The Ideal Three-Day Schedule

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Burnout is real, and for many dentists, the idea of cutting down to three days a week feels like the ultimate lifestyle upgrade. But which three days should you work, and what actually happens to production, staff, and patient satisfaction when you pull the trigger? A long-running conversation among Townies lays it all out: the good, the bad, and the hilarious.

The case for three days
The most common reasons dentists give for shifting to three days are burnout, back pain, wanting longer weekends, or simply not wanting to live in the operatory. A Tuesday–Thursday setup is a fan favorite, offering a guaranteed four-day weekend and no “Sunday scaries.” Others prefer Monday–Tuesday–Thursday or Monday–Wednesday–Friday for the mental break midweek.

One dentist summed it up: “Never working more than two days in a row is very nice. I love having a day off in the middle.” Another said bluntly, “If I’m at work I work. I produce the same in three days as I did in four. Why stretch it out?”

The practicalities
Of course, it’s not as simple as blocking off Mondays and hitting the golf course. Staff hours are often the biggest obstacle. Hygienists and assistants need full-time pay to stick around, so many dentists either overpay for fewer hours, bring them in on non-clinical days for paperwork and phone coverage, or hire associates to fill the gaps. A few lucky practices find staff who prefer fewer hours, but most agree you can’t slash paychecks and expect loyalty.

Patients are another factor. Monday and Friday are traditionally high-demand days for broken teeth, weekend emergencies, and families booking before or after school. Some dentists fear taking Mondays off altogether, while others say patients adapt surprisingly quickly. As one put it, “When they call, we just tell them the doctor is available Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Nobody cares.”

The production myth
Dentists cutting from four days to three almost universally report that production doesn’t drop. In fact, many say it increases. With fewer days available, the schedule fills tighter, overhead drops, and there are fewer holes in the book. One dentist reported going up $250,000 in the first year of cutting a day. Another said flatly, “Working three days a week and making the same or more money is one of those things that doesn’t make sense until you do it.”

Variations on the theme
Some experiment with alternating three- and four-day weeks, rotating Monday–Tuesday–Wednesday one week and Wednesday–Thursday–Friday the next, which gives two six-day weekends per month. Others run split-shift offices, with one dentist working mornings and another afternoons, effectively doubling operatory use. A few run 10–12 hour days for three days straight, then take off four, though most admit that kind of schedule is physically brutal.

There’s also the cautionary side: compressing four days of dentistry into three can feel like getting hit by a truck, especially if you already run a high-production practice. For those dentists, a slower four-day week may feel better than an exhausting three-day sprint.

The bigger picture
The real debate isn’t only about hours. It’s about control. Some dentists thrive on running lean, high-efficiency schedules. Others fear missing new patient opportunities or upsetting long-term staff by cutting hours. For many, the three-day week is about lifestyle, more time for kids, travel, hobbies, or simply not feeling trapped in the operatory.

As one veteran who has worked three days since 1991 said, “It keeps my body from falling apart, helps me keep great staff, and patients never complain. I highly recommend it.”

The bottom line
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. A three-day schedule can be the best move you’ll ever make, or it can leave you more exhausted if you cram too much in. It depends on your production model, your staff situation, your insurance mix, and what you value most outside the office. But one truth stood out across the thread: once dentists cut back and it works, they rarely go back.

If you could design your perfect three-day schedule, which days would you choose and why? Would it be about maximizing production, avoiding burnout, or finally having enough time to enjoy life outside the operatory?

Join the Conversation!

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