Dental school graduates commonly take on debt that runs as high as 100k-300k. Loans are due 30 days after graduation. Many choose to consolidate and spread out payments over 30 years, like a home mortgage. This debt is not dischargeable by bankruptcy.

Many states will suspend the dental license if payments are late.

The pressure is great to find a job and start making loan payments. Credit history is immediately at risk.

The recent graduate was looking forward to graduating and earning his Dr. degree, but

reality hits home with every mail that comes from the banks.

A car, a house, a spouse, how can you afford the American dream?

The corporation has given the recent graduate a lifeline in the form of an opportunity to practice the profession without worrying about office overhead. It is enough to carry out and be compensated the regional supervisor (who is not a dentist) instructs.

“Our dentists earn 200 thousand a year,” he says. “Sign up today and rest assured that you will have a bright future with us.”

These were the words he said to me. I bought the dream job. Only to discover that it was an illusion. Instead of not sleeping because of debt, I couldn’t sleep because I refused to

overdiagnose, overtreat and accept the corporate model.

They paid me 28 percent of my production. I was evaluated throughout the day and at the end of the working day as well as weekly monthly and quarterly.

The regional supervisor (who was a dentist) counseled me twice in three months and told me that I was not making enough crowns. He informed me that my crown to fill ratio was unacceptable. He informed me that I should do 4 crowns for each filling. This means that he was asking me to over treat and over diagnose. They wrote to me and told me to “continue with the program.” They told me that if my numbers didn’t improve, my future at this company was in question.

Not long after, I contacted a practice broker and located a private practice to purchase.

I am now in private practice and sleeping like a baby. I am proud that I took the difficult step, but I do not regret it.

Unfortunately, corporate dental offices keep springing up everywhere and it will take some time for them to die down. People will discover for themselves that the corporate model does not have their best interests in mind.

I am happy to share this article with you and I hope you will pay close attention as you are your own advocate. Trust your intuition, if it doesn’t seem right, it’s okay to get a second opinion. Ask for detailed explanations and diagnoses, then do some research online.

Best wishes for you!