The money's where the mouth is

Q Should I receive compensation or bonuses for the dental procedures I'm specially trained to perform?

Pamela Stevenson

"Compensation is typically based on a combination of training, performance, and credentials," says Pamela Stevenson, CVPM, a consultant with Veterinary Results Management in Durham, N.C. So it's reasonable for a team member who holds a specialty in dentistry and works in a practice with a dental focus to expect more compensation.

Keep in mind the dentistry speciality designations are fairly new, and there are no industry standards to address compensation based on these specialties, says Stevenson. In these instances, compensation depends on the situation, and extensive experience and continuing education may still carry a high value for employers.