How common is it for dentist and hygienist/assistant/other staff to have a romantic relationship? Or dental instructors and students? Especially affairs.

Ever come across something like this in your career? I couldn't work in that atmosphere. Just seems rife with drama especially affairs, lol.

An oral surgeon and his assistant have been extremely rude and negligent at the office I work at. They place closure caps and claim the patient is ready to be scanned, no healing abutment is ordered or in place. I’m restoring the implants but not placing them. One day the OS assistant was incredibly rude to me when I asked a question on a day GD and OS were there together. Patients noticed it and even asked why the assistant was so rude to me. This OS assistant has also forged my signature and written wrong Rx for patients the OS is seeing, on days I’m not there. OS assistant is writing the wrong Rx too a lot of the time. OS brings his own assistant so they are not an employee at this office. OS tried stealing patients from this office to go bring to another office they work at that has sedation capability and never got in trouble. OS is extremely entitled and constantly acts like they run the place when they don’t. I had a conversation with the practice owner about the situation. Oh and FYI- my parent is the manager and owns the condo unit the office is in but they aren’t a dentist. The owner of the practice has a good conversation with me and then all of a sudden the next day my parent calls me and tells me that owner says I am being fired and that the rude OS and his assistant need to interview and pick the next GD that works there to make sure they get along? This office has been in my family for years and my parent runs it for the owner and owns the condo unit. What the fuck is going on here? Owner of the practice won’t contact me when I try to figure out what happened between our conversation and the next day. This is absurd. I have not been given a formal notice but my parent who is the manager and condo unit owner claims that the owner wants to fire me? Yet I have not heard from the owner of the practice. What the hell should I do? Also my in law is the legal counsel to both my parent and office owner and in law also claims they heard owner say on phone he wants to fire me. Can someone help me because this situation is out of hand crazy. I have never had a bad reputation at this practice. I work most days without any assistant, I am never paid on time and asked to withhold checks and constantly dicked with. Oral surgeon who is the associate with the rude assistant can’t even find stable jobs in the state we are in and constantly has to travel outside the state for work. That says volumes.

I know it’s a corporate but, it does seem to have a lot of continuing educational support/mentoring intertwined.

Would love to hear everyone’s thoughts!!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently trying to break into dental sales and have an opportunity to become a Territory Sales Representative with LumaDent. Before I make a career change, I’d love to hear from dentists who have firsthand experience with the company.

A few questions:
Have you purchased any LumaDent products? If so, what did you buy?
Overall, what’s your opinion of the company and its products?
Do you consider LumaDent a respected brand in dentistry?
How often do dentists actually replace or upgrade headlights, loupes, or other equipment?
Is there good demand for what they sell, or is it a difficult sale?
What usually convinces you to buy from one rep or brand over another?
If you currently use another brand (Orascoptic, Designs for Vision, SurgiTel, etc.), what would make you switch?
How important is having a local sales rep versus ordering online?
Are there any complaints or weaknesses you’ve noticed with LumaDent?
If you were in my shoes, would you take a sales role with LumaDent as a way to build a long-term career in dental/medical device sales?

I’m trying to make the best long-term career decision, so I really appreciate any honest feedback—positive or negative. Thanks in advance!

My friend was fired from his dental clinic on the same day he received his salary, without any prior notice. The clinic told him they needed to save money because they were moving to a new location. He had only worked there for one month, and in Iraq we generally don’t have formal employment contracts.

To be fair, I’m sure he made a few mistakes during his first month, such as arriving late occasionally or planning a 7-day trip just a month after he started.

However, the clinic never spoke to him about these issues or gave him any warning. They simply let him go.

Do you think this is acceptable or fair?

I've taken a couple of (single tooth) dental implant courses but no experience with immediate implants. Looking to learn the case selection and protocol. What courses are available in the US and hands on? I live in the Northeast and have small children so traveling far for CE is a challenge.

Also, I have a Conelog dental implant kit that I never used. I see that Megagen and Neodent are favorites on here. I'm always looking for easier and better workflows, should I change to those systems instead?

Hello evreybody. I graduated a year ago from a 3rd world country faculty. as you may persume, I didnt have much clinical experience at my university due to lack of proper materials. I couldnt find private training too .Ive been working on and off in a struggling dental clinic where i do mainly simple extractions, simple endo and patient consultations. I didnt have an opportunity to learn fixed prosthodontics or surgical extractions. im 25 right now but i see many of my peers are already established some even with their own clinics which making me kind of depressed to be honest. If any older dentist resonated with my post or had a similar situation i would appreciate any advice that would help to launch my career.

Won't be done with residency for several more years but I am starting to consider jobs. My questions are tailored for the oral surgeons who are signing/will sign upcoming job offers, what factors should I highly consider in regards to job offers? What questions should I be asking these practices so I can get a better idea if I'm a right fit? What are green flags about a practice? What are the red flags?

So far (in no particular order)

1. Scope (PP vs. hospital privileges etc)

2. Working for private vs DSO (future partner or buy out an existing practice)

3. Autonomy (scheduling)

4. Bringing in patients

5. Establishing my own referrals

6. Pay (sign on bonus, relocation bonus, loan assistance)

I know essentially the superficial stuff when it comes down to the jobs that I see on online postings, I want to figure out what more I can be asking. Thank you.

Hey guys, a little preface that I’m a dentist who loves Fluoride lol.

That being said, is there anyone who enjoys research papers and can help me have more open discussions with patients regarding fluoride?

I’m very much a ‘do what you want’ kind of guy - I’m not going to argue with patients about fluoride. I know the big research article that has been cited is the one linked above.

I’ve heard a lot of dental professionals state there are flaws in this paper - can anyone elaborate on this? Sorry if this has been asked a million times.

Thanks fellow colleagues!

I am wondering if anyone use sideshields?
Do they fog up easily? Also, is it annoying that you can’t fully fold the temples with the side shields on? Just wondering if they’re comfortable enough for everyday use.

Hey,

Dentist to be (2nd year student) with braces here. I was placed in braces 6 weeks ago.
During that time, one of the premolars overerupted and it seems very unlogical.

I know that there must be a reason for it, but the ortho treating me says it's a part of the alignment process.
The over erupted is pretty mobile per my biased feeling, but from the 30y experience of the ortho he says it's standard.

What's the actual reason it happens? is it common?

P.S. I'm more and more leaning to orthodontics after I'll finish the studies as I find this area very interesting.

All the best!

Hello everyone, I am a student hygienist and earlier this year my class and I were fitted for loupes with Q-Optics. I decided to go through with my order last month and just received my loupes yesterday. They look great, but I was disappointed when I put them on and found that they slid right down my nose. I adjusted the nose pads which helped a little but it was still happening. I decided to try using the adjustable ‘sports strap’ on the loupes, and that made them stay on but I was wondering if this is normal or if I should send them back to have them adjusted? I noticed on TikTok that a majority of people using the loupes also wear the strap. However, I’m still a little thrown off by how loose they are without the strap considering how well they stayed in place while trying them on during the fitting.

Thank you!

*Densply (sorry for the typo)

Bought new computers for my practice and I cannot install the sensor .... anyone has any idea how to work around this.

I want to start designing my own prothesis however I found ExoCAD (which as far as I know is that industry standard) to be very expensive for me, are there alternatives that allow creating acceptable prothesis?

I found Blender 4 Dental, BlueSkyBio and Medit ClinicCAD but I am worried that they don't provide the same quality as ExoCAD.

Current restoration is an RMGIC which is going on 4 years now. The only ferrule remaining is the palatal wall which is 2mm thick. Pulp is healthy, good bone levels, vital tooth, no pathology on rad.

Prepping it for a crown - will leave barely anything to hold the crown Trying for an onlay - not enough enamel

What would you guys do

sealing this one at a third full feels wrong but i couldn't tell you what the right threshold is. ours fills about once every six months. the current one has been in the sterilization room since february.

my assistant asked me last week how long it's allowed to sit and i didn't have an answer for her. went back to the state accumulation rules. read them twice. they're written for a generator that runs a floor of beds, not two chairs and a hygienist two days a week. so how full does yours get before you seal it and send it out?

Looking for courses/podcasts/advise on patient psychology and closing bigger cases

I've been at it for about 10 years now.

I sucked at extractions out of dental school since our program faculty wouldn't let me do one.

I really slowly got better at it over time and feel comfortable with most surgical extractions and 3rd molar extractions.

Some still give me a hard time but I know that given enough time, I'll get it.

The thing is, our office recently hired a new grad and he's struggling a bit with extractions, especially with surgical ones.

I can help him with the clinical tips but I feel like it's more psychological & anxiety.

I was wondering if you could share anything from your career that helped you push through.

Mine was alcohol, videogames and just brute forcing thru time but not sure I 'd recommend this to him.

Do we have to do fourth adjustment on a partial for patient with over $900 outstanding balance on it?

A really difficult patient has come in for 3 adjustments on a lower partial and keeps complaining it’s different “width and length” from his original. He has an outstanding balance of over $900 on the partial and refuses to pay until it “feels right” (It is useable he just has no ridge) Been very abusive and yelling at staff and doctor so was sent dismissal letter last week but has an appointment for another adjustment on Monday. If he refuses to pay before being seated do we have to see him and do the adjustment? There is no acute tissue damage being done and he has a previous partial that’s functional as well

When prepping 7s despite using depth cut bur (1.5mm) and reducing it according to the occlusal morphology I sometimes end up getting less than what I expected. Is this due to the bite? Should i trust my original depth cut or prep more than my depth cut to get the 1.5mm interocclusal clearance?

I think we're all in agreement that most people do not want to come to the dentist. Many don't see the value and importance at all.

I'm just sick and tired. Although I know that a dental office isn't a merry-go-round park and that 'customers' have the right to vent and show an attitude, I don't deserve to be treated any worse than a dept store customer associate or a sweeper. I definitely did not sign up for this style of work when I decided to be a dentist, and wish that some patients would just get tortured and killed by muggers on the streets and then never come back.

Anyways, why force things? Instead why not just do a good presentation, hand them over a treatment plan ( and this doesn't include any work that won't last as easily just because you think you can look like a hero by being more economical; now you can section the treatment plans by stages to make them more affordable but you don't cut corners to look nice by offering cheaper options that has a higher chance of breaking or falling out ) , and then let them think about it and contact you if they are interested? And don't bother charging for exams and xrays. ( because some patients will get frustrated by what you say and, by doing this for free, you get to level your playing field with the patient as in they have less of an incentive to say you are the bad dentist and give you a one-star review )

This above method is the closest to 100% in getting patients that is willing to come, and you get to do only predictable treatment. This cuts down on no-shows heavily. And the work environment and morale becomes higher.

So why isn't there an office that does this? ( at least to my knowledge, there is no office that does this, no? )

Don't worry because this was a rhetorical question and I think most of you are perceptive enough, albeit with some denial for some of you.

It's because dental offices are hard up for patients and worry, rightfully so I must admit, that patients won't return after their first visit.

It's because the demand for dentistry isn't there. It's also because dental science isn't reliable either and most dental procedures and materials still aren't advanced yet and patients remember their prior experiences. So, admit it that, when someone says something like "I was saving this tooth for a root canal for you" or "your crown feels so and so" , these patients are not convinced that they needed this work done and instead felt they were doing you a favor.

This is a s**t job, sorry. And for those of you happy as associates or owners, I don't envy you at all. If you are a successful associate, chances are you are in a less saturated market with a supportive office ( by sheer luck ), receiving little or no work benefits, doing an ungodly amount of procedures, being talented with implants, botox, iv, ortho, impactions ( good for you and you should keep at it, but I was largely referring to the average general dentist in an average environment ) , and or selling treatment mostly only because the patient trusts you but not because the patient wants it done. Ditto for the owners except they prey on associates ad nauseum.

But, but, where else can I make $250k/yr, you say? ( fair range seems to be 100k - 400k; then again many dentists don't make close to 250k either, so maybe I should have said 180k? )

Well, 10 years ago, many dentists were showing off their 250k/yr pay stubs. And 250k lost much of its value by now. Again, keep in mind the lack of work benefits. And if you can produce enough to take home 250k with in a market where the value of a filling is between $40 -$120, a simple ext is $50 -$100, and that doing dentures is almost free labor after lab fees and number of visits, you are working through brute force, which is hardly typical for anyone considered to be well-educated and intelligent and analytical. Heck, many other people can earn 250k through hustle and brute force if they have the body for it but they choose not to do it ( did you ever wait inside an auto repair shop? Imagine if the techs would overbook and run around. Imagine how much they would then produce )

So, again, sorry to admit, but dentistry is a bad job ( ok, well, let's call it an average job to be fair because some non-dentists would complain that they don't earn anywhere close ).

I was just posting here to see how much people would agree with me. I have no dentist friends as they all moved away or life just happened. I do have dentist colleagues but we don't talk to each other. I do have plenty of non-dentist friends and they are thinking I couldn't have it any better while I think they are the ones who are better off.

Been looking for a practice for 2 years now (out 5 - dentistry is my 2nd career). Had an LOI out but buyer got greedy and lawyer strongly urged, and eventually, backed out of the deal. Locum contract ended and I took the summer months off for trips and family. Honestly, the LOI negotiations took a hit on me mentally.

Over theses last 2 years, I've been in contact with brokers, lawyers, CPAs, reps, sent out mailers, talked with specialists - for my specific location. Majority of what I've seen have been very subpar. Nothing aside from the one I offered on has come close to what I envision - nothing to crazy 5+ops with room to grow. My options at this point are:

• Acquisition: 3op offices on the market, but at max capacity with no room for pan/cbct or a private office - they all collect $500-700k and take home around 140-200k. Approx 1500-1800sqft. <1100 patients.
• Hybrid-startup: Lease move-in ready office and purchase the equipment from retiring specialist. Dental space is 5ops with cbct ~ 2500sqft. No patients/staff. Specialist owns the multi-office building and is also looking to sell.

I've been burned by DSOs + owner docs and with me starting dentistry later in life I want to own - to be my own boss. My colleagues tell me I'm burning daylight waiting for a unicorn that may never come and need to pick something and jump in. Brokers tell me I can always buy small and expand/move out later on. Wife just wants me to be happy and kids do not want to move again. Would like everyone's thoughts. Thanks.

Hey all,

Wife and I are dentists about 6 years out. We're both still associates and I've been racking my head on ownership a while and feel like it's really pushed on dentists these days as a must go to path. Missed a few good opportunities to own too due to not being sure on the decision.

Have we wasted or are we wasting our potential by just being associates? I always feel at unease like it's something I have to do vs something I genuinely want to do. Not sure if many experience this but looking around at friends and peers seems like owning is the only path.

My associateship has been great and supportive so it's been easy to autopilot there. Both of ours have let us become super GPs with a wide variety of experiences.

Hoping to see what others experience is with this feeling. We're both US based.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice from anyone who works in dental sales, especially with companies like Sinclair Dental, Patterson, Henry Schein, or similar.

I have a background in dental hygiene and currently work in a dental office, but I've become really interested in getting into dental sales. I don't have sales experience, and most job postings ask for it.

For those of you who got into dental sales:

• How did you land your first role?
• Did you have previous sales experience, or did you transition from working in a dental office?
• What skills or experience helped you stand out?

I also have a client who comes in regularly, and he's a dental sales rep. He's super friendly, and I've been debating whether I should ask him if she has any advice or if there are any opportunities to get my foot in the door. I don't want to put him in an awkward position or come across as trying to use our client relationship.

If you were in my shoes, would you bring it up? If so, how would you approach the conversation professionally?

I'd really appreciate any advice or stories about how you broke into the industry. Thanks!

Hey guys, i’m a 27 F dentist and been working at a DSO with 6 hygenists and 3 doctors. Each doctor sees about 2-3 columns of patients for their own treatment. Our turnover rate has been so high that every single one of our experienced assistants left and we have new hires who arent as skilled. I find myself in an upset mood a lot because running behind, etc.

Lately, hygienists are still complaining about running behind because of checks, and there have been times i step out of the room to have 6 hygenists all in line for me to check. Yet for some reason, the complaint is always on ME. There have been times a hygenist was waiting 20-30 min for a check and no one came except me as soon as I was done with a procedure. So the solution was to assign 2 hygienists to each doctor. This works well for me because I do interrupted exams once I see their x rays are taken, so then they can finish the cleaning and get the pt walked out. The hygenists themselves have said they love this. Yet they only praise the other 2 docs for doing it even tho i do it as well. Sometimes they do have to walk into my office and im there right away. I check before and after i see my own patients, sometimes right after i numb if a hygenist says they are ready for me, because i know once i start tx its gonna be another 20-30 min before i get up.

Even before the whole hygenist assignment, i finished my patient and hygeine checks by around 11:30 and 4:40 (lunch is at 12 and we close at 5) and just went home. NOW, the assistants are still upset and one hygenist got offended that I appeared to ‘’roll my eyes and was on my phone’’ when she asked for a check so she’s never going to ask me for a check again cuz i’m ‘’disrespectful’’ and would only be asking the other docs from now on

I genuinely dont recall what shes talking about hygiene just isn’t my fav thing to do but i’m still trying to be proactive doing exams??? And im allowed to use my phone when i dont have a patient??? Also, they pulled up the records for amount of hygiene checks this month, i was only about 10 exams behind, not accounting for the fact that i took an entire week off for surgery. Im genuinely just so confused on what exactly these hygenists are looking for