After graduating, I couldn’t wait to start doing dentistry without my instructors looking over my shoulder. I wanted to get better and faster, pay off my debt, get married, buy a house, get a dog and start a family. Within three years, I did all of that, but it wasn’t a dream come true. I hated dentistry. I didn’t tell anyone I was miserable because I felt I should feel fortunate to be a dentist and that no one would understand. Eventually, I figured out how to be happy in dentistry by finding a unique path in public health, using positive self talk and getting involved in other parts of dentistry that align with my values, like volunteering, organized dentistry, advocacy and education. I never talked to my classmates about my problems in dentistry. Everyone seemed so happy.
Everyone isn’t so happy. Two years ago, my friend Dr. Nekky Jamal, a dentist from Alberta, phoned me to say he was concerned with a young dentist who was taking his Third Molars Online course. He wasn’t having problems with taking out teeth, he was having trouble enjoying dentistry. Nekky asked if I would meet the dentist since he lives close to me. “Wow, he sounds just like me 20 years ago. Of course I will meet him.” I contacted him and we quickly made plans to meet at a restaurant the day before another COVID lockdown. He told me his story and I said, “I went through the same thing. I was unhappy in dentistry.” He was surprised that he wasn’t alone. “We should start talking about this. Other dentists must feel the same way,” he replied. Then I said, “Let’s do it. Let’s start a club and start talking.” Later that year, we started the New Dentist Study Club (NDSC) and had our first meeting in September 2022 in Toronto.
The Club provides more than clinical tips and practice management advice. We also talk about emotional management like our fear of doing some procedures and how we lose sleep when things don’t go well. We are very fortunate to learn from many knowledgeable speakers who volunteer their time to speak to our club. Our speakers share their struggles and how they cope with them. Along with showing us how to do something, they tell us about how they feel when things go wrong, what makes them sweat, and how they manage stress. We are grateful to our dental industry partners who support the NDSC, share their expertise, and offer special promotions.
Our group of 45 dentists meets in-person once a month from September to May for continuing education and hands-on events and then we celebrate with a social event in June. At our social event at the end the inaugural year, that young dentist who inspired the NDSC, told the club about the changes he made in his life, career, and his mindset. He said, “I can honestly say, I am happy in dentistry.” Those words made me tear up with joy. It’s the goal of the NDSC for members to become better dentists and enjoy dentistry. NDSC’s values are mentorship, friendship and support. It’s nice to see members become friends, shadow and work at the offices of our speakers, and become fulfilled in their careers.
We want to help more dentists, so we launched the New Dentist Study Club podcast on Spotify and YouTube in January. Tune in to learn from experts across Canada about their career paths, how they manage stress, and their tips for new dentists.
Interested in joining the NDSC in Toronto? Membership for 2024/25 will launch in July. Send a DM on Instagram @newdentiststudyclub to join the waitlist or to ask how you can start a club in your city. Follow us and tune into our podcast. We can all be better and happier dentists by supporting each other. Dentistry is a great career – connect, learn and have fun!
About the Author:
Sanj is a general dentist who graduated from the University of Toronto in 1999. She practices in Brampton, Ontario. She can be reached by email: sanjuktamohanta@hotmail.com