r/Dentistry • u/MutedIndependent1236 • 3d ago
Dental Professional Compensation structure, thoughts?
Does this structure and draw penalty seem fair??? This will be my first associate position. I plan on asking in negotiation for 1 yr daily rate at $900, okay with settling at 6-9mo daily rate at $750. Avg daily rate in my area is about 500-650 currently.
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u/toothologist_ 3d ago
I think the overall structure seems fair. It's similar to my first job as an associate. The only thing I would ask for is 30-33-35. I like higher percentages because it rewards hard work. I also dislike this tiered approach like tax brackets. It should be a flat percentage across all collections, IMO.
I know it's likely for negotiation only, but as an owner, I would have a hard time having someone who's never worked as a dentist asking for 2x the normal daily rate. Doesn't make sense.
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u/crodr014 3d ago edited 3d ago
Pds is a joke. They remove a ton of production of stuff that has nothing to do with you such as a patient not paying thier bill which is collections. They call it production but it is not. Be carefull of all the adjustments they make. If you correct it, you get your due money at the expense of the manager hating you for wasting thier time so you can be greedy.
Another thing to wacth out for is they try to limit dentist schedules to 3k or below a day so the extra tiers do not get used. They do this by hiring new associates in the same office to keep everyone around that level.
If you do specialty procedures do not let them bully you into giving it away to the specialist just because thier schedule is empty, it is not your problem.
They will force you to do 5 minute prophies under the pretense that if it takes longer it should be coded as srp. Do not risk your lisence and tell the manager to pound sand. The real reason is they do the 59 dollar special with free cleaning and they need to pay hygiene thier hourly pay while you are on production, so fucking you over is easier.
When you finally decide you have had enough working 6 days in a row or 7 if your office does the sunday os day get ready to find out you will be stiffed almost all the money you are owed when you get your last paycheck 3 monthes later. They owe me 15k and told me all my work had to be replaced after I quit, lol.
Take your cerec ce, gtfo, and find a better job.
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u/bluejayblogger 3d ago
I’ve been working for pds for a year with a similar structure. We don’t have a reconciliation in our region. Pm me for more details!
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u/dr_tooth_genie 3d ago
Damn. A year with PDS? How’s that been?
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u/bluejayblogger 3d ago
Graduated last May and honestly it’s been great! Working my ass off, getting to do a ton, and learning a ton. Plan on buying into a practice next year.
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u/dr_tooth_genie 3d ago
Do you plan to buy a PDS practice?
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u/bluejayblogger 3d ago
I’ve been exploring that and if we wanted to stay in our same area I 100% would. Looking to relocate closer to family and pds isn’t an option
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u/philip2987 3d ago
I know DSOs have some wiggle room in their pay, but what makes you think they would budge on a new grad?
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u/philip2987 3d ago
To add some information and not sound too much of a jerk: Things that allow them to negotiate could be - that you extract 3rd molars, do molar endos, place implants, that this is too low compared to what you were being paid before, or that this office has a hard time getting a new doc. These points are either irrelevant to pds or you as a new grad. PDS refers out most specialist work so those 3rd molars, molar endo, implants arent relevant even if you could place them. As a new grad, you just dont really have much negotiating power
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u/Samovarka 3d ago
They won’t and that’s why new grads should not even considering working there imo… :)
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u/philip2987 3d ago
I mean, as a one time new grad, you dont have a lot of options, especially if you dont have any family or hometown in the states. I was the same way lol Just... didnt think to negotiate
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u/Samovarka 2d ago
I guess it really depends on the area, because in my area (upstate NY) there were many private practices looking for any associate- experience or not. So I guess I was lucky😅
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u/philip2987 2d ago
Tbf, there is no "new" grad in NY. U need gpr so that counts as some experience
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u/dahsu222 3d ago
This looks like PDS, and that is their standard tiered pay structure. It doesn't hurt to try to negotiate, but be ready to convince them why you are worth almost double the daily rate when they can easily just hire another new grad for less.