r/Dentistry

Patient comes in with necrotic 22 and 27. Both need to go and I discuss it with him. I ask him which one hurts and he points. I talk to him about taking out the right canine, he signs a consent, and I give him a mental block on the right side. I let 10 minutes pass. I ask him if he’s starting to feel the numbing, which he is, and I go ahead and I infiltrate around tooth. Come back a few more minutes later and poke right side, says no pain. I start working, it is a bitch, and I get it all out. Put gauze in and walk him out. Once he’s out in the lobby he starts hollering that it was actually the left side that hurts and I pulled the wrong tooth. Can’t wait for the shitty review.

No mobility at all, but say it was an immediate or something you bone grafted, but it didn’t turn out great.

Do i make updates right away?

In the process of buying a 4 op practice from a 70 year old doctor. He is only in network with Delta Premier...everything else is out of network. Most of his patients are older. He does not have many younger patients

The office itself is very old...it's all original materials from 1984. He's made some updates to cabinetry and dental equipment over time, but the look of the office is outdated. Floral walls, old textured ceiling tiles, florescent lights, carpet floors in the hallways and waiting area, and old bathroom.

I would like to renovate right away...floors, ceiling tiles, lighting, and paint, but some have advised me to not make any changes right away to not lose patients. People in my area are always looking for a new dentist, and I imagine having a spruced up office would track new patients. Of course i want to lose as little as possible, but it is only an upgrade to their experience, and more importantly, it will make new patients feel valued and comfortable.

What are your opinions? Should i renovate day 1, or should i wait 6-12 months to make the changes?

Hi! Curious to hear some denovo success stories and how long it took for things to pick up and seem brighter. I’ve only heard the negative about doctors digging themselves into huge holes and never being able to bonus, but just wanted to hear if there was a positive side to it all. What worked for your office or was a success story? Trying to decide if I should commit to a denovo that’s been open for a year, but it seems like they’re still in the very early stages of growth

Hello,
I have been out of school for 3 years. My rank is bottom third of the class ( embarrassing bad) and I am in my mid thirties. How realistic is it for me to pursue dental anesthesiology? I have no wife or kids so I can study for the cbse exam and work part time if needed.
Thank you

Hello all I am looking to implement a hygienist based production or collection bonus. They currently have a total office based bonus where they each usually earn about 200$-400$ per month. What bonus system do you have in office if any for hygienist? They do not have any other benefits besides the office bonus.

Pt came in complaining of severe pain in UR. Radiographs show caries on 3 teeth breaching pulp. I tell him his options endo or ext. He wants whatever’s cheaper. I recommended ext as most affordable, short term “fix” but also consider replacement options. He then says he doesn’t want them pulled because he can’t think straight right now. That’s understandable, so I recommended sending him to the endodontist for RCT so he can get out of pain and buy these teeth some time. He also declines that referral and says he “only want a local”. I tell him I don’t routinely admin local anesthesia for exams and also his BP was over 170/110. I offer to prescribe him Ibuprofen/APAP combo. He declines and says that won’t work. Ok now I’m thinking, my pt population thinks antibiotic is miracle juice but for some the placebo effect works, so I offer Amoxicillin. He still declines and insists he “just want local today.” I reiterate the definitive options to send him to the OS for ext or endo for RCT and I’ll try to call to can get him in today. He declined both tx options, started berating me about how he wasted his time coming here and can’t get local, then walked out??

Was there something else I could’ve done differently? Do you guys give pts local anesthesia on exams like this? I feel for the guy but when he declined every options we offered what do you do?

Hello everyone
I’m seeing a patient tomorrow as an emergency who had a cantilever bridge place on the upper right central incisor to replace the upper left central incisor. They had it placed a few years ago (5? Years ish) and now it has come off. The patient is adamant for me to just re-cement it but I’m certain that they need a fixed bridge + veneer (front 4 teeth restored) or implant instead. The dentist who placed it at our clinic has now retired but I did contact him about it and he seemed to think there was no problem with doing this and implied I was overreacting and it’s fine to do a cantilever across the midline.

Could anyone please direct me to some literature about the risks of cantilever bridge across the midline? Or share their thoughts about doing so? I need to know I’m not overreacting/insane lol. Thanks in advance

I’m 10 year out. I don’t think ownership is for me. Anyone making 500k as an associate? Is it possible?

I am yankee dentist in Australia, originally from Colorado, where marijuana is legal. I never practiced in Colorado and I couldn't help but wonder if legal weed has made patients easier to deal with? Are dentists prescribing it? Or just finding that patients are showing up stoned? Tell me some stories, good and bad.

First time I've seen it outside of a lecture. I still have no clue how it even happened. 1 of articaine given local to #14. Lady said it happened the last time she had work done in that area, which looks to be an MO on #13. Everything's back to functional for her, but I'm still clueless as to how that even happened.