Secret To Work-Life Balance In Dentistry, Truth About Corporate Monopolization Effects

Top 4 Topics:

- Secret to Work-Life Balance in Dentistry: Owner vs. Associate Showdown

- DSO Takeover: How Corporate Dentistry Is Monopolizing & Killing Private Practices

- Dental School Debt Nightmare: Will the New Loan Cap Destroy Career Paths?

- Insight On Nerve Damage After Surgery (And Why It Takes a Long Time to Heal)

Top 8 Viewers on this Episode on TikTok LIVE #68 Q&A:

1st - Kim, @kimmywhimie

2nd – Rutu, @r.utupatel

3rd – Jason, @calnittyfdsf

4th – Krish Patel, @krish_patel04

5th – Goober, @matheusmaximiliantheiii

6th - @akadadon7

7th - Eilidh, @eilidhlockhart99

8th - Ash, @ash2k60

Quotes & Wisdom:

“The happiest people I met seemed to be private practice owners. That comes with responsibility, but it also affords the most autonomy, and that’s where balance and fulfillment come from.”

“You have to enjoy your clinical work first. Ownership is great, but if you don’t love what you do every day, it’s not going to be worth it.”

“The OR is a space for surgery, not necessarily for content creation. You have to respect that environment.”

“Insurance companies haven’t raised the annual maximums since the 1970s—if they kept up with inflation, it would be $8,000. Instead, it’s $2,000. That’s part of the problem.”

“Not everyone is meant to run or own a practice, and that’s okay. You can still have an amazing career as an associate.”

“You need to go all in on what you love. When you figure out the work that excites you, double down on it.”

“It shouldn’t be 90% corporate and 10% private practice. You need balance in the profession so patients and providers have choices.”

“If you don’t have autonomy, you don’t have real work-life balance.”

Questions:

(00:51) “Did you always know you wanted to do OMFS or did you decide in dental school?”

(08:05) “How do you feel about the future of dentistry plus dental specialties with the possibility of loan caps?”

(10:51) “Bro, am I wrong for going into dentistry with the approach of only wanting to do private practice?”

(21:26) “If work-life balance is important, is orthodontics the proper choice regarding this specialty?”

(23:31) “Does being an owner actually give you the freedom to leave whenever you want compared to being an associate?”

(27:47) “How long will it take for me to get back to work after orthognathic double jaw surgery?”

(29:35) “Is it crazy to take a gap year and study for the CBSE ahead of time?”

(31:23) “Is it worth going to dental school as a dental hygienist given overwhelming debt?”

(37:26) “If you had to start it all over today, would you do it again?”

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

My watch in this episode = Citizen Promaster Diver Day Date

- 7.2025

#podcast #dentalpodcast #doctorgallagherpodcast #doctorgallagherspodcast #doctor #dentist #dentistry #oralsurgery #dental #dentalschool #dentalstudent #doctorlife #dentistlife #oralsurgeon #doctorgallagher