-call all the time

[redstateblues]

45. Cmon man. That's stupid BS

Because one despicable dentist does something reprehensible you think they all do it. Get real.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

41. My dentists' office is open M-Th until 8:00 pm

and Fridays until 2:30, as well as some Saturdays; maybe it's true that people would rather have an evening appointment than Friday afternoons. My dentist is a youngish woman who is very nice, very kind, does a great job. I know nothing about her financial situation, and I don't care, either.

[Skittles]

54. I'm looking for a new dentist now, one with more evening hours

I work nights and dislike having only a couple of hours M-F available to me

I do think dental procedures are way too pricey but then you could not pay me enough to do the kind of work they do

[sorefeet]

63. The work I did destroyed me

it poisoned me with neuropathy and broke my body down to a crippled old man on disability. $22.00 an hour.

[lonestarnot]

42. It's not Friday, keep looking.

[laundry_queen]

44. It's pretty bad where I live

The dentists have decided to not come to an agreement with insurance companies about what they should charge, so insurance companies cover 80% of what they think the dentist SHOULD charge, and then the dentist charges whatever they want and I have to pay 100% of whatever is over and above the insurance company's guide.

So, I HAVE dental insurance and I STILL can't afford to go. Last time I went, 2 years ago, I had x-rays and had my teeth cleaned. No complications, no cavities, very healthy teeth. $250 out of pocket later...all because the insurance company thought the dentist should charge $85 for my x-rays, but the dentist actually charged me $180.

My dentist is open 9-3 M-F. Let's just say now that I'm working f/t, I'm looking for another dentist. Not taking a vacation day to get my teeth cleaned, nuh-uh.

[UTUSN]

47. Yip, my MD referred me/said this one would make-financial-accomodations: SEVEN THOUSAND $s.

Oh, he's got a beautiful office, lot of cheerful staff, went on vacation to Machu Picchu, good for him!1 I don't dare mention the $s until he finishes up.

[coffeenap]

51. My husband is kind, dedicated, decent, liberal, sensitive,

does not overcharge, does not have flat screens or animal heads. He drives to his office at 5am to take patients at 7 so they don't have to miss work. He stays until 7 or 8 so others can come after work. He rents his space so there's no big real estate sale to help us when he retires, which he can't do for a long time to come. Pension? no. Profit-sharing? no. Health insurance paid for by someone else? no. College for his kids paid for by someone else? no. Supplies? Staff? Utilities? Gas? Malpractice insurance? License fees? Eight years of college plus post-grad training?

Imagine what it must be like to know that almost everyone you treat every day would rather not see you, they might even resent you. Imagine that every person you interact with requires perfection in technique and deep emotional support. Imagine that you know that your profession is regarded the way it has been described here, but still, you serve even the most resentful person with total dedication and respect.

Luxury cars-second homes-carefree life? Bullshit. He is an honest, hard-working health professional who is good at what he does and, believe it or not, he saves lives.

If you have been ripped off or treated poorly, I am sorry. Change who treats you.

[blue neen]

55. Your husband sounds like our dentist.

He is a kind man who truly cares about his patients. He's getting close to retirement age, and I don't know what we will do without him.

As a matter of fact, our dentist is the one who discovered my husband's high blood pressure! I can't remember why he checked hubby's BP (it was a long time ago). It was dangerously high---told hubby he needed to see his family doctor immediately. Hubby did and has been on BP medicine ever since. So, that caring dentist probably saved my husband's life.

[redstateblues]

56. Thank you! My good friend who is a dentist

Sounds a lot like my friend.

[uppityperson]

58. Your dentist sounds like mine also. I've run across jerks, but that can be said for any profession

or job type.

[NobodyHere]

57. Going to the Dentist is great!

[Warpy]

59. The lion killer dentist married money.

Most dentists have to buy or lease some very expensive equipment that has to be traded in every few years. That drives costs.

Add to that the fact that dental insurance here doesn't cover much of anything even when you can get it. Insurance companies are shitty, not dentists.

Most of them do work on Fridays and some of them work on Saturdays to accommodate clients who work full time during the week. Days off are Sunday and (if they're lucky) Monday.

We need overall insurance reform that the ACA didn't touch and we've needed it for years. Comprehensive dental insurance is a big part of it. Your teeth can kill you pretty quickly. Thank your dentist if they haven't done the job yet.

[pinboy3niner]

64. Ever notice the ones who give free care to people who are homeless, or veterans, or have HIV/Aids?

Last edited Thu Aug 6, 2015, 09:00 AM - Edit history (1)

I know dentists who do that. And oral surgeons reconstructed my jaw three times, enabling me to live a normal life.

[Syzygy321]

66. Are you angry at everyone whose life looks

sweeter than your own? Because that's a whole lotta people you must hate.

Dentists have nothing in common with each other except that they made it through dental school. You could have been one of them, maybe, if you had tried. You still could. Why not look into it?

Once you get your own DDS and fancy car and long weekends, you probably will be very happy about the existence of dentists!

[alarimer]

67. Duplicate post. n/t

[alarimer]

68. Dental care is extremely important and I don't understand why it is not included in health insurance

Why I have to buy a stupid supplemental plan that hardly covers anything. I like my dentist, but she and the hygienist both were really upselling Invisalign when I went. Also whitening and other services that are typically not paid for by insurance. It was very annoying. I finally told them to knock it off.

May I just say that dentists get a bad rap most of the time. Yes, it is way too expensive and it does irk me to see the Ferrari in the orthodonist's parking lot. I mean, sure buy the Ferrari if you must, but do you really have to rub your patients' noses in it? They are paying out the nose for something that should be covered under health insurance (not that we are not paying out the nose for that stuff too).

[NCTraveler]

69. My dentist is neither very rich or closed on Friday.

He is a really positive member in our community. He also works on a sliding scale, and will work with anyone. That includes volunteering his time at events in the bay area serving those who simply can't make it to the dentist like many of us. Some he meets at those events end up back in his office, where the more advanced tools are, and receive free services from him.

Even if yours doesn't work on Fridays, good on them. I don't begrudge people who put an effort in to not giving their whole life to work. I know that thought is very difficult for some since that is what we have been taught success is. Work. Then again, I don't hold a grudge against people for having health insurance, as you have repeatedly done here. Truly for nothing more than being insured. About two years ago I made the decision giving my life to the system wasn't what I wanted. I made a conscious effort to cut back in hours. That has had a major positive effect in my life, as well as some financial drawbacks. Sorry you have an issue with me not simply giving all of my time to the system itself, and instead care for myself and those around me.

I'm sorry for whatever has brought you to this flawed thought process. I'm sure it has been difficult. Might I suggest reframing it in a way that might lead some duer's to help. Maybe state the real problem, general area in Texas, and we can look into places near you that can help.

[DrDan]

70. broadbrush much?

[melm00se]

73. Let's put some real numbers to this discussion

which is full of anecdotes:

Dentist salary

According this article, starting up a private dentist's office costs approximately $500K (which carries some significant monthly debt service).

Number of employees:

The typical practice employs ~5 people per dentist.

The number of hygienists per dentist varies with the size of the practice. Solo
practitioners reported an average of 1.9 hygienists per dentist, while nonsolo owners
reported 1.3 hygienists per dentist

Most dentists (90%+) employ chairside assistants. 1.6 per dentist in general dentistry practices and 2.6 per dentist in specialty dentistry practices

There were 1.5 secretaries/receptionists per dentist in specialists’ practices and 1.2 per dentist in
general practitioners’ practices in 2009.

30-40% of offices employ Office Managers

Salaries (2009 numbers):

Dental Hygienists $35/hour
Chairside Assistants $18/hour
Secretaries $19/hour
Office Manager $26/hour


- Source

All of these numbers can be combined to calculate the necessary number of patients to maintain a private practice.

[TacoD]

74. Chris Rock's neighbor is a dentist

[Bonx]

75. Not familiar with ass dentist(s)

Lack of teeth down there is sure to limit the market for their services.

[wendylaroux]

76. And all the small

town dentists around me will not take medicaid,so it's "have a nice toothache kids" around here

from the shithead dentists.

[this is where I would put 'flipping the bird" thingie.]

[Codeine]

78. Wonder who you are. . . nt

[wendylaroux]

85. why is that? nt

[Orrex]

80. The issue is less about what dentists charge their patients

Last edited Fri Aug 7, 2015, 05:29 PM - Edit history (1)

and more about how shitty Dental Insurance usually is.

My favorite story for comparison is a friend of mine who messed up his shoulder and required surgery with months of physical therapy totalling well over $85K. Grand total that he actually had to pay? $25 copay up front, which is pretty aweseome.

At the same time, I had to have a root canal, totalling about $675. Grand total that I had to pay? $640, which is less awesome.

This has been more or less the same story at every dentist I've seen in my adult life, across a range of dental insurance policies. Also, every dentist I've ever seen has sat me down to outline how they planned to spend my next $30,000 for me.

So although I'm sure that they wouldn't pocket that $30,000 themselves, it's a preposterous sum to lay on someone whose very presence in the office demonstrates that they don't have thousands to spare for dental maintenance.

[Kermitt Gribble]

86. Ass dentists?

[Snobblevitch]

87. I know a dentist who is a really good guy.

He has six employees who are paid well and love their jobs. He has another dentist (near retirement) working for him. While my friend the dentist does not work on Thursday afternoons, he was have Saturday morning hours for those who cannot get there during the week. He also is open until 7 pm on Tuesdays for the same reason. Not all dentists are lion killers.

You sound like a rabid anti-dentite.

[Codeine]

88. My fiancée's dentist is from Uganda.

She may be the sweetest woman ever. She once did a filling in exchange for three dozen vegan cupcakes.