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Posted By: GTC22 AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Hi Alaska Friends, our first born is considering buying a dental practice in Anchor Point. He has been out of school for two years working here in Utah and is ready to make a move toward being his own boss.

They are flying in to Homer in a week to snoop around. What should they be looking for as far as where to put down roots? The practice is in Anchor Point, are there better places to live nearby-Homer, Happy Valley,etc? Pros or cons? Schools for the kids, real estate prices?

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Posted By: LoadClear Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
He's in luck!

Little known fact that the toothbrush was invented in Anchor Point, AK. Had it been anywhere else, it would have been called the "teethbrush", which isn't as catchy.

AP is a heck of a lot cheaper to buy houses, particularly out on North Fork Rd vs Homer. I have a house in Homer, and couldn't afford to live there if I didn't build it 15 years ago (lots of independently wealthy lower 48ers and Commiefornians moving in).

AP is a little more white trashy, and methy than Homer (it's also a great place to buy some really cheap snowmachines, boat stuff, and other power equipment that was stolen in Homer).

AP is 15 miles from Homer. Driving from Homer to AP for work would be kind of a "reverse commute." If south of Ninilchik, Homer is the closest town for shopping. Ninilchik and north, it's Soldotna, which has bigger stores and better prices.
Posted By: ironbender Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Hey, now. Kenai has Safeway, AIH, IGA, HomeyD, and the Chinese embassy!
🤣
Posted By: LoadClear Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Originally Posted by ironbender
Hey, now. Kenai has Safeway, AIH, IGA, HomeyD, and the Chinese embassy!
🤣

Ehh, Soldotna and Kenai are basically the same town.
Posted By: ironbender Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Fighting’ words! wink
Posted By: LoadClear Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Originally Posted by ironbender
Fighting’ words! wink



wink Sorry I didn't know you folks really noticed much of a difference either lol. Soldotna is where I stop to piss and get gas while headed north, Kenai is where I divert to when I need crap at Home Depot...
Posted By: OAM Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Originally Posted by ironbender
Fighting’ words! wink

+1
Posted By: OAM Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Ap is alot cheaper then Homer but alot less desirable. The "north fork" seems to always have terrible smelling water because of the iron levels. Some really good people there but lots of scum bags as well.
Posted By: AcesNeights Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Does he plan on battering fish (mostly chum and humpy) and furs (mostly cats but some dogs) for extractions and antibiotics?.....asking for a friend. 😁
Posted By: GTC22 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Ha ha we've heard about the meth prominence. Hopefully enough teeth left there to earn a living. I'm sure he'll get the hang of AK bartering in no time.
Posted By: Sitka deer Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Originally Posted by OAM
Ap is alot cheaper then Homer but alot less desirable. The "north fork" seems to always have terrible smelling water because of the iron levels. Some really good people there but lots of scum bags as well.

Plenty of arsenic in many wells, too.
Posted By: GTC22 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Originally Posted by Sitka deer
Originally Posted by OAM
Ap is alot cheaper then Homer but alot less desirable. The "north fork" seems to always have terrible smelling water because of the iron levels. Some really good people there but lots of scum bags as well.

Plenty of arsenic in many wells, too.


Oh boy!
Posted By: Borchardt Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
If a dentist is not too proud to do full mouth extractions, the methmouth phenomenon can be quite lucrative when government subsidies are available.
Posted By: kk alaska Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Tough to get paid here with our costs in Alaska Son had 4 wisdom teeth pulled $4500 several years back, my routine Colon Exam $8500.

Dental insurance is spendy and not many have it and the reimbursement rates are low.
Posted By: Sitka deer Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/16/21
Originally Posted by kk alaska
Tough to get paid here with our costs in Alaska Son had 4 wisdom teeth pulled $4500 several years back, my routine Colon Exam $8500.

Dental insurance is spendy and not many have it and the reimbursement rates are low.

Almost took the chip shot over the fence... wink
Posted By: atvalaska Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/17/21
What ? Huh ? There ain't but one full set of teeth when adding up the entire area!
Posted By: High_Noon Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/18/21
Soldotna also has a great restaurant called the Klondike. Awesome sandwiches and pies. I haven't been there in 29 years, though.
Posted By: OAM Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/18/21
Originally Posted by High_Noon
Soldotna also has a great restaurant called the Klondike. Awesome sandwiches and pies. I haven't been there in 29 years, though.

Sensitive subject for us Soldotna guys. Klondike dinner (Sals) closed a couple years ago. The last 6 months the food really went down hill. I think it's a Thai food place now. I haven't been there yet but keep meaning to.
Posted By: High_Noon Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/18/21
Originally Posted by OAM
Originally Posted by High_Noon
Soldotna also has a great restaurant called the Klondike. Awesome sandwiches and pies. I haven't been there in 29 years, though.

Sensitive subject for us Soldotna guys. Klondike dinner (Sals) closed a couple years ago. The last 6 months the food really went down hill. I think it's a Thai food place now. I haven't been there yet but keep meaning to.

Damn. I'm sorry to hear that. I had hoped to make it back there one day. My Bud and I would go there every week for a time. It got to the point that the waitresses would see us and they'd say to one-another: "Those Texans are here again looking at the pies." I still dream about the Big Dipper sandwich and a slice of pumpkin pie on occasion. Best damn pumpkin pie I ever et. Breakfast was awesome too. Sorry for your loss.
Posted By: ironbender Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/18/21
Just go to KRB.
Posted By: OAM Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/18/21
Originally Posted by ironbender
Just go to KRB.

Krb is great too. Have you had the Buffalo fig burger at Addy Camp? I've woke up in the middle of the night thinking about that burger!
Sorry for the thread jacking here. Asking about moving to AP and I'm talking about burgers in Soldotna.
Posted By: GTC22 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/18/21
All intel welcome. A good burger is worth the drive! How far is it, anyway?
Posted By: High_Noon Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/19/21
The Alaskan Burger at Hamburger Haven in Anchorage is awesome.
Posted By: Sitka deer Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/19/21
Originally Posted by High_Noon
The Alaskan Burger at Hamburger Haven in Anchorage is awesome.

Three blocks from where I lived as a kid.
Posted By: ironbender Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/19/21
Is the Monderosa still open?
Posted By: buttstock Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/20/21
Wherever you live, it doesn't have to be your permanent residence. You are allowed to move, if you find a place which better suits your needs.

Rent first, and explore the area- then buy.
Posted By: IceKing02 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/24/21
If your son wants to practice dentistry in Alaska I might suggest that he consider a part of AK with more insured patients. Shoot me a PM and maybe we can get him pointed in the right direction...
Posted By: BCJR Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/24/21
I am not sure that I would be considering starting a new venture in Alaska right now. Our economy is in a bit of trouble and we are only beginning to deal with it.
Posted By: kk alaska Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/24/21
Oil will be hard hit, new injunction on Conoco gravel pit mining, no cruise ships. Revenue will be way down.

https://www.ktoo.org/2021/02/16/jud...ting-cloud-over-north-slope-renaissance/
Posted By: AkMtnHntr Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/24/21
Originally Posted by ironbender
Is the Monderosa still open?

That's a bit of a drive from AP. grin
Posted By: GTC22 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 01/27/22
Update: They bought a very nice practice in Soldotna last October, Soldotna Dental Arts. The building has a whole level set up for their residence, so they'll have time to decide where to settle down. So far they are loving Alaska!

If you're on the Kenai and got a toothache, look him up and tell him his Pop sent ya.
Posted By: KC Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 01/28/22

Most indigenous people living in rural AK are missing teeth. Got to be an opportunity for a dentist there.
Posted By: LoadClear Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 01/28/22
Originally Posted by KC

Most indigenous people living in rural AK are missing teeth. Got to be an opportunity for a dentist there.


“How to tell everyone you didn’t read the thread without actually saying’I didn’t read the thread’”
Posted By: cwh2 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 01/29/22
Nailed it!
Posted By: dennisinaz Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 01/30/22
Ha
Posted By: dale06 Re: AK Dentist Opportunity - 02/01/22
Don’t know the specifics of these towns mentioned. But look for a place where people’s income is high enough to pay for dentistry. Some places in the USA, that may not be the case.
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