You've recently finished dental school or a residency and are now ready to embark on a new adventure. 

Finding your first job as a dentist! 

You may feel a mixture of excitement and other emotions as you search for a position and land and start your first position as a dentist. 

In this article, we have put together a guide to support and help you navigate through finding your first dental job and position as a dentist and steps and tips to help you in your first position as a dentist. 

Let's get started. . . 

Step 1: Finding the Right Dentist Job and Position for You

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United States Department of Labor, the practice of dentistry will grow at the same rate as the national average between 2020 and 2030. 

At what rate will it grow in that timespan? 

About 8%! 

This means that dentists are in high demand, and you have some say over where you work, even when searching for your first permanent job out of dental school.  

Consider the following factors before making your decision on which first dentist position you say YES to:

• Location:  Where do you see yourself in the long term? This may change, but you now have the option of working in the country in a rural dental practice, in a big city, or somewhere in middle America. You have the options. 
• Examine the benefits package:  You don't want to work for a dentist just because the pay is good. Examining the benefits package is also very important to find the right fit. 
• Office Culture: Getting a feel for an office culture is important in selecting your first dental position and job as a dentist. An office that is supportive of its employees, and values teamwork, gratitude, and a positive work environment are always good cultural traits to look for.  

Once you have found a position, the next step is to practice and master multi-tasking . . . 

Step 2: Practice and Master Multi-tasking as a Dentist 

Practicing and mastering multi-tasking as a dentist is important. 

Why? 

Yes, each patient you serve is your sole focus as you care for your oral and dental needs. 

At the same time, a dentist's office can be busy with many happenings. 

There will be dental assistants who have questions or are assisting you that need direction. 

Dental hygienists will have concerns or discussions that need to occur with the hygienists throughout the day as you see patients.

At a dental office, more than one patient is frequently served at the same time. 

Perhaps one patient is being served by an assistant with x-rays taken, and the dental assistant needs your input on the readings or findings as a dentist. 

Another patient may have their teeth cleaned by the hygienist, yet another is being served and cared for by you with a cavity filling.

This is why you may notice after stating your first position and job as a dentist that you go from seeing a few patients per day to seeing ten or more per day. 

This may end up feeling like you're under pressure to work quickly and efficiently. 

And you essentially are. 

If you begin to feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are not alone and that you can complete this task in front of you. You studied and trained for this!  

Concentrate on accuracy and getting tasks done the first time correctly. 

And remember, you worked so hard in dental school to hone your skills to serve and support patients with their oral health as a dentist. 

Now is not the time to cut corners.

It's time to practice and master multi-tasking while effectively and accurately completing the dental work needed by patients. 

Being prepared and planning can be vital to this step. 

Readiness and order truly facilitate efficiency in dentistry.

 If your assistant has to leave the room five times during a procedure to get your materials, you will become bogged down, and your efficiency will decline.

In addition to thorough planning, keep in mind that repeating procedures will increase efficiency and speed.

Up next is the importance of connecting with a mentor dentist. . . . 

Step 3: Connect With a Mentor Dentist

Having a mentor can be life-changing as you start your first job as a dentist after school. 

Ideally, your mentor is the practice owner. You accepted your first position as a dentist. 

When looking for your first job in Step 1, consider whether the owner or any partners appear to have the qualities you seek in a mentor and a good salary and benefits package.

You may want to request a brief morning and afternoon meeting with your mentor. 

Why?  

Discussing upcoming cases in the morning and asking any questions you have about them from a mentor dentist can be very helpful. 

It can lead to starting each day fresh, regardless of what happened the day before. 

Up next is the Power of Networking as a new dentist. . . 

Step 4: The Power of Networking as a New Dentist 

Outside of finding a mentor who is a dentist, there is power in networking with other dental professionals and dentists in the area. 

Here are three tips: 

1. Attend: Attend meetings of your local dental society. Get to know the other dentists. You will build a network of friends and colleagues who will help you along the way.

2. Acquire: Aquire your new dentist friends about their first impressions of their dental practice. Inquire about what they would have done differently if anything. 

3. Take part in: Take part in alumni events. Over coffee or Zoom meetings, you can share your experiences and learn what to do and what not to do. 

Finally, the importance of positive, strong communication skills. . . 

Step 5: Practice and Implement Positive Strong Communication Skills 

The next step and piece of advice are to develop positive, strong patient communication skills. 

Why? 

It is possible to speak to patients and co-workers in various ways. 

Positive, strong communication skills go a long way in creating a comfortable atmosphere for co-workers and patients. 

Here are some of the recommendations and tips for practicing positive, strong communication skills as a dentist:

• Be Pleasant and Respectful: As most patients and co-workers will be pleasant and respectful to you, you should do the same.
• Express your care for your patients: Give each patient a brief introduction about yourself, then share a bit about your personality. Discuss topics other than dentistry with them. Show them you're human by smiling, making jokes, complimenting them, and overall being yourself. This tip of expressing care can also be applied to co-workers as you meet them and greet them daily; checking in on them and connecting as co-workers can be very beneficial to the office's culture. 
• Talk briefly: Repeating yourself can make conversations cumbersome. After you finish speaking, check to see whether they are listening and if they have any questions. Checking for understanding and using active listing skills are vital here. 
• Be confident. You need to take charge of the situation. Confidence can facilitate your ability to grow strong and become the best dentist you can be!

The Bottom Line 

This guide on your first dental job as a dentist covered the following tips and steps: 

• Step 1: Finding the right dentist job and position for you
• Step 2:  Practicing and mastering multi-tasking as a dentist 
• Step 3: Connecting with a mentor Dentist or other dental professionals
• Step 4: Embracing the power of networking as a new dentist 
• Step 5: Practicing and Implementing positive, strong communication skills 

One final tip: Just remember to be passionate about your work; people take notice of talent and passion, which will increase their trust in you as their dentist and co-worker.

More Information

• A Day in the Life of a Dentist
• 8 Soft Skills for Dentists
• 5 Tips For Running A Successful Dental Practice
• 5 More Tips For Running A Successful Dental Practice

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