We all probably feel like we aren't being paid enough in whatever job we do.  Especially if we work hard, take shifts when asked, stay late and deal with especially difficult clients, customers or patients.  I work in a busy dental office with typically two dental assistants, three hygienists and two receptionists per dentist.  This can add up to a lot of people!  They all work extremely hard and we deal with a lot of fun and sometimes difficult patients throughout the day.  

Our job isn't a typical 9-5.  Sometimes we work evenings and when we have emergencies we could miss a lunch or dinner.  If a patient arrives late, this means we are 20 minutes behind and possibly for the rest of the day - meaning upset patients that we have to deal with.  A dental office typically makes good money because we are in healthcare, we take care of individuals health and when they leave we know we did the best we could for them.  We deserve to get paid accordingly right?


I work only part time in a dental office because I own Dentalelle Tutoring full time and Office Elle Solutions.  This keeps me busy enough and I pay myself, making sure I get paid what I am worth :). BUT when you work for someone else you need to make sure you ask for a raise at least every 2 years...

If you don't ask for a raise you likely won't get one.  A few key pointers to ask for a raise tomorrow.  Ask and hopefully you shall receive!

1.  Have a plan
- Be sure to show your boss what you bring into the office.  No matter what job you have, you should be making the office money.  Whether at a bank, retail job, dental office, etc.  How many new clients do you bring in?  How much to you make the office per day?  Per week or month?  If you can show your boss clear numbers of the money you are making, how could they say no to a raise?

2.  Alternatives
-If your boss says no to a raise - offer alternatives.  You could say "Ok fair enough, but can we talk about this in three months after I implement areas you feel I need to improve and we can discuss this again?"  OR "Ok, but instead I would like an additional few days or weeks vacation since I have been here for ___ years."  OR  "Ok, then I would like to pick up an extra 5 hours per week and can we talk about the raise again in 6 months?".  Anything along those lines will give your boss an alternative and he/she has to say YES to one of those :).

3.  Bigger and better
-When asking for a raise, also mention what you plan to do in the future and keep doing.  Simply bringing up your past performances may not be enough, mention to your boss what you want to continue doing and in the future to continue to improve.  If you arrive early everyday and stay late let your boss know.  He or she probably doesn't notice and will appreciate your extra efforts.  

4. No begging
-DO NOT BEG!  I repeat - do not beg!  Your boss doesn't care you have credit card debt, doesn't care you just bought a house or are sending your kids to college.  Be confident and start off with how much you love the company, how long you have been there, that you are loyal, how much you can bring to the company, etc.

These are a few simple tips and bottom line think before you ask for a raise.  Wait for the right time and make it hard for your boss to say no!  Show confidence and proof of your hard work.  IF he/she says no, you can easily ask what you can do for a raise in 6 months...he/she will have to come up with something and once you do what they ask VOILA raise time in 6 months :).

I am a dental hygienist and have been working in a dental office for the past 10 years now, SO if anyone knows how you can save money at the dentist it's me :).

1.  Brush and floss - SERIOUSLY!  You will save a fortune!  If your mouth and gums are healthy, it means you won't have gingivitis, periodontal disease or cavities.  I see this all the time!  People who don't floss daily are more likely to get decay (cavities) in-between their teeth, and cavities cost money!  Gingivitis and periodontal disease mean your gums are diseased and you need to come for more frequent cleanings (more $)...

2.  If you have a cavity or need work done - get it done ASAP!  Why do I say this?  If you have a cavity get it fixed ASAP so it doesn't grow in size.  If it grows, it costs more to fix it because more decay will be removed, more tooth structure removed and more time will be needed to get it fixed.  Get the idea?  If the dentist or dental hygienist suggests a crown to make a tooth stronger - get it done!  If you don't, the tooth could chip and fracture, meaning you need to pay more money to fix it or having it extracted (if it's fractured so bad it can't be saved) when you could have prevented it in the first place.

3.  Know your insurance - read that manual!  Know it like the back of your hand.  Know how often you are covered for cleanings, crowns, bridges, periodontal scaling, etc. and get it done.  Insurance is based per year so if you know your coverage and need a lot of work done, you can get as much done as you can for that year (max out your insurance) and wait for the following year to quickly take care of the rest.

4.  Ask for a discount - no harm done!  You won't get it if you don't ask.  If you don't have insurance, don't be afraid to let your dentist know money is tight and more often he/she will be happy to give you a discount.  Not all dentists are all about the money - we are about your health, so if giving you a discount and payment plan helps you get the work done (to ensure health of your mouth = overall health) we will be happy to do so.

Prevention is key!  If you brush, floss, and eat right (limit sugar) this will prevent you from having further issues.  Overall health is tied into your mouth health so if your mouth is diseased in any way (yes having a cavity is a DISEASE) your overall health will suffer.  All that bacteria will travel through your bloodstream and could cause other issues.

Hope this helps!  Now go to the dentist for a check up and visit your hygienist for a good teeth cleaning :).


*I work for Dr. Jack Bottner in London ON - our main goal is educating our patients about their oral health and making their gums/teeth as healthy as possible.  A few simple steps listed above will go a long way!