Dental school was brutal. I thought life would be so much better once I got my dental degree. But debt and doubt made life after dental school scary. We are not just worried about finding the MB2 canal, we are worried about, “Where should I work?”, “Who will I marry?”, “How can I afford a house?”, “Should I buy a dental practice?”, “Which courses should I take?” and “Am I good enough?” Check out my tips to help you make the early years better years.
Find the Right Associateship
Just like you don’t swipe right on the first person that you see on a dating app, be picky when choosing an associateship. It can be hard to find a dental practice who will hire you with no experience, and you are desperate to start sharpening your clinical skills and paying off debt, but take your time to find a practice that will support you as a new dentist. Find a practice where the team will take time to teach you and where you feel comfortable asking for help. Shadow at the practice before you accept the position and ask for a 3 month probation period in your associateship contract so it will be easy to part ways if it’s not working out.
Pretend You are Still a Student
I thought dental school had unnecessary requirements like using a rubber dam, so I ditched some steps to try to get faster. That was a huge mistake as fillings fell out and patients were in pain. I changed my ways by going back to the gold standard of dental school and pretending that my dental school instructors are looking over my shoulder. After each patient, I grade myself using the same criteria used in school. It helps me get better and provide the best care for my patients.
Get Help from Experts
You need a team to help you be successful. Ask a lawyer to review your associateship contract. Find an accountant, a professional banker and a financial advisor. Get life insurance and disability insurance. Even though you don’t have much money in your bank account, it is worth it to pay for expert advice to help you grow your money, protect yourself, and help you make the right decisions. I picked experts who focus on dentists as they understand my needs and my industry.
Mentorship
Everyone says find a mentor, but how do you find one? It’s hard to find a single person who will guide you like Yoda did with Luke Skywalker. Instead, ask and accept help from everyone. Visit the labs you work with and the specialists you refer to. Ask if you can shadow them and call them when you have questions. Ask your team members for help, and review cases with the other dentists at your office. Talk to dentists you meet at dental courses, join a study club, and join a dental group chat where you can discuss cases. Slide into the DM’s of your favourite Instagrammers and ask them questions; you can even ask them out for coffee. Talk to representatives in the dental industry as they are experts on their products and services. I don’t have one mentor, I have several and the list keeps growing.
Patients First
Dentistry is so much more rewarding when you focus on the patient instead of production or the procedure. Instead of setting the intention of doing the best 16 MOD, I set the intention of creating the best patient experience. This includes providing excellent dental care, but it also involves caring for the person first and then the tooth. Connect with the patient, understand their needs, value their time, and improve their health.
Keep Learning
One of the great things about dentistry is that there is constantly new technology, research and products. While I hated dental school, I love learning now because I am able to select the courses, people, and articles I want to learn from. Every year, I pick something I want to learn more about which makes dentistry more fun and challenging.
Connection
I realized that a big reason why I was unhappy during the early years is because I was detached from my classmates.I remember how much support we gave each other during dental school and I missed it. I reunited with my classmates by starting a WhatsApp group and organizing annual reunions. I also made new friends by joining my local dental association and volunteering with organized dentistry and dental charities. My dental friends are my DFFs – dental friends forever.
Self-Care
We all hear we should get a good night’s sleep, exercise, and eat healthy, but many of us aren’t following this recipe for happiness. I schedule time to do all of these things just like our patients are scheduled.
I also have daily habits to keep my mind healthy such as meditating, journaling, and being in nature. When I can’t manage my emotions, I contact Members’ Assistance Program by CDSPI, which is free for dentists, their families and their staff.
Use positive self-talk. When things go wrong, view it as a learning opportunity, instead of telling yourself that you are worthless. Show yourself self-love.
You are More than a Dentist
Do things outside of dentistry which you enjoy. It could be playing pickleball or the piano, cheering on your favourite sports team, dancing, cooking, or learning a language.
Do you want to start a family? You may need to work less or make career decisions so this can happen. Don’t think of it as stalling your career, think of it as amplifying your life. It will be your family who will be cheering you on and cheering you up making life so much sweeter.
Final Tip
Make goals and determine your values as they will help you make decisions. Take action on things that align with these. You will reach your destination faster when you know where you are going. It’s time to choose your path. Follow these tips and enjoy the ride.
About the Author
Dr. Sanjukta Mohanta is a general dentist practicing in Brampton, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry in 1999. She founded the New Dentist Study Club and hosts their podcast. She can be contacted on Instagram @drsanjmohanta @newdentiststudyclub