Congratulations, you’ve earned your DMD. You’re officially a Doctor of Dental Medicine. It must feel good; I remember my white coat ceremony like it was yesterday, being full of equal parts and angst and excitement, knowing the world was my oyster.
Okay, I’m done being an old-timer. Congratulations on the accomplishment, but you need to keep in mind that it is not the end of your journey—it’s just the beginning. The next steps are not easy, perhaps some of the hardest, and they’ll be big players in whether this career will be as rewarding and fulfilling as you’ve hoped.
So, let’s get to it. What are four steps after dental school graduation that you need to take?
1. Ask yourself: are you ready to own a business or should you work under the tutelage of others?
Oftentimes, the idea of something is much more appealing than the reality of it. Once we start practicing dentistry in the real world, we may find that the clinical experience isn’t as straight-forward as we hoped it would be. We run into unhappy patients, patients who simply don’t accept treatment, and tons of other variables that we haven’t yet run into. This can cause a headache or two, to say the least, and it’s hard to face the brunt of that even if you’re a seasoned dentist.
If we’re not surprised by the clinical differences that come with the “real world,” us dental entrepreneurs may find that we’re simply not as ready to run a business as we thought. It makes sense that this happens so often because, the truth is, dental school just doesn’t fully prepare us for being in charge of a dental practice.
For those facing this predicament or for those who don’t yet have the entrepreneurial vigor, going into a residency is a popular option. However, I don’t think you should go to a residency that’ll be a fifth year of dental school where you’re just doing the same procedures at a faster pace. I’d advise you to work smarter, not harder, and potentially make an extra $100,000 by going into private practice.
Dental residency vs. private practice is a crucial decision in your dental career advice for new graduates. If you choose to forgo a dental residency, that doesn’t mean you need to start your own dental practice. You can think about joining an existing practice or practicing as a dentist in some other way. That’s a great way to gain your wings without taking the full pressure that comes with owning your own business.
2. Think about where you want to live in both the short-term and the long-term.
Dental school can feel “stuffy” and, after graduating, many new dentists are eager to “be free.” That may mean working somewhere sunny and beautiful or it may mean living in a log cabin in snow-capped mountains. Either way, it’s not uncommon to graduate dental school and look to practice somewhere that’ll provide a new experience or an escape of sorts.
While there’s nothing wrong with that approach, it’s important to keep in mind that, as a dentist, settling down somewhere is going to be a necessity for playing the long game. Your career won’t be sustainable or hit a steady upward trajectory otherwise; we can’t go bouncing around from place to place like a real estate agent in the long-term.
So, ask yourself some critical questions about where you want to be located and why. Do you want to be near your family? Do you want to find a location with tons of business opportunities? Do you want to settle in an area with a great education system for your kids? If you have a partner, think about what they do for a living; do they need to be near a metropolitan area?
There are so many factors to keep in mind when it comes to settling down, but don’t forget that you’ll need to nestle in somewhere. While it can be fun to try and start practicing dentistry somewhere extravagant, you ought to think twice before starting an entire business is an area that you were drawn to for a scene you may soon outgrow. This is an important aspect of dental school graduate career planning.
3. Continue learning.
The real world is a challenging place to be in. It can be hard to find your way around, and it takes a lot of time and effort to get the hang of things. For dental professionals just starting out, it can be even more difficult. There are so many things that you need to know and do in order to run a successful business or practice clinically that you never learned in school. That’s why continuing education is so important!
CE isn’t just about staying up-to-date on the latest developments in dentistry or learning how to use new technologies. Continuing education teaches you how to run your own business successfully between taking on clients, marketing yourself, managing your finances, and more. This is essential dental career advice for new graduates.
Learning doesn’t stop with CE, either. Reading and listening to books is a great way to learn new things, connect ideas, and take your knowledge to the next level. Another bonus of reading books and listening to podcasts is they don’t require any input on your part—they only require some time and attention.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m also a big fan of joining masterminds, especially those that you pay for. They offer the opportunity to develop business acumen with perspectives offered outside the sphere of dentistry alone. That said, working with fellow dentists is going to be key—which takes me to step #4.
4. Join communities of fellow dentists.
When you start exploring the business side of dentistry, you’re going to want to talk about it. Learning through CE will only get you so far. You need to be able to discuss applying those lessons with other people who are in the same boat.
When you start talking to others, you’ll also learn about concepts that you never learned about. There’s so much information available out there, and there’s no way you’ve watched all the same podcasts or taken the same CE courses as somebody else.
Networking is one of my specialties. In fact, I’m proud to be the owner of the Nifty Thrifty Dentists Facebook group. This is an online hub where tens of thousands of dentists gather to advise one another, hunt for bargains, and more. Joining the Nifty Thrifty community is an optimal opportunity for those who have recently graduated dental school, as it’ll help you to afford products and services before you’re making a killing. In addition, many of the members are new dentists—just like you.
Last but not least, don’t forget about state associations! Each state has societies dedicated to helping dentists both young and old (usually for an affordable fee). These associations can offer resources and information that’ll help you to gain traction—especially during your early years. You’ll also be able to connect with other dentists through these organizations. Perhaps you find coworkers who are facing similar challenges or mentors who know how to overcome some of the obstacles you find yourself facing.
The sky’s the limit.
In truth, while we’ll learn a lot of invaluable information in dental school, it only teaches us the tip of the iceberg. There’s a ton of trial and error you’ll need to go through—no matter what. You won’t be error-free by taking these four steps after dental school graduation, but you’ll avoid some of the same mistakes I’ve seen many young dentists make.
You’re already on the right path, so don’t plan on stopping here! Again, I run a community full of dental professionals who can teach you things you never learned in dental school. So, join the Nifty Thrifty Dentists Facebook group and reach out! People from all across the globe will be happy to let you in on their two cents. This community can provide valuable tips for starting a dental practice and help with your dental school graduate career planning.