01: How Many Dentists Are Non-Owners & Why Didn’t I Pass Pablo and Fabian?

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Episode 01: How Many Dentists Are Non-Owners & Why Didn’t I Pass Pablo and Fabian?

Speaker: DP Harris, DDS

Alright, welcome everybody!

This is your host, Dr. DP Harris, and you are listening to DENTISTRY FOR THE REST OF US! Before we get started, I just want to go over the format of the show and what you can expect.

The standard format of the show is going to consist of interviews, mostly. We have an awesome lineup of doctors, not just dentists, but also physicians, as well as hygienists and assistants, and experts from the personal finance space.

But every now and then you will hear a different format. It will consist of me sharing personal journal entry thoughts that ultimately lead to a question. Usually a dental question!

And, this is one of those episodes.

So take a listen, and let me know what you think…

Miami, Florida, 1990s.

It was hot, humid, and midday. A combination of elements not ideal for competition and conditions that I now avoid as an adult recreationalist.

But this was fourth grade gym class. We were running a timed mile, and I was all in!

We lined up at the starting line and off we went!

As always, at the start of every run, Iwas cautious to not go out too fast. Always cautious, still cautious. I was in my skirted uniform, topped with a stiff white blouse, making my way up the pack of crowded, smelly classmates. I remember grinding, not caring about the weight of the scratchy fabric over my legs. I was hot, sweaty, and relentless.

I left the pack of runners and focused on the only two remaining bodies ahead of me.

I knew them to be Pablo, my crush from Argentina, who I thought looked like Tom cruise. And Fabian, the most athletic boy in our class, originally from Colombia. They were in shorts and tees, working together like they usually did. Pablo and Fabian were always ahead of the class on our mile runs, and ahead by a lot.

But I remember reeling them in, little by little, just grinding. And when I caught up, I remember their collective surprise as to looked over their shoulders- they were shocked!

And then something caused me to stay there, tucked behind them, adopting their pace, ignoring my fitness and my groove.

I didn’t pass them.

Instead I eased up, I settled into their rhythm, and that’s how we finished the race.

I was congratulated by everyone for being the first girl. But I was frustrated with myself because I had come in third place.

I was so upset that I refused dinner that night and fought back tears until I fell asleep.

Why?

Why didn’t I pass them?…

I have come to realize the following about myself: at times I can become hyper-focused, obsessive even. And it feels awesome!

But the instant that someone expresses surprise at what I’ve done or what I’ve accomplished, my reaction has been to feel like it wasn’t my place to have even done it- in the first place.

So I tuck behind and I just stay there. It’s almost as though my brain processes this as… know your place. And it shrivels me.

Perhaps, instead of focusing on the end results, I can regain my focus by concentrating on what I love the most of any challenge, which is the process. I know how good it feels to quietly over-prepare for a goal, for the personal feeling of achievement. So, to answer the question ….

Why didn’t I pass Pablo and Fabian?

Because I had not seen anyone do it before. That representation of success had not been visible.

And now as a professional in my thirties, the most visible example of success as a dentist is to be a practice owner.

Some of my friends are, some are not. But because they are my friends, I know and understand their stories.

I know that my friends who are owners can experience highs and lows and question their choices. Similarly, my friends who are not owners, experience highs and lows, and also question their choices.

My friends who entered ownership had important reasons and strong motivations. Similarly, my friends who have not converted to ownership have reasons and motivations that are just as valid and powerful.

My owner and non-owner friends alike struggle with various definitions and measures of success.

Defining success as an owner can be very complicated and I cannot speak to that from experience, but I can speak as a non-owner and the struggle of feeling like a failure simply because I don’t own a practice to begin with.

Am I and my non-owner friends an obscure minority? Are there so few of us that we do not really count? Are we, like, 2% of all dentists?

Is that why as non-owners, we have less visible examples of success outside of ownership?

So now the question becomes: in the US, how many dentists are owners and how many are non-owners?

Let’s begin there!

And here’s the answer:

In 2017, it was estimated that 23.2% of the sampled GP dentist population were non-owners. That is almost a quarter of the profession!

That is not 2%.

That is more, like, ten times that, it’s significant! We make up a significant part of the professional demographic.

Let’s put this into context.

Of the overall US population…

• The US population living in New York, Florida, and Texas is 21%.

• The U S population made up of millennials is 22%.

• And the US population made up of persons under 18 years of age is 22.3%.

When you are part of an under-represented population, your idea of success can become formulated based on what you see. And what is visible.

For dentists, the most visible representation of success is ownership.

I am dedicating this podcast and all the resources that go into its creation to help you explore what is possible. Including ownership, but not exclusively ownership.

By having access to more and/or different information, you can better choose how you want to participate in the profession, and decide what success looks like to you.

This is an ongoing effort and I excitedly invite you to join the community and further the conversation.

Thank you for your time today!

And thank you for listening!

If you enjoyed today’s episode and are looking for exclusive content, updates, or ways to contribute and expand the conversation… join us on Instagram @ DENTISTRY FOR THE REST OF US (and that’s with no spaces).

While you’re there, be sure to submit your questions for our recurring episodes appropriately titled “ASKING FOR A FRIEND,” anything and everything you’ve been curious to ask your own malpractice insurance professional, but perhaps you prefer to remain anonymous, and you rather that we do that here for you.

Thank you for tuning in to the show- we’ll see you back here next week for another dose of DENTISTRY FOR THE REST OF US!