Why Do Dentist Make So Much Money

Dentists - Medical students who decided to specialise 7 years early

(Original post by hypocriticaljap)
dentists employed by the NHS who work mainly with community dental services earn between £37,344 and £79,875.

Consultants in dental specialities are paid on the same scales as other hospital consultants and earn between £74,504 and £176,242 dependent on length of service and payment of additional performance related awards.

The average GP salary is £140,000

Where did you get this quote from??
The VT dentist that worked at the practice I did earned £30,000 for that year after which he became an associate with my boss. His contract for that year was £180,000. As my boss was his associate and provided him with a surgery, stock, nurse etc he took 50% of his wage but if he owned his own practice - he would have recieved that full amount and have less deducted.

(Original post by Alex D)
I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to study medicine. It's the fact you came out with something that you have no idea of yet. I've just had the first week of lectures and have plenty of work. My point is doctors deserve what they get because they work bloody hard. Surely you also compared medicine to other professions when you mentioned lollipop ladies? Pot kettle black much?

In fairness, my post did state: "Don't get me wrong, there is no doubt that doctors should earn a lot of money for the effort they put in". And, actually, when I was comparing medicine to other professions I was doing so to illustrate how futile it is so I'd appreciate such idioms not being used against me.

(Original post by gildartz)
wtf? where did you get that implication from? he is just stating the fact that doctors have large amounts of material to study during their 5 years in med school, and they build on their knowledge until the day they die compared to lolly pop ladies who surely don't have to study and work as hard yet they do make a difference to people's lives. Doctors do work unsociable hours most of the time and thats a fact but how you got the idea that hedoesn't wanna become a doctor I have no clue.

tbh, i'd rather have a job which pays a reasonable amount whereby I enjoy every day I step into work rather than a job with a 6-figure wage whereby I consider every waking moment on the job as torture.

I got that implication as he seemed to imply the huge amount of study that doctors do automatically means they should earn more money, which I don't believe is the case. He seemed to portray the amount of study needed in a negative way. Also, I never said that he didn't want to be a doctor, I said that it seemed like he wouldn't enjoy the learning process to become one. I further fail to see one week at med school (On, I believe, a foundation year?) to warrant a claim of sound knowledge of the amount of work a doctor has to do.

I quite agree with your last paragraph.

(Original post by terpineol)
I'll admit I'm probably not the target of that post, but I really can't work the answer out.

Med students rule that's why. I don't think Dentistry students can match them.

(Original post by qazwsx123)
Where did you get this quote from??
The VT dentist that worked at the practice I did earned £30,000 for that year after which he became an associate with my boss. His contract for that year was £180,000. As my boss was his associate and provided him with a surgery, stock, nurse etc he took 50% of his wage but if he owned his own practice - he would have recieved that full amount and have less deducted.

Exactly. That figure is for community dentistry, an entirely different (and salaried) branch than general practice. It's a random figure plucked with no knowledge of what it means.

(Original post by Scrubby)
Med students rule that's why. I don't think Dentistry students can match them.

Dentists aren't the insecure ones. It's always you medical applicants complaining about dentists .. how they get paid more than you guys, how they have a better lifestyle than you lot etc.

If dentists wanted to match you guys, they would have applied for medicine. I think people just need to get over the fact that some people would rather be a dentist than a doctor.

(Original post by Scrubby)
Med students rule that's why. I don't think Dentistry students can match them.

You talk BS. Dentistry req are identical to medicine. All the dent applicants are good enough, academically, to apply for medicine and probably get in.

I know 2/3 medics who have transferred into dentistry from medicine because they felt it had become "slave work" for a "beggars pay" and was not worth it anymore.

(Original post by daman2)
You talk BS. Dentistry req are identical to medicine. All the dent applicants are good enough, academically, to apply for medicine.

Fixed

(Original post by Alex D)
Fixed

If you can't learn to appreciate and work with other healthcare professionals who you view as below you, you are REALLY going to struggle. From cleaners and nurses right up to surgeons and consultants, they all couldn't do their jobs without each other. You are a first year medic. You have many years ahead of you to fail. Learn a little humility and appreciate other professions. I'd be suprised if you had even been near a patient. so learn the meaning of healthcare 'team'

(Original post by Magnanimity)
If you can't learn to appreciate and work with other healthcare professionals who you view as below you, you are REALLY going to struggle. From cleaners and nurses right up to surgeons and consultants, they all couldn't do their jobs without each other. You are a first year medic. You have many years ahead of you to fail. Learn a little humility and appreciate other professions. I'd be suprised if you had even been near a patient. so learn the meaning of healthcare 'team'

FFS, get a sense of humour. And really don't start handing me advice cheers, I've worked with other healthcare professionals for over 2 years so I don't need a lecture from someone who misinterprets a post. It was a joke to be taken lightheartedly :shifty:

(Original post by Alex D)
FFS, get a sense of humour. Jesus, you're not helping your profession by acting like a tit.

You're the one acting like a tit. Come back and post on here once/if you actually finish your first year ...

(Original post by dental)
You're the one acting like a tit. Come back and post on here once/if you actually finish your first year ...

Why don't you just go. Have you ever heard of banter?

(Original post by dental)
You're the one acting like a tit. Come back and post on here once/if you actually finish your first year ...

I'm confused - how are you intending to try and claim moral high ground over someone while simultaneously making ad hom attacks about whether they're going to succeed in med school?

I completely agree with Alex. You labelled med students as insecure, yet you're the one overreacting at every joke, banter or slur on dentists.

(Original post by daman2)
You talk BS. Dentistry req are identical to medicine. All the dent applicants are good enough, academically, to apply for medicine and probably get in.

You talk BS.

(Original post by Phalanges)
I'm confused - how are you intending to try and claim moral high ground over someone while simultaneously making ad hom attacks about whether they're going to succeed in med school?

I completely agree with Alex. You labelled med students as insecure, yet you're the one overreacting at every joke, banter or slur on dentists..

Thanks man I was starting to worry I was coming across as incredibly offensive but as far as I'm aware, healthcare professionals have always bantered with each other :dontknow:

(Original post by daman2)
You talk BS. Dentistry req are identical to medicine. All the dent applicants are good enough, academically, to apply for medicine and probably get in.

true, and there are much less places for dentistry than there is for medicine so that makes it more competitive than medicine at certain places. Not sure if this is accurate but a friend who is applying for dentistry told me that in some unis there are around 20 APP for dentistry.

what are you? an idiot? the other guy said that dentists can apply for medicine and probably get in which is actually BS no matter how you look at it. I suggest you eat your own advice and respect medical students who will become the future surgeons/consultants. and how the hell did you get the idea that he thought dentists were below him?! urgh, some people on here are over critical fools :rolleyes:

(Original post by Alex D)
FFS, get a sense of humour. And really don't start handing me advice cheers, I've worked with other healthcare professionals for over 2 years so I don't need a lecture from someone who misinterprets a post. It was a joke to be taken lightheartedly :shifty:

Sorry, it didn't look like it. Guess that's the internet. As a fifth year dental student a breath away from graduating, I think it's very good advice. And I think you should be openminded to it

(Original post by Magnanimity)
Sorry, it didn't look like it. Guess that's the internet. As a fifth year dental student a breath away from graduating, I think it's very good advice. And I think you should be openminded to it

Reading back I apologise, I didn't mean to cause offence, it genuinely was meant as light-hearted banter (I thought banter is redolent between healthcare professionals but apparently dentists aren't too hot on it). However, exacerbating a light-hearted comment to the point where you as good as suggest I'd urinate on cleaners and nurses is incredibly over-blown and about as mis-representative of my personality as you can get. It is good advice but it's also advice that I've used in the work I've done for the past few years. I'll spell it out, I do not think I'm better than anyone because I'm doing a medical degree. It's unfortunate I have to justify something that was light-hearted to someone who I thought would see that it was banter.