What is wrong with a dentist making over $100,000 a year?

Question

I am a dental assistant, so I know the behinds the scenes reasons why dentistry is so expensive. I am amazed at the number of people on here who call dentists money hungry and complain about the amount of money that dentists make, but a dentist isn't so bad when that same person has a horrible toothach. Do patients really think that the money they pay a dentist goes directly into their pocket? Do patients not realize that everything that they see in that office, from the drills to the anesthetic down to a single piece of paper, costs money, and that a dentist has to pay for all of this, rent, lab bills, utilities, salaries, malpractice insurance, continueing ed courses, repairs to computers and other equipment, before he pockets a dime of the money patients pay him? I can tell you, if I went to school for 8 years, paid over $300,000 for dental school, and had to deal with the issues that dentists do, I would expect to take home over $1000,000 a year. Wouldn't you?

I don't mean to be on a soap box here, but there are alot of people on here complaining about something that they know absolutely nothing about. It would be like me complaining that my daughters pediatrician charges too much, when I don't have the slightest clue what it takes to run a pediatric office or how much their overhead costs. I would be "talking out my _ _ _." That is what I think some on here are doing. You shouldn't critisize something you know nothing about. And if you are not in the dental field or never have been, then you have no right to critisize, till you know all the facts.

I meant to type $1000,000 at the end of my first paragraph, not a million.

Answer 1

I agree. When I was in hygiene school we were told over and over to watch how many towels we used just to dry our hands becuz in the real world dentists are cheapskates with what they need to spend. They should be, if people knew all the supplies and other expenses that it takes and just the stress of getting that far in your career, you should be making that much or more. The dentists at my office are very nice and have done a lot of quick procedures free of charge when I've walked in needing something like a small chip drilled smooth.

Answer 2

They make what their worth, its just the sticker shock with the prices of everything. Like 5 grand for a 6 tooth bridge. You wouldn't think that it would cost that much, but i guess it does. Its just that certain (not all) dentists add every single upcharge and lab fee onto their costs. I went and had a consultation with one dentist and wanted to charge me like 18 grand for some dental work, I went to another dentist, talked to him and some patients and got the same work done for half the cost since there werent' a bunch of BS lab fees and upcharges added on.

Answer 3

NOTHING, they should make that and more. Medical equipment is expensive, the medicines for anethesia for the patients, the material for repair of teeth and Gums, and Xray film is too. Keeping inventory to its potential is very expensive, as the Rent for the office space...even if they own the building...Taxes have to be paid.

I agree with you, plus the STAFF has to be paid for Assisting in running the office.

Answer 4

Those money grubbing bastards. Why do I get the feeling that my dentist did a root canal just to get enough money to pay his monthly lease on a Mercedes that cost more than my house? They would be crying all the way to the bank, except the banks go to dentists when they want to borrow money. They pay their staff minimum wage and complain about overhead driving them to the poor house. That can't be a bad place to be, though, if they are driving there in an S-class Mercedes. And the trophy wife will meet him there in her Porsche SUV. My dentist once made me wait almost 12 hours to see him when I had already suffered with a toothache for 18 days. I called him at home and he said that he'd be willing to meet me at the office, but the Scrooge said it would cost an extra fifty bucks for him to leave his comfy living room to see him at night. I think he's just trying to figure out a sneaky way to get part of the money I owe him for taking out my tooth two years ago. He acted like it was a big deal to see me before he started seeing his regular patients for the day, as if he needed more money. Hey, he's the one with the castle on the hill. He probably has a home at the beach, too, where he keeps his boat. Why should I pay him anything anyhow? The insurance paid their 50% of the fee, after all. That should be enough. Dentists have clean work anyhow. Who works harder? A dentist who barely has to lift a finger and sits on his fat butt all day and has people hand him things that are one foot away from him or a trash collector who has to lift heavy cans of stinky garbage all day and toss them into the back of a truck? America has got it all backwards. If anyone deserves to make $100,000, it's the poor trashman and not the got-it-made-in-the-shade dentist.

Answer 5

Nothing is wrong with it. My dentist and her staff are wonderful. I hope she makes that much. My teeth have never been better. No cavities in 10 years. I credit her staff for the great job they do with cleaning.
I also read my EOB'S and after the insurance takes off the contractual agreement she doesn't see much.

Answer 6

Well I agree there are a lot of costs but on the other hand, my boss drives a mercedes, lives in a mansion in an exclusive suburb, wife has a cleaner etc, kids have Saabs, lots of overseas trips and all the rest of it.

Answer 7

I think they should make more, personally.
My dentist definitely is NOT money hungry, he does some things free of charge sometimes.

Answer 8

I don't think like that , I would pay my dentist with out a problem , he makes my mouth feel better

Answer 9

So, Dr. Sam would rather be a garbage collector than a dentist? He still has his seance of humour.