Becoming a dentist is somewhat halfway of becoming a doctor and a businessman. Whereas a doctor often has a large organization behind him like a hospital, a dentist will often be in the company of two, maybe three other dentists in the practice. A doctor will have the facilities of a hospital, while a dentist must acquire his own dental supplies almost firsthand – he could have a secretary, but still, that does not even come close to an organization like a hospital.
Initially, a dentist will also have to invest a lot in a business, much like an entrepreneur, and this is after years of studying dentistry. This large capital outlay is invested in the dental equipment he will need for his practice, beginning with the dental chair, which can cost upwards of USD 2,000 already. That is not even accounting for a dental xray machine if he wants his practice to be complete.
To make the business of dentistry even more interesting, many people are naturally reluctant to visit the dentist. However, all these factors are only initial conditions. The moment a dentistry practice starts to roll, there will always be a captured market – unlike a business owner who will always have to keep up with the stresses of his business. In this regard, the dentist is in a better position – all he needs to do is get over the initial hump. But the dentist will still need to be hands on regarding patients, supplies and inventories – unfortunately, there are no promotions in the business of dentistry.