How do Permanente dentists get paid?
Permanente dentists receive a:
- A fixed base salary (paid monthly)
- Quarterly performance-based payments
- An annual incentive payment tied to overall organizational performance
Shareholders also receive shareholder payouts.
What will a typical day-in-the-life look like?
- Full-time staff are expected to work 36 hours of scheduled patient care per week.
- A typical workday consists of nine hours of scheduled patient care, which includes one to two columns for treatment and one column for exams with a one-hour lunch break.
- Two hours each day are reserved for handling emergency patients, where Permanente Dental practitioners will need to triage, diagnose, and treat the patient’s primary concern.
What retirement benefits are available?
- We offer an industry-leading 401(k) plan with a generous 7.5% Safe Harbor employer contribution that is automatically contributed and vested immediately.
- Additionally, there is an employer supplemental 401(k) contribution and an employer sponsored defined-benefit retirement program (cash balance).
How much paid time off (PTO) would I be offered?
- 4.75 weeks (19 days) of PTO each year for new full-time associates
- Up to 8.75 weeks of PTO for full-time shareholders
What types of insurance benefits are offered?
We provide medical, dental, vision, alternative care, supplemental medical, life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance coverage. All benefit-eligible dentists and specialists who work for Permanente Dental, and their dependents, are fully covered through Kaiser Permanente for both medical & dental care. Permanente Dental pays 100% of the monthly premium (At 1.0 FTE).
Option 1: Traditional Medical Plan
- Supplemental Medical Plan, Alternative Care, Vision Care, Pharmacy Care
- Included in Medical plan
Option 2: High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Vision Care, Pharmacy Care, Alternative Care
- Available after deductible is met
What does alternative care cover?
- Chiropractic services, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, and massage therapy
- Alternative care that is covered under KP medical plan
Are there additional coverage options available?
Yes, we offer voluntary life insurance (self, spouse, and dependents), as well as short-term and long-term disability insurance. Permanente Dental also provides malpractice insurance.
What family support benefits are provided?
Employees can enjoy up to four weeks of paid parental leave, two community service days per year, and access to a dependent care flexible spending account.
What kind of support will I have?
- Permanente Dental has a Peer-to-Peer Program which provides new hires with a dedicated resource (in a non-supervisory role) during their first seven months, helping to ease their transition into the organization.
- Each office has a designated Provider in Charge (PIC) to help new associates with clinical and non-clinical questions, and each associate is provided at least one primary chairside assistant.
What leadership opportunities will I have?
- The governing body of Permanente Dental is its elected board of directors, who are Permanente Dental shareholder dentists elected by the shareholders.
- The Permanente Dental leadership team is made up of Permanente dentists (both shareholders and associates).
- We offer numerous resources and opportunities to develop your leadership skills.
- You can also enroll in programs that KPNW has in place.
- Associates can develop leadership skills by serving on one of several committees (Clinical Effectiveness, Peer Review, DEIB, and Wellness, among others).
- In a few years, an associate may be named provider in charge (PIC) through an application process. The PIC:
- Is the lead dentist at a given KP Dental Office.
- Partners with the KFHP Dental Service Manager to run the office effectively.
- Great way to develop and use skills in dental office operations while having the support and resources of broader KP Dental.
Are there any additional perks or allowances?
- Yes, there is an annual benefit reimbursement pool available to employees.
- Permanente Dental Wellness Program
What can I use the annual benefit reimbursement pool for?
- Continuing education (including travel, lodging and meals related to CE)
- Membership dues to professional membership organizations
- Loupes / illumination and repair
- State license renewal for states included in the Permanente Dental service area
- DEA registration renewal for states included in the Permanente Dental service area
- Scrubs, appropriate footwear
- Hearing protection
- Home Office Technology (Headphones, Mouse, Keyboard, etc. for home use of laptops)
- Financial Advisor Consultations
**Note: Some licensure is reimbursable, outside of the pooled benefit, under Permanente Dental’s Expense Reimbursement Policy.
What are the Wellness Program incentives?
- The Permanente Dental Wellness Program portal helps you stay healthy year-round with tools and resources for every stage of your wellness journey.
- Runs in three-month cycles and offers points redeemable for wellness incentives.
- Earn points through activities curated by our dentist-led Wellness Committee—exercise, nutrition, mindfulness, and community events. Sync easily with Strava, Fitbit, Garmin, and more.
- New hires can join the Welcome Challenge and earn a one-time reward to kick-start their goals.
Will there be opportunities to volunteer?
Permanente Dental provides dentists with a chance to help the community by participating in:
- Medical Teams International
- Charitable care dental clinics
- UW School of Dentistry days at Longview Dental Clinic (quarterly)
- MLK Day community dental clinic
- Other community health clinics as announced
**This FAQ aims to give a general overview of the benefits and opportunities available to Permanente dentists and specialists. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list of benefits for all Permanente Dental employees.