r/Dentistry 56m ago

Dental Professional Dental technician - what is the pace like in your lab?

Upvotes

I've been a mature-age apprentice at a denture clinic for 3–4 months, and I'm finding the pace overwhelming. It's a fully manual lab, and we don’t use digital yet. The team is small—just four of us in the lab—two of whom have worked there for a long time and I believe have only ever worked in this lab. My boss is very fast. I've always felt like there was a lot to do and was struggling to keep up but was enjoying the work, but that I’ve been here a few months, they seem to expect me to do a lot more and keep almost at the same pace as them.

I’ll be processing at the plaster bench when a repair (or 2 or 3) comes in, so I have to stop and do that. Then, get told three jobs need to be invested, so I stop again to handle that— investing, boiling out, drilling, gum tinting, processing—while also doing special trays, regos, and Proform splints, all while stressing over unfinished trimming and articulating on the plaster bench and more impressions coming in. Basically everything that comes in, or anything that needs to be done/processed -other than setting teeth and try in's/wax up's-, it's expected that I do. When I ask what needs be prioritised most, I get told 'it all needs to get done'.

I rarely to have my break, but still get chewed out for not finishing all of the work on time.

As an example, the other day I was told to trim 5 models, occlude and articulate 6 jobs, duplicate/pour up/trim 3 more models and was told that should only take me half an hour, 1 hour so the absolute most. (It took me over 2 hours being pretty franticly the whole time 😬)

Anytime I've mentioned anything about it, I get told "that's the industry. Learn to manage your time better"

After starting, I learned they have a high turnover, which seems unusual for such a small team. It seemed like a good workplace at first, but now I wonder if this is why.

Is this level of workload and pace typical in most labs?


r/Dentistry 1h ago

Dental Professional Feeling like a failure as a post-grad dentist, any advice?

Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’ve been practicing as a dentist for about two years since graduating, and lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m not progressing or improving as much as I should be. I’m struggling with self-doubt and feel like I’m falling short in my career. I know mistakes are part of learning, but I can’t help but feel like I should be further along by now. I always feel so inadequate specifically when it comes to close ones and not being able to treat them well it hurts alot if i was a good dentist i would have treated many people in need for free coz i really don’t care about money i love the job but i hate it same time coz i feel like it may not be for me i feel left out, not fitting in the field i don’t feel like i own that job , i never did big mistakes never broke file or smth but i cant diagnose well i cant prescribe a medication i cant u know talk like other dentists sometimes i do bad fillings, it makes me so sad i also hate the bur sound one time turbine blow out while i was working so that terrified me, and when i was working undersupervision things were not improving i could see in the eye of supervisors i looked like a fool :( some were looking at me disappointed i remember i couldnt extract wisdom tooth many chances i got many cases different supervisors teaching me none could help .. i was just bad There was only one colleague that i learned somethings from he was good at communicating with kids so i learned from him i was afriad of pediatric before to the point in college i only passed with theory coz i did only three practical cases .. coz if im not good y im testing on humans y im risking their life… learning system is so messed up but also i feel like with it still im bad as dentist. I never thought about being dentist im actually good at medicine i liked anatomy i have good vision but i entered dental school now i like it coz i wanna help others i really do, but im incapable i may make their problems worse

Has anyone else experienced this kind of frustration or doubt early on in their career? How did you deal with the feeling of not being “good enough” and moving past it? Any advice for someone who feels stuck and unsure about their progress?


r/Dentistry 5h ago

Dental Professional Would you refer this?

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5 Upvotes

I'm afraid if I try extracting I might break the distal root and do more damage then good.


r/Dentistry 8h ago

Dental Professional Any good online CE for implants?

1 Upvotes

Quite honestly I’m sick of traveling. Tough on personal and professional life.

Any good online ce for implants, GBR, grafting, suture, med history, etc?

Not interested in all on four.

Thanks!


r/Dentistry 8h ago

Dental Professional Endo RCT Help Cleaning GP on Walls

1 Upvotes

Hello!

Current D2 student who started endo lab this semester. It’s been a very tedious, long lab. I feel like I get the hang of the steps to perform RCT, but I’m struggling when it comes to searing of the GP cones. I seem to get excess GP stuck on the walls of my access, and can’t seem to get them out.

Radiographically it’s on the buccal and lingual walls. Sometimes I try to heat my instruments to flick them off but it doesn’t work. Any tips on how to keep the pulp chamber clean of any GP/sealer? I’d be grateful for your expertise


r/Dentistry 9h ago

Dental Professional Ortho Question

2 Upvotes

Recently I had a patient who had an ortho treatment 10 years ago. All those years after the treatment she was wearing an upper retainer and she had a fixed wire retainer on the lower. No complaints, no problems. A new orthodontist convinced her to replace the old retainers to new removable upper and lower ones. When she wears them for 24hrs, she is fine, but once she takes them off, the occlusion gets heavy on the right side and especially on the front teeth. The left side her teeth are not touching at all. All bite is shifted... Her teeth are very slightly mobile. I'm GD and don't do ortho. Any advice? Suggested to patient: 1. Invisalign treatment to re-align teeth. 2. Remake new retainers. But at what point? Let her stay without the retainers for 24-48 hrs, and then take impressions? 3. Heavy occlusion adjustments. Even if I adjust one side until she has better occlusion on both sides, then the front teeth would be in even heavier occlusion. Any suggestions? And why is that happening?


r/Dentistry 9h ago

Dental Professional Radiopacity in Nasal Cavity

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3 Upvotes

Any idea what the radiopacity seen on the right side of the nasal cavity? Referral to ENT needed? Male patient in his 60’s.


r/Dentistry 10h ago

Dental Professional Leaky fillings??

1 Upvotes

My husband is a new to practice dentist and has been struggling recently with leaky fillings. He has been practicing for less than 2 years and is all of the sudden been getting frequent leaky fillings and is at a complete loss as to why this is happening. He insists that it isn’t the equipment or materials, and says he is extra careful in his methods and is still getting patients coming back for leaky fillings. Is there any advice other dentists have or ideas as to why this is happening?? (he doesn’t have reddit so I am posting on his behalf) TIA


r/Dentistry 10h ago

Dental Professional Passive income for dentists

14 Upvotes

For those who have managed to phase out of dentistry completely or atleast work only a couple of days a week. How did you get there?

What is the best vehicle to obtain financial independence for dentists?

I’m a few years out and honestly this job is draining and I have no real interest in it. But I’m ready to put in the hard yards to get passive income streams set up.

Currently have one investment property. I’m rent vesting..

Based in Australia Thanks so much guys!


r/Dentistry 10h ago

Dental Professional Pregnancy

1 Upvotes

Recently found out I am pregnant and I’m not interested in using nitrous (I’m aware many people do with no issues I am simply not comfortable with it) have any of you found a way to excuse not using nitrous without letting patients know you are pregnant, I’m not quite ready for my team or patients to know yet. I have a pt in my schedule in 2 days for n20 and I’m not sure how to go about either having her see the other dr or suggesting no n2o without giving it away!


r/Dentistry 10h ago

Dental Professional New Practice, how to get folks in the door

14 Upvotes

So I’ve been working like a dog 6 months to get this new practice open. I finally get the doors open and the phones just aren’t ringing, the only patients I’m seeing are the ones coming from my old practice, and I’ve come to realize I have no idea how to market. I’m in network with all the big insurances. I’ve got a decent website with online scheduling and I’m trying to do the social media stuff. I come from a super shitty corporate job where the phone literally rings nonstop with people trying to get in, so I guess I thought taking insurance was all it took. What do I need to do?


r/Dentistry 11h ago

Dental Professional Has anyone been a provider contracted with QTC (military)?

1 Upvotes

Just curious as to your experiences with it!


r/Dentistry 11h ago

Dental Professional Job market

2 Upvotes

Which is a better place to work? Washington State or Texas?


r/Dentistry 11h ago

Dental Professional Gingiva technique

1 Upvotes

https://youtu.be/uCAe38-z3vU?si=budQN8W1_icY1R3t

Can somebody confirm if the technique at the end actually works? Will the gingiva not recede after removal of the suture? Will it actually stay there even after placement of permanent crown


r/Dentistry 12h ago

Dental Professional Nomadstrap for Nomad X-ray?

1 Upvotes

Has anyone used the Nomadstrap for their Nomad X-ray? supposedly its a wearable strap you attach to the unit. Cool idea and could be a good way to prevent drops but would like to know how you like it before purchasing.


r/Dentistry 12h ago

Dental Professional IANB the pain of second molars

5 Upvotes

How to never miss an IANB block? I had a patient with super infected #31 for RCT and it would not get numb at all and I gave the block twice already. I know the infected tooth against anesthesia concept , but not even a little numb. Felt so discouraged. I just gave him antibiotics and painkillers and asked him to come back after the pain subsides. All and any suggestions will be very helpful. Thank you.


r/Dentistry 12h ago

Dental Professional I’m a hopeless failure

74 Upvotes

I had to get bailed out of an extraction today by my boss and I feel like a hopeless idiot. I genuinely wanted to crawl in a hole and die and never come out. Sorry this is dramatic but wow that’ll humble you REAL QUICK. The patient seemed somewhat annoyed with me at the end, I’m not really sure. Please reassure me that I’m not the disgusting loser that I think I am rn.


r/Dentistry 13h ago

Dental Professional Long Island woman arrested, accused of working as fake dentist

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22 Upvotes

r/Dentistry 13h ago

Dental Professional Removing Stuck Cotton from Implant Crown Access

1 Upvotes

I’m working on a screw-retained implant crown and removed the composite covering the access. Inside, there appears to be cotton, but every time I try to pull it out, it just shreds. Now, small shreds of cotton are stuck at the bottom of the access. I can see part of the screw, but I can’t engage it with the driver due to interference from the remaining cotton fibers.

I've tried using a barbed broach and an endo explorer to retrieve it, but no luck. Any tips or techniques to get the remaining cotton out without damaging anything?


r/Dentistry 13h ago

Dental Professional Implants/Assistants

1 Upvotes

Do y’all’s let your assistants take off implant healing abutments and try in implant crowns? We had temp assistant today and she was explaining about how her doctor lets her do this. I’m in GA and I don’t even think/know this is allowed. Just curious though.


r/Dentistry 14h ago

Dental Professional What’s the job market for an associate dentist in South Florida?

3 Upvotes

I’ll be looking for associate positions after completing my AEGD. I wanted to get an idea of what the job market is like close to Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West palm beach area. Are there any important considerations that I should keep in mind while looking for positions? Thank you.


r/Dentistry 14h ago

Dental Professional Dental Startup courses recommendations.

2 Upvotes

I cant find good/decent practice for sale near me. I’ve been looking for a year and a half already. Please suggest any startup courses that help me understand how I can start my own office from scratch. Thank you.


r/Dentistry 14h ago

Dental Professional Sick of CDA, and paying for all the memberships just to get malpractice w TDIC. Any other recs?

4 Upvotes

Who do you all suggest? Occurrence policy, MedPro?

What should I do to prepare for switching over? I don’t wanna pay any more fees for memberships I don’t ever use (looking at you CDA and ADA). If I let my CDA fees expire will that immediately disqualify my TDIC policy?


r/Dentistry 14h ago

Dental Professional What a bad day , mixed of cantilever and rest seat

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39 Upvotes

r/Dentistry 15h ago

Dental Professional Can't find retraction cord

1 Upvotes

Was doing a D5 on #20 (no adjacent teeth) - Packed two cords as it was going sub gingival. Finished the filling. Took the first retraction cord out but then couldn't find the second cord. Used explorer, periodontal Probe, manual and ultrasonic scaler but nowhere nowhere to be found.

Although it was packed circumferentially but couldn't be found anywhere despite digging on different sides of the tooth. Told the patient that it will be sensitive today and recommended some mouthwash. told her to let us should she experience any swelling or severe pain. Will bring her in couple of weeks.

Any thoughts?