General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I would like to make an announcement today: [View all]LeFortIII
(3 posts)Thanks for the thread. It brings up a bunch of issues from my past and helps me reflect on what I have today. I'm a dentist as well (as my username reveals), and the looming recession gives me pause. I'm in the Baltimore suburbs. In 2005 I opened my own office from scratch, borrowing a mind-blowing amount of money over the span of two years. I grew steadily, but the change in the level of services patients were agreeing to was obvious as time went on. From 2007 - 2008, emergencies that could be treated with endo/core/crown were instead only agreeing to extraction. Some people were getting cleanings once a year. Perio maintenance was incredibly hard to convince people to pay out of pocket for. When my loan's monthly nut went up, as scheduled, from $6k/mo to $9k/mo, the bank wouldn't hear it that I couldn't pay. I walked away from the practice and let them take it. I've spent the last eleven years rebuilding my life, but fortunately my marriage and my optimistic outlook on life survived. I've been an employee of a corporate chain for the past four years, and they don't influence my clinical decisions. I'm deliriously happy, have a steady income, and best of all I can leave for the day at 5 pm and not have to stress about payroll, supplies, rent, etc. I'm sure I can weather the financial storm pretty well where I am.
Nicely done on making a few bucks before you get out!