Who Am I?
I’m going to make this super simple. I’m the guy that’s going to try and help you avoid as much dental headache and heartache as possible. I don’t say that to boast, nor do I think I know everything. I’ll quote the great Phil Conners from the movie Groundhog Day. “Well maybe the real God uses tricks, you know? Maybe he's not omnipotent. He's just been around so long he knows everything.” That’s how I feel about dentistry. I have practiced all over the country in every possible practice configuration. I’ve practiced alone. I’ve practiced with partners. I’ve practiced as part of a franchise. I’ve practiced as an associate looking to buy-in. I’ve practiced as an associate who knew he was purely an employee. I’ve been a provider for every insurance under the sun. I’ve been a provider for only one insurance. I’ve practiced in a DMO setting. I’ve been a provider for Medicaid. I’ve owned a scratch start. I’ve purchased multiple practices. I’ve worked multiple practices alone. I’ve practiced in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, and Kentucky. I’ve practiced in heavily populated areas like Phoenix and Dallas. I’ve practiced in rural areas in Kentucky where I was the only dentist in the county.
Again, I don’t tell you this to boast, but I want you to understand that I come from a perspective of experience. Experience is king. Now, I can’t help you avoid all mistakes and the lessons that come from making those mistakes. That being said, I wish I had known someone like me that would have at least made me aware of what I was walking into when I graduated from dental school. I grew up in southern California and my wife grew up in Tempe, AZ. We met each other while attending Arizona State. When we got in to dental school in Virginia there was no question in our minds that we were going to go back to Phoenix to practice. We were so set on returning to Phoenix that I didn’t even entertain looking anywhere else. I also paid absolutely no attention to major red flags that are so clear to me now. For example, there are 5 dentists on every corner in Phoenix. Also, Phoenix was a state where you didn’t have to be a licensed dentist to own a dental practice. Anyone could own a dental practice. This made it ground zero for corporate dental clinics. They were everywhere and many of them were being run by “business men” who didn’t have to concern themselves with actually doing dental work. There was a lie that was told to me in dental school that I was more than happy to believe. “Just go wherever you want to live, do good dentistry, and you’ll succeed.” Lie, Lie, Lie. Competition matters. When you open your mail and 15 flyers for dental offices fall out, that matters. When you can’t make a full-time living because you have to piece together a schedule working one day a week here and one day a week there and two days at a different place, that matters. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t take any of these factors into account. I’m sure you’re smarter than me, and I hope that you are, but I feel like it’s my mission to help younger dentists see the writing the wall and find opportunities that will give them the life they envisioned when they got accepted to dental school.
I did not come from a family of dentists. I didn’t know any dentist growing up. I didn’t go to the dentist regularly as a child and teenager. Dentistry wasn’t even on my radar as a profession. When I was going to undergrad I didn’t have a clear pictures as to what I wanted to do for a career. I was on the phone with my mom one day and she mentioned that I should consider becoming a dentist. I asked her why and her reasons were three fold, 1. You’re a doctor. 2. You work for yourself. 3. You make good money. That was enough for me. I did some research on what it would take to get into dental school, I jumped through the hoops, and I got in. Some of you may be coming from a background where your dad/mom/uncle/grandma/best friend’s dad is a dentist. While this might seem like an advantage, and in many cases it is, it is never a bad idea to get a different perspective from someone who will probably see things a little differently than your family member who is in the business. That’s what this site is all about, getting different opinions and different viewpoints from someone who’s been there. I’ve been in your shoes and it wasn’t too long ago for me to forget what that feels like.
In the simplest terms, I believe that practicing dentistry in a rural setting is the only way to practice dentistry in the current landscape. Here’s what I mean when I say that. We currently have more dental schools than we have ever had. When I was applying to dental school, Arizona, Utah and Nevada didn’t have any dental schools. Arizona now has 2. Utah now has 2, and Nevada has one. In Kentucky, where I currently live, there are 2, University of Kentucky and University of Louisville. In 2025 a third dental school will open, University of Pikeville. Not only are there more dental schools now, but the existing dental schools are increasing their class sizes. When I went to school my class started at 90 students and we graduated 78. The current class size at VCU is 95. University of New England College of Dental Medicine announced last year that it would increase their class size from 64 to 72. In 2019 AT Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health increased it’s class size from 42 to 63. These trends are being seen nationwide.
Along with an increase in class size we are seeing a dramatic increase in tuition costs. I was speaking at a dental school just this year and I ask if anyone would be brave enough to share with me how much debt they were coming out of school with. One young man raised his hand and said, “$400,000.” I finished dental school with a debt total of roughly $280,000. I was an out-of-state student for all 4 years and I took out loans to live on for those 4 years. As of 2022, the cheapest in-state tuition in the country would cost $92,000 over the 4 years. The most expensive school will run you $412,000 over the 4 years. That’s just tuition! No books, no instruments, no living expenses, no hidden unpublished fees. The third piece of the puzzle to combine with rising tuition and more dentists graduating than ever is the fact that everyone wants to practice in the same locations. The more urban areas are oversaturated with dentists. I’ve seen this throughout the country, even cities that aren’t thought of as urban hubs. We live 2 hours outside of Cincinnati, OH. We frequently take day trips there to shop. It’s also the airport that we fly out of most frequently. No matter where I’m at in and around Cincy I see dental office after dental office. Something has to change. If you want to earn that living that you thought you could when you started dental school, then you should give some serious consideration to practicing rurally. I’m here to help you explore that possibility. You’ll be happy that you did. Who knows? After discussing some rural opportunities it might solidify your desire to practice in a more urban setting. I truly wish you the best, but there are definite opportunities outside of urban areas that would be financially and emotionally beneficial. Don’t fool yourself, dentistry is hard work. Dealing with people who don’t want to be there, who are in pain, who constantly tell you that they hate you is mentally draining. We deserve to make as much money as we can. My belief is that practicing rurally is what’s going to make that a reality. Let’s find out together.
Dave Whitlock