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Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a dentist is? Well, look no further ’cause we will cover that here!

Just a heads up that the day will vary depending on the dentist and the dental industry in which they practice. But in this piece, we’ll look at the basic activities of a dentist as soon as they arrive at the clinic.

The Morning Routine

Whenever a dentist’s day begins each morning, it is remarkably similar to any other professional.

The dentist will normally get up early, around 6-7 a.m., and start off with a light workout that could last around 30-45 minutes. This may include jogging, walking, cycling, jumping jacks, burpees, sit-ups, push-ups, and the like.

After their exercise, it is usually followed by a warm shower and a nutritious breakfast to keep their minds sharp throughout the day. 

Of course, this may not be your morning routine, and that's okay! What does your morning routine look like before going into the dental office? 

Inside The Dental Clinic

When the dentist arrives at the clinic, they will greet their co-workers and change their clothes or wear their coat. Sometimes, they will also return phone calls to patients and to the lab, although this is often done by either a dental receptionist or office manager.

Next, the dentist will then go over the files of the first 1-3 patients and see what operations need to be conducted, and arrange the required equipment and tools.

If one of the patients requires major dental work, the dentist may spend more time examining the patients’ file. This is to ensure that the dentist is completely prepared for the tough procedure ahead of time for the patient.

The dentist will next speak with the front desk employees about the patients. This covers how many patients are scheduled for today and what additional procedures must be completed on that day. If necessary, the dentist will also bring up the topic of money that must be collected.

Meeting with the Dental Assistant

The dentist will briefly discuss the timetable with the dental assistant and will also inform the dental assistant if any unique equipment or tools are required for any special dentist operating procedure.

This is an important part of the day for the dentist and dental assistant since it allows them to prepare the necessary materials ahead of time.

Morning Huddle with the Team

The dentist will begin the morning team huddle with the clinic’s staff.

This time, they’ll talk about how many patients they can accommodate on a particular day. They’d also discuss yesterday’s performance to determine if there were any specific issues that each patient or staff member encountered and possibly look for a solution.

Morning huddles can also be an excellent time to talk about each booked appointment because if any emergency patients need to be squeezed in, the dentist will already know how the schedule will look before the emergency patients arrive.

After they discuss all the important things to know for the day, the dentist and the other co-workers (assistant, receptionist, and hygienists) begin their day by seeing patients.

Starting Work

Once everything is ready, the dentist will greet the first patient in the room and remind the patient on what the procedure they will do and what are the things they should start with.

This is also the time that the dentist will go through what to expect before and after the operation. In addition, the dentist will explain after-procedure care and educate the patient on how to properly care for his or her teeth.

Depending on what is needed for the procedure, the dentist will provide local anesthesia and wait for the patient to become numb. This is also an ideal opportunity for the dentist to do a hygiene check for the current patient.

Furthermore, dentists are responsible for not only the first patient in their chair but all patients in the dental hygiene rooms as well. The dental hygienist will typically report the findings with the dentist, who will double-check everything, including an oral screening, and assist the dental hygienist in determining when the patient’s next best appointment is.

After inspecting the second patient, the dentist will dismiss the patient and return to the room to see if the first patient is already numb.

Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the dentist will begin the procedure on the first patient.

Basically, this type of process is repeated throughout the day, and the dentist may visit a variety of patients for various procedures, and the hygienist will always request dental exams in their room.

Obviously, the number of operations a dentist can complete in a single day is nearly entirely determined by the complexity and duration of the operations. On a light to moderate schedule, the dentist sees 3-4 patients in a day, whereas on a heavy schedule, the dentist might conduct 8-10 treatments or operations.

Also, in some cases, a dentist may recommend a patient to another specialist, depending on the circumstances. Dentists may phone endodontists or oral surgeons, for example, to discuss specific referrals and treatment plans on which they are both working.

End of Day Duties

At the end of the day, the dentist will follow up and complete all of the progress notes. Every patient they treat should have records detailing the surgery they performed, the materials they utilized, the anesthesia they used, and so on.

The dentist will also review the patients’ charts and schedule appointments for the next day to get prepared for what they will do tomorrow. After that, the dentist will next speak with the front desk to ensure that their records match before submitting all of the day’s computerized claims.

After Work

Just like any other career, being a dentist can be stressful, exhausting, and tiring. The type of work can be physically and mentally draining, considering that the dentist will be working with multiple or different patients and treatments all day.

But to release the stress and get a recharge, many dentists like to do some extra activities after work as a way to relax. Sometimes dentists just want to go for a walk in the park and let their minds wander, go to the mall, dine at a restaurant, or do some light exercise. It’s also possible that some dentists will just simply go home and rest to get prepared for the next day.

All in all, taking some time to unwind is important not just for the dentist but for everyone. There is a saying that “There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”

Begin your Career as a Dentist today

Being a dentist involves a huge amount of advanced planning in order to ensure every patient is treated with the utmost professionalism. This profession can be tiring but rewarding at the same time!

So just in case, we have prepared a list of job opportunities that you may want to look at:

• Dentist job opportunities in Phoenix, AZ
• Dentist job opportunities in Scottsdale, AZ
• Dentist job opportunities in Oregon City, OR
• Dentist job opportunities in Portland, OR
• Dentist job opportunities in Los Angeles, CA

Next Steps

We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of what it’s like to work as a dentist!

We’d also like you to check our other articles that can further help if you want to pursue your Dental Career:

• Best Ways to Increase Productivity in Your Dental Office
• 5 Important Skills Needed for Dental Jobs
• 4 Dental Resume Tips You Need to Know

 

If you love this article, don’t forget to share it on your social media accounts!

 

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