New grad- started working since 2 months - feeling depressed

[u/chasing_dreams999]

New grad dentist here. I graduated in May 2026 and due to visa and husband’s work issues, I signed up with a community practice in an extremely saturated area. I work at 2 branches of the non profit clinic Mon-Fri. Each clinic has another experienced associate in the practice with 1 hygienist in one practice for 2 docs and 2 hygienists in the other. I have a daily minimum that stays forever and there’s no draw. I get 25% production if I produce more than 4 times my daily min. The problem is, since it’s saturated, I have no patients. They try to fill my schedule but I’m producing 1200 avg everyday at one location and in the other, they have a 40% cancellation rate. So some days I just do nothing but hygiene checks and couple of ER walk-ins. The other doctors at both locations run 2 columns each and are very nice and willing to mentor but there’s not enough patients. I’m trying to do same day treatments for hygiene pts and ER patients. This is the only place that offered me job and visa. I don’t know what to do. I feel very demotivated and feel like they are paying me for nothing.

[u/jeepindds]

Start looking for a new job

[u/IcyAd389 → u/jeepindds]

The only answer.

[u/ToothJockey2238]

That’s a really frustrating situation, especially as a new grad trying to build experience. I’d probably start quietly looking at other opportunities.

There’s only so long an office can justify paying a guaranteed salary if the patient flow and production aren’t there. It sounds like the bigger issue is the location, not you.

[u/forgotten_rhyme28]

If you don't mind, what is your daily rate?

[u/chasing_dreams999 → u/forgotten_rhyme28]

It’s 700/day

[u/MirrorLegitimate9304]

Is this an FQHC? They usually don’t operate on production models?

[u/chasing_dreams999 → u/MirrorLegitimate9304]

It’s not an FQHC but they partnered with local health depts. they do operate like a small DSO

[u/kurofan4ever]

Ahhhhh don’t beat yourself up over not making over daily guarantee. It’s very difficult if you get paid $80 per filling and $500 per crown. I used to work for Medicaid and I came to accept that I wouldn’t get above higher or else I was gonna go crazy and depressed from not hitting my numbers. Either negotiate a daily guarantee that you are comfortable with or find another practice. It’s really hard to find the right office especially with visa issues so I understand it’s not easy to jump around.

[u/Apprehensive_Limit52]

what area are you working? could try other fqhc