Advice for Dental School Graduates: "If I Knew Then What I Know Now"

This month, an estimated 6,500 dental students will graduate in the United States and begin their next steps toward successful careers in dentistry. At this moment, they are considering many options and exploring important decisions that impact their personal and professional lives.

“This Week at AGD” asked members to share things they wished they knew when they graduated from dental school.

AGD President Gerald “Gerry” Botko, DMD, MAGD
Boca Raton, Florida

Dental school prepares new dentists for many challenges after graduation. However, there is so much more to learn, much of which must be learned on the job.

Very few of us leave dental school with a deep understanding of what is needed to find professional success and be the best clinicians we can be. The majority of graduates require extra training, mentoring and education. One thing we must understand is that learning never stops for dental professionals who want to succeed.

Dentistry is constantly changing, with new innovations appearing on the horizon daily, such as new methodologies; more advanced, simpler, faster and more accurate techniques; better, easier-to-use and stronger materials; and new technologies. Examples I have seen over the course of my career include CAD/CAM technology, digital scanning, 3D printers, surgical robotics, artificial intelligence to improve diagnostic efficiency, and new infection control procedures. A great dentist must embrace new advances in order to continuously deliver superior care to their patients.

The business of dentistry is still not taught in dental schools. This is not a criticism. There are a lot of skills to learn in just four years. Practice management is essential for long-term success and includes learning to lead a team effectively, learning to work with patients, running the business side of the practice and marketing.

I believe that I am a better dentist because I joined organized dentistry early in my career. Specifically, it was AGD that made me realize the importance of keeping up with the changing world of dentistry and learning from my colleagues in order to achieve and maintain success.

I realize the deficiencies some of this year’s graduates experienced are due to the interruption of their dental school programs caused by COVID-19 as well as all of the business management things that could not be taught in school. AGD is committed to offering CE to help and is even working on a dental business mastery program to fill this need.

For dentists, education must be continuous, which is why AGD’s motto is, “Never stop learning.” We welcome you to the profession as new dentists, and we look forward to supporting you on your journeys to achieve excellence and lifelong learning.

Donald R. Dexter Jr., DMD
Eugene, Oregon

For many who are the first generation from their families or communities to go to dental school, there are no mentors to help through the educational process, but also there are few, if any, mentors available to help with the business aspect of dentistry. How do you run a business? How do you set and achieve business goals? My advice is to find business mentors, both inside and outside of the profession. If you are a first-generation provider, prepare yourself for business by seeking out people in your profession and community who share cultural values and are successful in their lives. Cultural values are fundamental for success, both in business and life, but sometimes the culture of business may seem in conflict with your culture in life, and you need to reconcile that without compromising either.

Sara M. DiNardo, DMD, FAGD
Providence, Rhode Island

If I could go back to when I first finished dental school, I wish I understood the value of dental mentors and being a part of a dental community. It can be intimidating transitioning from a learning institution, where you always have a support team, to being out on your own in your first job. If I could go back in time, I would have focused more on organized dentistry and seeking mentors therein who could assist me in my (numerous!) professional, business and lifestyle questions. My advice: Don't go it alone! There are many dentists out there eager to help guide you, and AGD is a great place to find them. 

Carson W. Henley, DDS, FAGD
Charleston, West Virginia

I could fill a novel with things I wish I knew after I finished dental school, but there are three big items that may help new graduates. First, every dental school trains really good dental students, but, once you become a dentist, there are so many habits formed in dental school that need to be relearned. Once you graduate, you should never compromise on your foundation of training from dental school but keep going. Never stop learning.

Second: There is freedom once you graduate, but there is also no one to fall back on if you have a problem, so find a position right out of dental school with someone willing to work with and train a young dentist. Do not go it alone. If you are unable to find such a position, then find a local mentor. If you plan to do a residency, it will certainly help, but nothing can fully equip you for practicing dentistry after any amount of dental school or residency. Never stop learning, and get a mentor.

The last tip is to lean on the experience of staff. Dental assistants, dental hygienists and even front-office staff have so much they can teach new dentists. They are wonderful resources and generally have a wealth of dental knowledge.

Good luck to the new dentists out there! Remember that you are not alone; the entire dental community is here to help.

Chung-Lei Kao, DDS, MAGD
Syracuse, New York

There is so much to learn in dentistry. It is OK and normal to feel intimidated and unsure of yourself. Use that uneasiness to motivate yourself. Challenge yourself. You don’t have to spend tons of time and money on continuing education yet. Read an article. Take a webinar. Discuss a case with a colleague. The main thing is to stay open-minded and expect to learn more. The field of dentistry is ever-changing, and new technology and ideas are coming out every day. If you ever feel like you know everything and have seen everything, it might be time for you to put away the tools. Be critical of yourself, but tolerate mistakes.

Be kind to your staff. You are the doctor and responsible for the procedure, but it is the team’s effort to make the day go smoothly. Learn to be the true leader and not just a people pleaser or a tyrant. A true leader elevates those around him or her. There are times where you have to talk about difficult topics, such as when someone makes a mistake. However, it is far more important to understand and learn from mistakes than to deny that they happen. We are humans, and all of us are prone to mistakes. The day you shy away from that will either be the day you stop pushing your own boundaries to avoid mistakes or that you begin covering them up because of a bruised ego.

Treat your patients with kindness and honesty. I disagree with the idea of treating them like family. That is presumptuous. We don’t understand our patients that well. All of them will have different backgrounds, resources and priorities in life, and all will have a different level of tolerance and willingness to go through dental treatment. Be honest and upfront with them. Humans pick up on genuineness far easier than you think. A good dentist gives patients what they need. A great dentist turns what they need into what they want.

Don’t worry about money quite that much. Do good dentistry, and money will come. The most expensive commodity is your time, which in dentistry means time in your chair. The time to do something right is hopefully the first time. Failure to plan is planning to fail.

Invest the first day you start working. Put money away toward your retirement. Learn tax-saving strategies. You can have a financial planner and consultant, but you should always be knowledgeable about how and where your money is.

Have a hobby. Dentistry is both a physically and emotionally draining profession. Find something you love outside of the operatory.

Lastly, the most expensive feature about yourself that you should never sacrifice is your reputation. Once you lose it, you may never get it back.

Gerard Scannell, DDS
St. Petersburg, Florida

The first thing I wish I knew when I finished dental school last year is that finding a job wouldn’t be as easy as I thought. I didn’t expect every dentist to hire me, but almost everyone I met wasn't in the position to hire an associate. It was a time when practices were still not seeing as many patients as they did before the pandemic. Furthermore, I wish I knew to not settle for the first opportunity that presented itself and to negotiate my compensation. I was impatient and didn’t allow myself more time to search for options other than a corporate dental company.

Another thing I wish I knew soon after dental school is how accepting and trusting patients would be knowing I just graduated. I was initially scared that patients wouldn’t want to be seen by me if they knew I recently finished school. Although I wasn’t announcing that to every patient, I tried to avoid answering directly when asked if I’m a new dentist. Once they knew that I did, indeed, just graduate dental school, they were receptive and supportive. That doesn’t mean they weren’t secretly nervous, but they never openly expressed it.

Seung-Hee Rhee, DDS, MAGD
New York, New York

Don't be afraid. I know when you graduate dental school and suddenly find yourself without the familiar safety net of faculty, it can be quite scary. But fear is a great motivator. It makes you study more and become a better dentist. Trust in yourself to do the right thing. If your heart is in the right place and you treat your patients like family, you cannot go wrong. Trust me — there will be good days, and there will be bad days, but, in the end, it will all work out. Congratulations, and best wishes to the Class of 2022!