How associate dentists are paid: daily rate, production and collections

The common structures

• Daily or hourly rate: predictable, often used early in a job or for part-time work.
• Percentage of production: pay follows the work you perform, before write-offs.
• Percentage of collections: pay follows money actually received, so unpaid balances and write-offs affect you.
• Greater of a base or a percentage: a floor with upside.

Read the definition of the base

"Adjusted production" and "net collections" are defined in the contract. Ask which items come off first (lab fees, write-offs, courtesy discounts, refunds) and whether new-patient and hygiene-generated work count toward your base.

Employee or contractor

Some practices pay associates as employees and some as independent contractors. Classification rules are set by law and vary by state, so ask an employment attorney, not the practice.

Other terms that change the real number

• Guarantee period and what happens when your schedule is empty.
• Who pays malpractice insurance, licenses and continuing education.
• Benefits, paid time off and any sign-on terms.
• Non-compete and non-solicitation terms, which are limited or banned in some states.

Benchmarks

For employed general dentists, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes median wages by state; see the general dentist salary pages. Those wage figures cover employees only, and an offer depends on the practice, the schedule and the contract.

Common questions