Dentist Makes $13k (at least)

Thanks for your information! It's useful. I will read up books them. Hmmm another question, what if i end up not being interested in these? How do i find out what i really like to do? Honestly, i don't know what i like to do.

The thing is, sometimes you won't know whether you like something or not before you try it. But sometimes you can have a feel by reading the journal/magazines/books, and looking into the life of somebody who has succeeded in the area you're looking into.
Since you've chosen the general areas of life sciences and chemical, check out the dudes and gals who have made it big in life sciences and chemical. Can you see yourself being them in 10 years? Do you want to be them?
That's about the best you can do for now. Sometimes, as you get older, your interest can change. But you don't know when or what it'll be sometimes. So that's fine. It's better to pick one and decide to dedicate yourself rather than to hesitate and finally pick one that you're just "OK" with.

(And take a look at the Steve Jobs video at the bottom of that "Passion is Overrated" post.)

ok thanks.

Erm one more question.

May i know if it's possible to take diploma in optometry and then progressed and further my studies to become an ophthalmologist?

Being a dentist is hard work, it's quite physically demanding unlike medical GPs. Do respect your dentist!

Umm, you need a medical degree first then lots and lots of hard work (or lots of hard work and some good luck) to get into ophthalmology training.

So, umm, yes, you could do your diploma, do really well in it, then get into medical school (anything from 5-6 years, undergrad, or about 4 years graduate entry if you have a previous degree, so maybe you'd like to convert your diploma to a B.Optom at a university in Australia or something by doing about 2 more years of study), then a year of internship, about 4 years of unaccredited residency (which is typical in Australia, NZ, UK, not sure about Singapore and the US) the 6 years as a registrar assuming you pass your exams on the 1st go (~40% pass rate).

Having said that, don't give up on your dreams and maybe give medicine a go. It's very diverse and quite rewarding (though not so financially for most areas) and you don't have to be an ophthalmologist since there are lots of different jobs for you to try and decide what you might like. It's alot of work though for not great financial rewards, but then you won't be poor either and you're not so exposed to economic fluctuations.

Good luck with your decisions and your future!

Thanks.

lol!! all these sites giving average pay scales and mentioning stories of dentist earnings are crap. I am a dentist and quite a junior one, I can tell u that my boss easily make in excess of AUD 1.2 million net. his gross is beyond imagination. And he is neither the best nor the richest dentist, there are guys we meet in conferences who fly in in their private planes to be at the conference, this how rich a dentist can get. But only if you have your own practice, if u don't have your own but work on a job you can make upto half a million depending on where u get a job but 5 years after graduation AUD 300,000 pa is quite common. We make more money than cardiosurgeons.but don't tell anyone shhhhhh!!
If u are a specialist like an oral surgeon u can charge anything at all, virtually I know a guy who charges AUD 600 per hour nd he tells of people in his association who work all over the world and charge in excess of USD 1500 per hour. Dentistry is a rapidly growing industry, theres more research into it than medicine. 54 % of dentist work 4 days a week only, almost all dentists work at their chosen hours, there are so many exclusive dentist flying clubs, they re so filthy rich.

But you have to be a businessman more than a dentist, extremely good people skills cos if u make a mistake u have to have the patient's confidence or ull end up in jail or at least lose ur licence. U also need people skill to keep ur practice growing, theres a lot of competition. U have to keep studying hard all your life, the more the letters behind ur name the more patients you will get. And these letters like FRACDS, FRACS, FRCS, MDS, DDS etc etc are the only way people can know about ur capabilities , u have to be good at school since kindergarten not one bad year, u have to keep reading ur basic books again and again cos every year there are so many changes just like the microchip doubles in power every 18 months. If u do not keep up ur out.
Suicide rate is the highest among dentists, family life can suffer if u get too carried away with money, cos it comes calling to ur doorstep, its upto you to send it away, most dentists hear so many complaints and unhappiness expressed by their patients that they are fed up. Usually people are unhappy because they feel the cost is too high compared to the job, so they keep whining. They don understand that to be a dentist requires lots of skill, hard work, leadership, management, right attitude, discipline, study, investment, personal sacrifices. A dentist is essentially a surgeon, no dental disease can be treated by meds alone, u have to perform a procedure and you have to have precision of millimeters in each of those multiple procedures,you have to use expensive equipment which wears rapidly, unlike a phsysician'c clinic a dentist has to maintain hospital-like stringent infection control using expensive equipment and disposable barriers, sterilisse the equipment, keep stock, maintain calender of events, oversee each sterilisation cycle, use tracking systems, keep upgrading as and when law changes (which is every year) It is a tough, stressful job but those who love it like me and are ready to deal with its stresses can have a nice life, earn a lot of money and be happy.

Hi there, I am a dentist. I haven't had an elaborate lifestyle or made millions. I have a sensible approach to my work- not making people choose elaborate expensive treatments when they can have other options. Sure this is in conflict with the way alot of dentists practice, but I have always been honest and upfront with my patients. You know when we do charge high fees, we work hard for that income. We have expenses that need to be looked after: staff, materials, professional indemnity, registrations and ongoing/updated training or courses. It is stressful, and requires meticulous concentration and attention to detail. I gave up alot of my life making personal decisions to devote time to studying and practicing dentistry- people should be realistic about what they pay a dentist to do. Most importantly, we like it if someone can appreciate what we do.