Dentist Spills Secrets: How to Earn £150k and What They Really Think While Looking In Your Mouth!

Something they wouldn’t want to do—looking in people’s mouths all day.

What I’d say to them is…
It’s better than working with smelly feet!

Challenges in the Industry

James highlights a prime difficulty in dentistry: NHS contracts. Dentists are now not paid per method but consistent with treatment path, no matter its complexity. “This discourages treating patients with excessive wishes unless you operate like a charity,” he explains. Over time, this device has led to the sluggish privatisation of dentistry, in which dentists face monetary strain yet are labelled as “grasping.”

The Art of the Job

Constructing a short rapport with patients is crucial. Dentistry can sense invasive, and James emphasises that verbal exchange is the pinnacle talent, followed closely by way of guide dexterity. And yes, each dentist has a few sufferers they’d “gladly pay to head somewhere else.”

Moments of Joy and Mistakes

Watching sufferers transform, especially young adults, is the most rewarding part of the process. Orthodontics regularly takes sufferers from hiding their smiles to radiating self-assurance. As for errors? Miscommunication tops the listing. James recalls a cringeworthy moment whilst he requested a patient while she became due, simplest for her to reply, “I had the toddler 12 weeks in the past.”

The Journey to Independence

James learnt firsthand how corporate dentistry can prioritise earnings over care. After operating at a practice bought through a multinational, he became stimulated to start his own—focused on kindness and the personalised touch. His practice has because thrived.

A Day in the Life

• Starts at: 8 AM with a bowl of cornflakes (which he thinks is underrated).
• Workday: Sees 25 patients a day, starts at 9 AM.
• Midday: Fits in a 5K run twice a week.
• Evening: Ferries his children to activities before winding down at 10 PM.

Career Path and Salary

• A five-year dental degree leads to entry-level jobs in the NHS (£38,472/year).
• Most dentists earn £60,000–£100,000 annually, with specialists like James exceeding £150,000.
• Orthodontics requires an additional three-year postgraduate degree.

Looking Back and Ahead

James hopes to semi-retire at 60, working part-time so long as he enjoys it. Reflecting on his career, he wishes he had approached existence at a jog instead of a sprint—demanding less about the destiny and savouring the journey.

Final Thoughts

For James, orthodontics is more than just teeth—it’s about transforming lives, one smile at a time.