You love life, being a dentist–most days. You might even consider taking a very long vacation on other days.
You chose dentistry not because you are passionate about dental fillings, crowns, billing, team management, or other technicalities. You chose dentistry because of many reasons, some of which are lost in the daily grind of dental practice life.
Whatever stage of your career you may be at, or the day that you have had, this is a fact that you are not the only dentist in this area. A reminder can be a great thing. Let’s take a realistic look into the highs and lows of dentistry as a career.
Pro: A dentist can make a significant difference in the lives of people.
Take care of your oral health. A dentist plays a vital role in helping people take proper care of their smiles. Your care and advice can prevent disease. Additionally, you can replace missing teeth or treat damaged teeth. You restore smiles, and patients feel confident to smile.
Dental care is not just about bright smiles and healthy teeth. Poor oral health can lead to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in America. You are saving lives. Your actions can make a big difference in the lives and communities of your patients.
Con: You cannot change every part of your life.
You can feel overwhelmed by the responsibility you have to create ripples. It can also feel frustrating to not be able to communicate with enough patients about oral health. The ripples you create feel dwindling and the pond you swim in stagnant. You will see many cases that are not perfect, and there may be some that can’t be avoided. But for every difficult case, there are 100 happy smiles.
Pro: Dentists are able to own their practice and work for themselves.
Around 90% of dental jobs are within a private practice. Although some associate dentists are available, all dentists have the ability to start their own practice. Most doctors cannot do this, but it is possible for some.
Being self-employed is a wonderful thing. You can work your own hours, and you can do what you love. While private dentists spend most of their time with patients, full-time dentists typically work about 36 hours per weeks.
Being your own boss means you have the freedom to run your business in your own way and are not bound to any one. Some dentists find it rewarding to own their own practice and be a dentist.
Con: Dentists are able to own their practice and become self-employed.
Self-determination and independence are two of the key selling points for being your own boss. However, self-employment can have its downsides. If your practice has a lot of patients, and you don’t set clear boundaries, you may find yourself working overtime just to keep up with them. You can’t give your team the guidance they need and assign tasks.
Stress and uncertainty can increase if things aren’t going well in your business. There are many things you worry about, such as how to make ends meet or how to pay your employees. You are ultimately responsible for any problems that may arise. If things go wrong, it is your responsibility to fix them.
These are some of the hard realities of owning your practice. But, the good news is you can make positive changes to increase your work load, improve your business and decrease stress.
Pro: You can experience the remarkable changes occurring in dentistry, and in dental technology.
Dental technology is improving by leaps and bounds. It seems that every day there is a new technology to make tooth restorations more simple or to make hygiene appointments easier, more thorough, and easier for patients.
If you choose to incorporate technology into your practice, it will improve and shape the patient experience. You are part of this new generation of dentists that is shaping the dental industry. Your patients will have a better understanding of what you do and how to treat them.
Con: It is important to stay on top of the changes occurring in dentistry, and in dental technology.
Continue to earn continuing education credits, and get training on new equipment. If you don’t, you’ll be the last one to catch up. It’s a good thing that you are open to learning new things every day.
Pro: Dentists can work with the best people, their patients and team!
You can see that dental teams are amazing! It takes a special kind of person to care for people’s teeth all day. Dental workers tend to be compassionate and caring people who are easy to get along with. Additionally, because dental teams are small, people often work together for years. You get to know your coworkers better and form a tight-knit team.
Patients are just as amazing. Patients tend to be more comfortable with their dentists once they become familiar with them. Your patients may even become close friends over time.
Con: Dentists need to learn how manage people.
It is crucial to your practice’s growth, health, and success that you mentor and develop leaders. You already know this, and you have probably seen the results of a practice that doesn’t prioritize developing leaders. However, not all dentists have the resources or the ability to do it.
But don’t get too disheartened. There are tools, and dental management groups that will help you grow your team.
Pro: You get to be creative as a dentist.
A dentist is able to blend science and art to create smiles that patients can be proud to show off. That’s an extraordinary pro! Consider the last patient that walked in with a smile hidden and then flashed it to everyone.
It’s a great feeling to give people a functional and beautiful smile. Dental professionals have a wide range of options available to restore smiles.
Con: It’s easy to get lost in the monotony of dentistry.
Being a dentist can lose its appeal if it is not a joy to practice.
There are many ways that you can bring in patients that understand the value and beauty of the dentistry that you love. It’s possible to improve your case presentation skills, market better, and streamline your internal systems. For specialist skills, continuing education might be an option.
Pro: Dentists are able to make a good living while still maintaining a balance between work and family.
Being able to make a living is crucial for you. Brits want to have enough money to retire comfortably while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It’s possible with dentistry.
Con: It’s not about the money.
Is this really a con or not? Not hardly.
Whatever stage you may be at in your dental career right now, try to remember what it was that made you love being a dentist. You may have found it in the ability to build relationships and work with patients, or the ability to combine science and art. Think back to that moment when you realized being a dentist was right for you. Don’t lose sight of that moment during the hard days.
You’re not the only one. There are many dentists like you out there. Talk to colleagues. You can join or create a group of people who support you. Also, offer your support.
It is essential to have caring, compassionate, and kind dentists. We appreciate your being one.