Last week, we shared some interview questions for a dentist. One of the top interview questions employers like to ask a new dentist is: why did you choose dentistry as a career?

How will you answer?

Of course, everyone has their own reasons and motivations to undertake the long, expensive, and arduous journey to becoming a dentist. 

For me, it was the chance to be your own boss, hire and work with who you want, give back to the community by providing health care, and in select cases, change people's self-image and confidence with cosmetic makeovers.

When you have the intelligence, self-discipline, and perseverance to make it through dental school, you want to make sure you can clearly articulate to a potential employer your reasons for becoming a dentist in the first place. 

So this week, let's take a look at why employers ask this question, a 5-step process for answering it, and ten examples to pull from for your dental interview.

Why recruiters and hiring managers ask this question

Why did you choose dentistry as a career?

It's a common interview question you should be prepared to answer!

Employers ask this interview question to learn why you pursued a career in dentistry.

Because dentists are responsible for a variety of essential tasks, many questions employers ask help them to analyze your interpersonal skills, as well as your oral health expertise. Your ability to provide compassionate patient care while using best practices and effective dental treatments demonstrates your skills and how well you fulfill the job standards.

Your response to this question can also help the interviewer understand your motivation and desire to educate and assist patients with their oral health and cleanliness, all of which are desirable qualities in a candidate.

Related: Best questions to ask in your dental interview

Five steps to craft your response

It can sometimes be overwhelming to think through how you want to respond, so let's consider some elements for your response.

1. Consider what motivated you to pursue dentistry.

Helping others understand their dental health and offering compassionate care demonstrate your enthusiasm and empathy to the interviewer. These qualities also indicate your motivation for choosing dentistry because caring for patients necessitates the capacity to communicate and connect with people.

2. Emphasize your strengths

Discuss the qualities that contribute to your success. Hard skills such as technical competence, dental equipment operation, and specific skills in many sectors of dentistry demonstrate your ability in the field.

It's also crucial to talk about your soft skills. Consider one or two characteristics you use in your job, such as open communication with patients and management approaches for healthcare teams. Details like these help the interviewer see how you intend to contribute to their dental practice.

3. Match your skills to the job specifications

Connecting your strengths to the employment criteria while promoting your skills is essential. For example, connect your knowledge of technology to the employer's requirements for keeping records, budgeting, and organizing dental supplies.

To further illustrate your ability to meet the criteria, discuss particular licenses and certifications you hold or are working toward. Employers can better assess your suitability for the job by directly relating your abilities and experience to the job requirements.

4. Describe what motivates you to work

Describing what motivates you is another excellent way to answer interview questions about your profession choice.

Consider your favorite aspects of the job, such as:

• Assisting others with their oral hygiene
• Delivering oral health education
• Working in advanced dentistry.

Many businesses in the healthcare industry value a genuine interest in patient care and a desire to contribute. As a result, it's essential to determine the type of work that interests you and contributes to your job contentment.

5. Respond with sincerity

Be truthful in your answers to this interview question. Express genuine interest and curiosity in dentistry, including innovation and improvements, and give genuine reasons for pursuing your chosen field. Employers want to know if candidates can meet the work criteria. Still, they also want to see professionals who are enthusiastic about their job and the dental field. Consider relating your values to the organization to reiterate your interest in the position.

Related: 40 questions a dental receptionist might be asked in a dental interview

10 Sample Answers to the Interview Question: "Why did you choose dentistry as a career?"

1. My decision is straightforward. I've always wanted to work in the dental field. Communication with patients, precision, and attention to detail are essential. Given my personality, abilities, interests, and experience volunteering at a local dental clinic, dentistry is the best choice. 

2. I chose this career path because of the poor state of dental health in the United States. Given the number of soft drinks and junk food people eat, it can't be any other way. I want to help people live healthier lives. In my everyday practice, I deal with teeth repair first and foremost, but I also work with prevention, providing patients with information on how to care for their teeth and how to change their diet to avoid certain diseases. I see it as my mission, and I intend to positively influence the community where I will eventually work after I finish my degree.

3. For years, I've been fascinated by this profession, and I'm fully aware of how much dental professionals earn–which is incredibly motivating given how much time we spend learning before being licensed to work.

4. To be honest, I want to live a luxurious lifestyle. I know people who are dental professionals. They have large homes and nice cars, and travel to various locations yearly. I want to avoid being in a financial bind. I want to enjoy my life while also doing something positive for others. Working in this profession allowed me to reach this balance. 

5. There are several opportunities, challenges, and rewards in dentistry. It is a profession that is rapidly evolving and expanding. It offers many career opportunities in private and public sectors, including private practice, public health, research, administration, and teaching. Being a dentist is a profession that allows you to work for yourself. As a dentist, I may balance my work and personal life to fulfill my needs and desires.

6. It's a great question, and I spent much time considering medicine before deciding on dentistry. There is a lot of overlap between the two fields. And as I looked into both medical and dentistry as possible healthcare fields for a career, I saw how similar they were – the education, the scientific approach to patient care, the need to understand how the body works, medical conditions, and pharmaceuticals, and how you come up with a diagnosis and start therapy. So I'd say they're more alike than dissimilar. However, there were certain aspects of dentistry that I found appealing. For example, I find the fact that oral health and its impact on a person's overall health to be fascinating. 

7. I've been researching dentistry because I'm fascinated by the innovations others are making. Before coming here, I did specific tasks that aided my leadership, research, and analytical development. This position requires involvement in dentistry research, and my enthusiasm for discovery and advancements in patient care may meet this requirement.

8. Learning new applications and techniques for patient care has always been my favorite part of being a dentist. One of the reasons I became a dentist was to discover new methods and practices that would improve patient care.

9. One of the reasons I wanted to be a dentist was to work in health care and learn from other experts. I've had the privilege of mentoring assistant dentists, hygienists, and technicians and working with many people throughout my career. These experiences have aided in developing my leadership abilities, managerial expertise, and interpersonal skills. I've been able to advance my profession due to these opportunities.

10. I'm genuinely passionate about improving my dental career. I recently completed dental school and am eager to put what I've learned about patient care, examination, diagnosis, and treatment into practice. I'm willing to attend additional classes to learn more about preventative care, which will help me succeed as a dentist in your dental office. 

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