A thriving orthodontic practice in Kansas City, Missouri is seeking a full-time associate orthodontist with a sign-on bonus.
Located along the banks of the Missouri River, Kansas City is known for its long tradition of jazz music, unique style of barbeque, and craft breweries. Ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. based on the quality of life, job market, and cost of living – it is the “small, big city” of the USA. Kansas City is an exhilarating fusion of history, soul, and influences from around the world and is a vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike.
The area has multiple characteristics that set it apart from other Midwestern towns. The city has a steadily growing job market with a wide variety of career opportunities. USnews.com reports the market is promising which is a tremendous benefit for those looking to relocate. As many Millennials are flocking to Kansas City for its desirable cost of living and optimal job market, the area is also experiencing small independent business growth with high-end custom boutiques, restaurants, and coffee houses.
Kansas City is a great place to raise a family. The Kansas City Zoo is often recognized as one of the top zoos in North America, encompassing 200-plus acres and more than 1,700 diverse creatures from across the world. It is home to Union Station, one of the nation’s oldest and most historic landmarks. Attractions there include Science City (an interactive science center), the KC Rail Experience, a planetarium, several performance theaters, and traveling exhibits. For families who love baseball, enjoy one of the Kansas City Royals home games. Kansas City is also well-known across the nation for the National WWI Museum and Memorial – the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts, videos, and immersive experiences.
This is a great opportunity for an associate to work with a team that believes in changing lives through orthodontics and positively impacting their community. To learn more about this practice opportunity, please forward your CV and letter of interest to [email protected] and [email protected].
An orthodontic practice with 2 locations located in Tulsa, Oklahoma is seeking a motivated full-time orthodontic associate to join their practice. This opportunity is offering a $25,000 sign-onbonus.
Tulsa is the second-largest city in Oklahoma and was considered “Oil Capital of the World.” Tulsa has its roots as an energy city, but is now home to a diverse workforce, a vibrant and historic downtown, and an abundance of entertainment and cultural activities. It is home to big city amenities like thriving arts programs, a diverse and growing business community, and a beautiful downtown – but Tulsa’s affordability makes it stand out from other metro cities. In 2017, Tulsa was named one of the Top 10 Most Affordable Cities according to Realtor.com. In addition, the city ranked number 10 on their list of the top housing markets of 2018.
Tulsa is a hidden gem within the Midwest filled with great people, great opportunities, and a great amount of history. There are magnificent mansions built by the oil economy and world-class examples of Art Deco architecture. It also has a flourishing nightlife in the Arts District complete with local breweries and a thriving music scene. You can also take in many fine art collections at the Phillbrook Museum of Art and the Gilcrease Museum. For outdoor enthusiasts, some of the best lakes and nature preserves in the country are located only two hours away from the city.
Consider calling Tulsa home – it’s a great place to raise a family thanks to its low cost of living, wonderful school systems, and plenty of family-friendly activities. If you are interested in learning more about this practice opportunity, please forward your CV and letter of interest to [email protected] and [email protected].
Bentson Copple & Associates, LLC, the leading valuation, transition, career placement, and recruiting company for the orthodontic profession, is excited to announce the hire of Shane Burden as a Placement & Talent Acquisition Consultant.
Shane brings over 13 years of orthodontic and dental industry experience to the BCA team. He began his orthodontic career with Rocky Mountain Orthodontics (RMO), where he reached success at every role and rapidly excelled into a management position, leading a team throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Region. After just a few years in his leadership role, he became the Manager of North America, leading the RMO aligner team. Shane also has developed lifetime friendships with many of the doctors he has met during his career. Shane graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in Secondary Education and a minor in Business.
Shane will be working very closing with Shannon Patterson, CPR, CMSR, the company’s current Director of Practice Opportunities, and one of the company’s partners. “To keep up with the increased demand for orthodontists seeking short-term and permanent career opportunities, we are excited to welcome Shane Burden into this role,” said Patterson.
Shane’s role serves as a liaison between Bentson Copple & Associates and all orthodontic residents, doctors seeking career opportunities, and orthodontic residency programs located in the United States. Shane is tasked with developing lasting relationships with all orthodontic candidates by:
• Locating the best orthodontic career opportunities based on the doctor’s personal preferences and financial needs.
• Providing guidance in developing overall career goals.
• Coordinating Lunch & Learn webinars for all orthodontic residency programs.
• Offering feedback and advice on personalized CVs and cover letters for candidate doctors.
• Becoming a long-term resource for all things orthodontic career-related.
“He is an outstanding new addition to our team and brings a wealth of knowledge and industry experience. Our company continues to grow to better serve the orthodontic community in all steps of their career – from seeking opportunities, to adding an associate or partner, to retiring,” says Chris Bentson.
About Bentson Copple & Associates:
Bentson Copple & Associates performs orthodontic practice valuations, provides recruiting services, and negotiates transactions with seekers & sellers. The company assists orthodontists nationwide during the pivotal points in their careers. Their career placement arm is unmatched as they place orthodontists in private practices & corporate entities. The company has extensive experience and knowledge of the orthodontic marketplace, having worked with thousands of clients. In addition, the company publishes the Bentson Copple reSource, a quarterly publication focused on the non-clinical aspects of operating a thriving orthodontic practice.
The last twelve months have been interesting, to say the least, and, like many of you, I am looking forward to saying goodbye to 2020 and welcoming in a new year. We all grew tired of the words furlough, quarantine, closed, canceled, paused, postponed, re-start, PPE, PPP, and bounce-back as the entire planet was consumed by the pandemic, and life as we all knew it was altered, perhaps forever. While it has been an extremely challenging year, it has also taught us many lessons. The first and most important being how to adapt in times of change.
Though segments of the Wall Street economy thrived, this year has been a challenging year for much of the service side of the economy, and orthodontists were no exception. In most states, they were forced to shut down their offices for six to eight weeks. Residency programs sent students home and virtual classes and meetings took over, while our pets at home were thrilled, it left many of us very concerned about the future of orthodontics. As we wrap up the end of 2020, this is what we have learned:
1. Most practices rebounded strongly even after shutting down for 6-8 weeks (and in some cases up to 12 weeks) during the pandemic. At first, we thought this was pent up demand accumulated during the shut-downs, but as the months have gone on we continue to see trends where practices have had continuous growth through year-end. In most cases, the June-December period of 2020 was up substantially compared to the June-December period of 2019.
2. Practices quickly adapted and added virtual exams to stay connected to established patients. This technology allowed practices to decrease the distance between themselves and patients during a very challenging time. We feel strongly this is not going to disappear once social distancing is lifted. The pandemic has only accelerated a move toward teledentistry that was already taking hold; we expect it is here to stay.
3. We have seen multiple practices invest in software such as Dental Monitoring, Smile Snap, Rhinogram, and others which allow for patient interaction and case tracking often resulting in fewer patient appointments, a trend that patients are embracing.
4. Interestingly, practice overhead rates are down in most practices this year by 5-10%. There are several reasons for this, but perhaps the biggest is the tightening of our collective belts which resulted in better management of our expenses than before the pandemic.
5. Job seekers saw a big shift to a remote interview process with virtual interviews versus on-site interviews. We feel this has enhanced the interview process for both parties allowing more time to get to know one another during the interview process. I would encourage all of you to embrace this trend and take advantage of this technology as part of your due diligence process.
6. Although some associate salaries took a dip early on during the pandemic, we are now seeing many of those associates hit year-end, new-patient start goals attached to their production incentive bonuses. We would say the orthodontic specialty is enjoying full employment again.
7. The job market is still very strong for new doctors with both private practices and DSOs hiring and offering competitive compensation packages. If you are looking to make a change in your career, now is a good time to investigate potential opportunities.
8. We’re all in this together, it was amazing how many webinars and online events took place in our industry to help one another and share ideas on how to pull through the pandemic. We believe this will continue and suggest you take full advantage of learning from others and sharing insight and ideas. This idea of “we’re better together” is one of the key truths emerging from this pandemic year. By sharing ideas, solutions, fears, and hopes – we all coped and performed much better than we would have alone.
For decades to come, we will remember the year COVID-19 struck. It was a year to remember whether we liked it or not. However, endings bring us closer, teach us lessons and prepare us for the future. Our industry grew stronger from this year’s events and we should never forget that we’re all in this together. You’re not alone and someday soon we’ll be able to visit, learn and laugh together again.
A private well-established orthodontic practice located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York is seeking a full-time associate to join their team. This is an associateship opportunity that offers a path for equity for the right candidate.
The Finger Lakes Region is centrally located in New York and only a short distance to New York City, Niagara Falls, and Toronto. There are eleven freshwater lakes shaped like the spread of fingers on two hands – giving the area its name. Residents enjoy the area’s fresh air, majestic waterfalls, and scenic gorges.
With that many lakes and with the natural beauty surrounding them, it’s no surprise the area is a favorite vacation and recreation spot, offering endless outdoor adventure. The region offers lakes, forests, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and more than 100 award-winning vineyards. Many enjoy exploring unique museums, art galleries, incredible restaurants, and many family-friendly activities.
The region is a global leader in optics, photonics, and imaging. Its innovation is fueled by the region’s top education institutions, like the largest Ivy League school, Cornell University, and other universities like Syracuse University. Besides technology, Finger Lakes has an abundance of agricultural resources for apple, dairy, and grape producers which allows major food companies to call this region home.
Consider living in Finger Lakes and enjoying the unique qualities the region offers, while maintaining the laid-back lake lifestyle. If you are interested in learning more about this practice opportunity available, please forward your CV and letter of interest to [email protected] and [email protected].
When I started to research what topic to write about in this month’s Insight edition, I ran across the article below in Becker’s Dental Review, published November 24, 2020. Upon reading this article, I decided it is too valuable not to share with our readers. As we all know the future of teledentistry is very important to the health and reform of dental and orthodontic practices. The dental industry was already in the grips of change before the pandemic started, but it definitely accelerated teledentistry. I hope this article will provide you all with some good insight.
The efficiency and convenience offered through teledentistry services is something patients will continue to seek long after the pandemic ends, according to Brant Herman, co-founder and CEO of Metuchen, N.J.-based teledentistry company MouthWatch.
Teledentistry services have been adopted by more dentists than usual since the pandemic began, as the technology offered by companies such as MouthWatch help dentists conserve personal protective equipment, mitigate infection risks and reach patients who cannot easily visit a dentist in-person.
November survey results from the DentaQuest Partnership show 75 percent of dental providers predict an increased reliance on teledentistry in coming years. Mr. Herman, who co-founded MouthWatch in 2012, agrees with this prediction, as he believes technology that allows providers to connect virtually with patients improves a practice’s efficiency, reach and customer service.
Here, Mr. Herman shared his thoughts about teledentistry with Becker’s Dental Review.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and flow.
Question: Teledentistry saw increased growth this year due to the pandemic. Why will teledentistry remain important after the pandemic is over?
Brant Herman: The jury is still out on how long the pandemic will last, how many spikes will occur or if there will be additional closures and emergency care only restrictions. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that dentistry is very vulnerable in these types of situations.
Teledentistry can help DSOs and group practices adapt to almost anything that disrupts the typical day-to-day operation — whether it be another pandemic or a natural disaster. Furthermore, patients were already primed for this type of convenience from their healthcare providers, and COVID only accelerated their desire for this type of connectivity and convenience.
In addition, the pandemic has taught us that efficiency and scalability are of the utmost importance. For the immediate future, groups and DSOs will need to do more with less — to squeeze every drop from the orange, so to speak. When you are forced to see fewer patients on any given day, you need to supplement this new standard operating procedure with a viable alternative, such as teledentistry.
When used in the current post-COVID-19 environment, teledentistry can help preserve and improve the bottom line. It can also make it easy for patients to feel connected to your practice when not in the chair. When the veil of the pandemic is lifted, the efficiency and scalability of teledentistry can propel dramatic growth.
Q: What do you have to say to patients who fear they won’t receive quality care from a virtual visit?
BH: A virtual consultation can’t replace every personal encounter with your dentist, but it can significantly reduce the time and travel required for routine consultations, oral health coaching, treatment plan presentations and certain post-operative check-ins. Busy people appreciate this, and who’s not busy these days?
What’s more, transitioning some in-person visits to virtual equivalents whether synchronous or asynchronous, reduces the risk of infectious disease transmission, not only during a pandemic, but during the traditional cold and flu season. When you combine virtual consultations with prioritized in-office visits, you’ll receive a higher level of care that you will soon begin to prefer.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing the teledentistry field right now?
BH: There are several that come to mind. First, there’s the perception that video conferencing and teledentistry are synonymous, when only a robust, HIPAA-compliant platform designed specifically to enhance the dental work flow, improve peer-to-peer collaboration and enable smartphone-friendly patient encounters should be considered a true teledentistry solution. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has prompted a gold rush of “teledentistry lite” applications.
Second, not all teledentistry consults have to be live video. This is time consuming, especially as practices are busy managing patients. A platform with integrated messaging and video conference allows for efficient consultations that can become video visits when needed.
The lack of a cohesive and formalized national teledentistry policy perpetuates a Swiss cheese coverage map of optimal access to care. If every state had favorable, non-restrictive teledentistry regulations and standards, we would eventually have an oral care infrastructure that will have a positive impact on the overall state of health in America. There should also be more widespread insurance reimbursement policies.
Lastly, the perception that DSOs and group practices don’t need to make a long-term investment in teledentistry because they believe it won’t be useful after the pandemic subsides. Truth be told, going back to inefficient workflows, infectious disease vulnerability and patient inconvenience will be like going back to foot pedal-powered dental drills. Who wants that? What’s more, FaceTime won’t work for the long haul and teledentistry can be used for much more than covering for a doctor when they’re on vacation.
Purchase an established orthodontic practice in the southwestern region of Virginia. The area offers small-town charm combined with the modern conveniences of a metropolitan area.
The western half of Virginia showcases its natural outdoor beauty through the Appalachian Mountains, one of the oldest ranges in the world and with infinite opportunities for outdoor adventures. You could fill weeks with hiking, fishing, biking, golfing, horseback riding, and a multitude of other adventures. The area could be the best-kept secret of the East coast.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find so much to do in western Virginia it’s hard to decide where to focus. You could hike 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail – more than any other state, bike the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, or explore the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Western Virginia is home to 15 state parks, two major rivers, two national forests, a national historic park, and some of the best sightseeing in Virginia. The region has many wineries, breweries, bars, and local art shops to visit.
Southwest Virginia is known as the “birthplace of country music”, and that heritage is honored on The Crooked Road Music Trail. The 333-mile driving route focuses on Appalachian music at nine major venues, 150 affiliated venues, and 27 wayside exhibits.
You have taken that step in identifying a career that appeals to you, but deciding your next step may still be the missing piece of your puzzle. There are many factors you need to examine and decisions you need to make as you approach your final year. You should be asking yourself a few questions:
Where Do I Want to Live? This is extremely important for those who have a family. Being in agreement about where you would like to practice is a decision that should be made with your spouse. Does the community culture align with your beliefs and values? Ask yourself if the area meets your interests and financial needs. Making sure you and your family will be “happy” is a key factor when deciding where you want to practice.
What Are My Short-Term and Long-Term Goals? Making a career plan takes time and effort on your part. Commit to establishing your expectations and objectives as you seek an opportunity. Remember who you are and why you chose this career.
Do I Want to Practice as an Associate in a Private Practice? Ask yourself if you desire mentorship from a senior doctor. Do you see yourself working with this potential employer? Do your personalities “mesh”? Make it a point to visit the practice and see if the culture is a good fit for you. Observe the interaction between the staff and the patients. Can you see yourself practicing in that environment?
Am I Willing to Work for a DSO (Doctor Service Organization)? If you are wanting to focus solely on orthodontics, corporate may be a better choice. In some cases, you can negotiate a schedule and salary that are guaranteed regardless of the organization’s ups and downs. As with a private practice, just be sure to find the right fit.
Would I Like an Equity-Minded Associateship Opportunity? This is an opportunity to consider for an orthodontist that desires to own their own practice in the somewhat near future. You are able to come in as an associate and “get your feet wet” by getting to know the patients and learning about the ins and outs of the practice you would one day be a partner in. Understand that non-competes in most states will be required and are enforceable.
Should I Purchase an Orthodontic Practice? Financially speaking, is this possible for you? This path does allow you the ability to control your own schedule and usually maximize income. However, the freedoms of having your own practice come with a price. As a small business owner, you have many responsibilities that come along with that title and there are many resources available for you to get help in these areas.
This is an important decision that simply comes down to making sure you stay true to yourself by seeking the best opportunity for you and your family. Know who you are, choose a location, identify the right practice, and begin your journey in confidence.
The insights above address many questions to ask yourself when determining a long-term or short-term orthodontic career path. You are not alone on this journey, there are many reputable companies providing guidance when exploring all the available career options, including Bentson Copple & Associates!
Whether you are a new resident, a resident approaching the completion of your orthodontic program, an experienced doctor seeking a new opportunity, or looking to purchase a practice – our experienced placement specialists are here to help you!
Our Placement Services are provided at no cost, and our candidates can expect a high-level engagement process with our recruiters, who are knowledgeable about the opportunities they represent and current industry trends. Our team is here to help make your future orthodontic journey as successful as possible! We also have an up-to-date, comprehensive list of available orthodontic jobs and career opportunities on our website, that range from orthodontic practices for sale, associateship positions, and orthodontic employment opportunities – both full-time and part-time.
You just finished orthodontic residency. You have borrowed hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for your education and you are about to move to start your new career. Can you afford to buy a home when you get there?
Many of you have borrowed more for school than you will earn in your first two years of your employment but you are about to start a career that promises job security and a high salary, so can you afford to buy a home? What are your options? One option I recently heard about is a “physician mortgage loan” and I want to share this information with young doctors who are starting their careers but also have a desire to have some equity in a home.
What is a physician mortgage loan?
A physician or “doctor” mortgage is a special loan program that a lender puts in place to attract high-income clients by allowing health care professionals such as doctors and dentists to secure a mortgage with fewer restrictions than a conventional mortgage. The physician loan program is a low to no down payment mortgage designed for physicians, dentists, and other eligible medical professionals. The program is a great home financing option for doctors because they offer jumbo loan balances and relaxed debt-to-income ratios without private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is typically required for loans where the down payment amount is less than 20%. Physician home loans are also known as doctor loans, doctor home loans, and doctor mortgage loans.
Does an orthodontist qualify for physician loans?
Yes, all physician loan programs are available to medical doctors with M.D. or D.O. degrees and some are available to dentists and orthodontists with D.D.S. or D.M.D. degrees. Lenders and banks realize that becoming a doctor or dentist is a long process, so the lending criteria can vary depending on how far along the borrower is in training or career development. Physician mortgage loans are primarily for doctors purchasing their first home or refinancing a primary residence. They are not intended for purchasing a second or vacation homes.
How does a physician mortgage loan work?
Physician loans differ from conventional mortgages in three ways: They don’t require PMI, which traditional loans do require. On large loan amounts, the PMI can add hundreds of dollars to the monthly payment, a physician loan frees up that money so it can go toward other expenses including student debt. Physician loans are also more flexible with debt-to-income ratios and they accept residency contracts as verification of employment.
Debt-to-income ratio: When lenders review a mortgage application, typically they scrutinize the borrower’s debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which is the percentage of monthly income that goes toward paying off debts. Applicants with a high DTI are flagged riskier than applicants with a low DTI. We are all well aware that orthodontists, especially early in their careers, will have a high DTI ratio due to education debt in the six-figures, making it difficult to qualify for a mortgage. However, some physician loan programs do not count medical/dental school debt if the payments are deferred or in forbearance for a certain period, this reduces the DTI making it easier to qualify for a loan.
What do you need to qualify for a physician loan?
You will need employment verification and proof of income. Mortgage lenders typically require borrowers to prove that they’re working and earning income. Typically, loan applicants that are about to be hired but have not actually worked do not qualify for a loan. However, physician mortgage loans are the exception. Lenders will allow the borrower to show an employment agreement as proof of employment even before their job begins and some lenders will even lend to borrowers that work as independent contractors.
How do you find a physician loan?
When getting any type of mortgage, it is always best to shop around, starting with the bank or credit union with which you already have a relationship. Unfortunately, many lenders tend to keep this program secret and the information is not easy to find, below is a list of Physician lenders who extend their programs to Dentists (DMD/DDS):
Bank of Nashville (AL, FL, GA, SC, TN, NC, and MS)
Bank of America (All 50 states)
Regions Bank (TX, IA, MO, AR, LA, IL, IN, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, VA, NC, and SC)
SunTrust Bank (AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV, and DC parts of NJ and PA)
Lake Michigan Credit Union (Michigan Only)
BBVA/Compass Bank (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, KS, LA, MA, NM, NV, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, and WA)
During the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of women entering the dental industry. While pediatric dentists continue to lead the charge with a whopping 52% of providers being female, the orthodontic industry is also making headway with females representing 31% of the workforce.
According to the 2019-2020 Survey of Advanced Dental Education, females represent 69% of all pediatric dental residents and 52% of all orthodontic residents. And for the first time in history, more females (195) than males (193) graduated from orthodontic residency in the United States in 2019-2020.
It’s projected the percentage of female providers in these specialties will increase in years to come. What effect has this growth had on gender gap earnings? The answer may surprise you.
In the new issue of