<p>I'm thinking about becoming a dentist. Aside from the fact that they actually have an easier time than doctors, college wise, dentists are able to have a better balance life. That's really what I want when I have a family, I don't want to have such a stressful life a physician have.</p>
<p>However, I'm trying to think of other pros and cons of being a dentist and it's hard to come up with a lot more. Any help would be appreciated...</p>
<p>btw, does anyone have any idea the salary a dentist make? I know that on like salary.com, they list dentists making in the 120,000 range, but I'm sure dentists make a lot more than that. Is anyone a private practicioner? What's the chance of earning in the 200,000 - 250,000 range?</p>
<p>Dentists make a really good living. That's one of the pros, while the only real cons I can think of are that sometimes working with the mouth and teeth can be strenuous because they're kinda small. </p>
<p>The median is probably 120,000 . . . a lot of dentists who own their own practice make upwards of 200,000, and that I think should be pretty common. My dentist is half of a couple who both went to the same dental school and now they both own a practice together. I don't think they're particularly fantastic at what they do, just good. But I think they do earn a lot judging from their cars, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks schrizto....I guess I'm not really worried about the mouth thing, just that it might be too repetitive over time.</p>
<p>I just want to take a survey, who has an easier time, meaning in the workplace and family lifestyle, dentists or physicians(specialists included)?</p>
<p>I'm not sure that I would say they have an "easier time". I have many friends who are either in or applying to Dental Schools, and all worked just as hard as any premed. Considering that almost all the classes for the pre-dent and pre-med curriuclum are identicle means they are often competing for the same grades.</p>
<p>Further, competition for dental school spots is just as fierce as medical school. In fact successful applicants to dental school are probably more likely to have applied more than once before they are accepted b/c you can apply while a junior to forgo your senior year of undergrad and begin dental school - but one must have extraordinary stats to do so.</p>
<p>Dentistry certainly lends itself to a better lifestyle - the closest approximation for an MD being something like Derm: regular hours, rare emergencies, and so on. General Dentists do not have to complete fellowships/residencies, but the big money is in the fields that do require a fellowhip - ie Orthodontia (HUGE money making potential).
However the drawbacks of the job are the constant nagging, the fact that few people like to go to the dentist, the few specialty options, less prestige than MD, the fact that you have to work on teeth all the time (a personal inability of mine)</p>