“I Haven’t Lifted in 4.5 Years Because of Oral Surgery Residency & Boards Studying… The Brutal Truth About Dentist Salaries, Jaw Surgery & Real Life”

Top 5 Topics:

- Oral Surgeon-Level Hustle: Can You STILL Gym 5x/Week in Residency?

- How Much Money Do Dentists Actually Make? (The Raw Truth)

- Oral Surgery Residency Exposed: Boards, 80-Hour Weeks & Hospital Drama

- Jaw Surgery Transformation & TMJ Clicking – What They Don’t Tell You

- Dental School Advice That Actually Works (Loans, Debt, CBSE, Organizations)

Top 10 Viewers on this Episode on TikTok LIVE #95 Q&A:

1st - Bri | Pre-Dental, @alfabri8d

2nd – Tiara, @tiaraalynn_

3rd – @theorysmasher

4th – Kristiina, @kristiinakaunisaho

5th – Hasan Abdullah, @hasanabdullah1235

6th - Annela TD, @annelatd

7th - Calista Christian, @c.j.christian

8th - Logan Williams, @loganw_02

9th - Hamzah, @_hamzahhh

10th - Daniel, @daniel08800

Quotes & Wisdom:

“There are certain times in your career where you need to put [lifting/gym] to the side… I’m on a four-and-a-half-year streak where I had to put actual lifting to the side. Sucks, man, but that’s how it goes.”

“Work hard. You gotta be willing to give up and sacrifice stuff. That’s what it comes down to.”

“Practice ownership by far and away is the best, in my opinion. You reap the rewards. It depends on what you’re cut out for, personally.”

“You need to hone in on your routine… literally your daily and weekly routines. Prioritize your daily to-do list.”

“I lifeguarded every Sunday morning during dental school… free gym membership, $12 an hour, and I could study at the pool. That discipline showed up in every single oral surgery interview.”

“Don’t hop, skip, and jump into surgery on the TMJ. Conservative management is first line… jumping into invasive procedures could be doing more harm than good.”

Questions:

[00:00] "Will I be able to balance being an OMFS and going to the gym 5 times a week?"

[05:46] "For solo dentists, you recommend practice ownership versus fixed salary or working on commission?"

[08:10] "How much do most full-time associate general dentists make? I'm an incoming dental student."

[10:45] "What student organizations should I join as an incoming D1?"

[14:15] "What percentage would you rank CBSE and rank and other requirements to get into oral surgery from dental school?"

[16:57] "How to fix TMJ clicking?"

[19:44] "Any tips on how to balance D2 year and studying for the CBSE?"

[22:49] "Thoughts on ordering night guards and retainers from online companies that send impression kits?"

[25:24] "When did you know you wanted to do OMFS? Was it before dental school or during it?"

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

My watch in this episode = Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 16 Chrono

- 4.2026

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