Starting Your Journey: Selecting Your First Dental Job (Part Two)

Dr. Paul Uliasz, President & Clinical Director

Find out how the practice is viewed by the community

Read patient reviews of the practice on Google, Facebook, and Healthgrades. If there are very few reviews or no recent reviews, the dental practice may not promote its online reputation. You want to join a practice that cares about its online reputation because online “word of mouth” is critical in attracting new patients. If you see more negative reviews than positive, that is a warning sign of poor culture.

Find out if the practice gives back to its community through free dentistry events or other charitable events. You can usually find information about giving back on the practice website or its social media accounts. A practice that values giving back to its community will generally have an “it’s not all about profit” mentality and a positive relationship with its patient base. These factors will make your life as a dentist more rewarding and less stressful.

“Interview” the practice by scheduling a visit

Before committing to a practice, try to spend a day there observing the entire operation to see how it runs. If a practice does not want to allow this, it could mean they haven’t been entirely forthright with you in their description of working conditions. Practices with a positive culture will welcome your visit and appreciate the care you are taking with your decision.

Watch how the team carries itself and how they interact with each other and with patients. If the practice culture is positive, you will see team members smiling, upbeat, and happy to be at the practice. Watch for signs that team members do not get along. If you see drama or negativity, the practice most likely has a poor culture.

During your visit you can ask detailed questions about new and existing patients. Here are some good questions to ask:

• In an average month, how many new patients does the practice attract?
• Do many patients leave the practice with sticker shock over the price and never return?
• How are new patients distributed among the dentists (if there is more than one)?

Observe the patients. Do they seem happy, comfortable, like they feel welcome? The answers to these questions will give you a clearer picture of what to expect in terms of the work environment and building your patient base should you join the practice.

It is also important to ask about the practice’s clinical capabilities and standards.

• Is the practice equipped and is the team trained to do same day dentistry?
• Are they using the best materials?

Is the practice equipped and is the team trained to do same day dentistry? Are they using the best materials? There are many more questions that could be asked. Hopefully this article will help you think of others. Don’t hesitate to ask any other questions that come to your mind. Your dental career is too important to be shy about asking questions. The right practice will appreciate you asking detailed questions, it shows you are curious and careful.

Find out what it’s really like to be a dentist at the practice

If there are other dentists working at the practice, ask if you can speak to them. You can learn quite a bit about the practice through an informal conversation a dentist who is already practicing there.

Questions that can help you gain insight into the practice’s culture for dentists include:

• Can I learn placing implants or molar endodontic therapy or will these procedures be done by specialists?
• Are all amalgam restorations treatment planned for buildup and crowns, leading to sticker shock and patient attrition?
• Will I have input on my schedule?
• How would a patient who is not happy with a bridge or a partial that I made be handled?
• (If there is more than one dentist) How are new patients distributed among the dentists?
• How much time do dentists spend with their patients?
• How much time do dentists spend with their patients?

The answers to these questions can provide insight about what your life as a dentist at this practice will be like and guide your decision about whether it’s the right job and environment in which to launch your dental career.

Don’t settle for a practice that does not provide mentoring

Having mentorship from experienced dentists is a significant plus. I found that the fastest way to gain confidence and the best way to improve your skills is through mentorship. This is especially important in for a newly graduated dentist. Be sure to ask if the practice has mentors to guide you on complex cases. Ask who your mentor would be and if you can speak with him or her if you haven’t already met that person.

You owe it to yourself to build your reputation on a solid foundation

Percent of lab fees and benefits are important, but they are not more important than being in the right environment. No amount of compensation can make a bad environment good for you.

Starting your dental career in a positive culture will make it much easier to develop trust and relationships with patients and provide them with the best possible treatment they deserve. As a dentist, your reputation is your most important asset after your clinical skills. Make sure you select a first employer that will help you build the reputation you deserve.