Should I Choose General Dentist?
Real decision-making data from 76 verified General Dentist physicians. Here is what they actually think.
The Verdict
An overwhelming 87% of General Dentist physicians say they would choose the specialty again -- a strong endorsement.
What Physicians Love About General Dentist
“Practicing rural general dentistry has the greatest earning potential and work/life balance of any medical or dental specialty. ”— General Dentist Physician
“There is a 34% collections rate on top of the monthly base pay, but my production is around 35-40k a month so the DSO is paying me a higher base monthly than what I am producing. I am young and want to progress in my field and wish I looked more at the upside of the practice and how busy it was. This location has very low patient volumes and not great systems in place to get treatment accepted or follow up with patients. ”— General Dentist Physician
“I love my job. It is great. ”— General Dentist Physician
“Truthfully not much. I’m in a great situation. ”— General Dentist Physician
What to Watch Out For in General Dentist
“Negotiate for higher base pay above $1000, watch out for how much you produce to negotiate that salary.”— General Dentist Physician
“More vacation time. I'm a solo practitioner. This means when I don't work the practice does not produce. ”— General Dentist Physician
Work-Life Balance Reality in General Dentist
“The owner claims the practice is a "private and mostly FFS entity." But still has agreements with many insurance plans and in house "Membership Plan" both of which greatly reduce the income to the doctor. Clinic days are very unproductive. Practice is hygiene oriented practice, with poor marketing. I was promised a much higher daily compensation by month 2, with my skill set, which includes GPR, Mastership in Implantology and Orthodontics, Full Mouth Reconstruction with C & B and Implants, molar Endo, Surgical and 3rd Molar Extractions and many other skills and awards including Texas Dentist of the Year and more. Admin load too high, huge amount of income lost due to poorly trained and inadequate number of admin staff. Burn out risk is very high. I have started and owned multiple Private All FFS offices. I have spent $100,000's on learning how to have a very successful and high income dental practice. And have Collected personally, over $1M annually since 2000. (ran out of space)”— General Dentist Physician
“I can work as much or as little as I want. No marketing required. The biggest overall challenge is staffing. ”— General Dentist Physician
“I make my own schedule. Can adjust for trips and family time”— General Dentist Physician
How General Dentist Compares
See how General Dentist stacks up against other popular specialties.
| Specialty | Satisfaction | Would Choose Again |
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Negotiation Tips From General Dentist Physicians
“I think the negotiation was fair to what I was given , given the situation I am, when joining a DSO always ask for a bonus and ask for it to prorated if you ever consider leaving which is how mine is set up. If you leave after 6 months hypothetically you just give back 50% of the bonus in my case. I’ve seen some where it’s a 2-4 year commitment and they can take the entire bonus back if you leave before the entirety of the commitment ”— General Dentist Physician
“Ask for signing bonus”— General Dentist Physician
Frequently Asked Questions
Is General Dentist worth it?
Based on 76 verified physician responses, General Dentist physicians report 3.8/5 average satisfaction and 87% say they would choose the specialty again. Average total compensation is $409K. Whether it is worth it depends on your priorities, but the data suggests most physicians are satisfied with their choice.
What's the work-life balance like in General Dentist?
General Dentist physicians work an average of 36 hours per week. One physician shared: "The owner claims the practice is a "private and mostly FFS entity." But still has agreements with many insurance plans and in house "Membership Plan" ..."
How much do General Dentist physicians make?
Based on SalaryDr data, General Dentist physicians earn an average total compensation of $409K. With an average of 36 hours per week, that translates to roughly $219/hour.
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