You didn't choose dentistry because you love dental fillings and crowns, billing questions, and team management. You threw yourself into the profession for many reasons that are sometimes lost in the hustle and bustle of the daily routine of the dental office. The pressure of the waves you're creating can seem like a big responsibility to a person. It can also be frustrating when you feel like you're not talking to enough patients about their oral health, which makes those waves seem non-existent and that the pond you're swimming in becomes stagnant.
Of course, not everyone is going to commit to an impeccable oral health regime and you'll continue to see dental health problems that could have been avoided, but for every difficult case, there are a hundred happy smiles where you did make a difference. Approximately 90% of dentists work in a private practice setting. Some of them work as associate dentists, but each dentist has the opportunity to run their own practice. This isn't something that most doctors can do and earn a living.
You can set your own schedule and dedicate your time to what you like. Most private practice dentists spend 33 hours a week interacting with patients, and full-time dentists work approximately 36 hours a week. Independence and self-determination are key points to being your own boss. If your office is busy and doesn't maintain proper limits, you could find yourself working overtime every week to keep up with all your patients.
That work-life balance that you expected is completely altered if you don't advise your team members and delegate tasks to them. All of these are the harsh realities of having your own office, but the good news is that if you find yourself in this situation, you can make changes to improve your workload, increase your business and relieve stress. By choosing to incorporate technology into your office that improves and shapes the patient experience, you are part of this generation of dentists who are shaping the dental industry as a whole. You're setting the bar and offering patients a new foundation of what to expect.
The mentoring and growth of your team leaders is vital to the health, growth, and success of your dental office. You know that, and you've probably seen what happens with a practice when developing leaders isn't a priority. But not all dentists have the tools or ability to do so. However, there are solutions to help you attract patients who also understand the value of the type of dentistry that makes your heart sing.
How to improve your case presentation skills, change your marketing strategy and work on your internal systems and processes. You could even consider continuing education to expand your skills in specialized areas. The mission of the American Orthodontic Society is to maintain professionalism by providing continuing orthodontic education, mentoring, consultation, accreditation and recognition to dentists and assistants around the world. I feel like I could provide care as a dentist, but also have more autonomy than I would as a doctor.
In addition, the remuneration in both fields seems comparable, and that is an important factor for me given the amount of debt I will accumulate. In addition, the idea of working with a body system, the mouth, seems more structured and manageable than with the whole body. Thank you very much for your answer, Blue. I'm very, very hesitant.
I have to ask, even with the payment of your loans, were you able to live comfortably? I'll probably end up supporting my parents soon, and the debt is worrying. In your 15 years of practice, have you ever felt that loans were so overwhelming that you couldn't enjoy the basics? Thank you very much again for your contribution. It is appreciated more than you think. Is this where all the possible authors in the world go, to dentistry? ???? Lolabees, this is an excellent publication for future dentists and dental students.
It is absolutely essential to know the risks and benefits of this profession. Do you want to know the key to happiness, in this profession or in others? It's your attitude. Of course, just like anyone else, dentists DO have bad days. I would be lying if I told you that I walk into the office glowing every morning.
I have some pretty bad patients that I would love to refer to, but no. I do the best I can with what I have. If I can't smile, I think of a joke or something good that happened before. Believe me, friends (especially young future students), if they have a great attitude, they can be happy even as garbage collectors.
Thanks for the answer, would you mind briefly explaining what are the advantages and disadvantages of dentistry that you have discovered for yourself?. Whether you're repairing a cavity, inspecting for signs of oral cancer, or helping a patient recover their entire smile, as a dentist you're always actively helping others. You can eliminate their pain, improve their oral health and increase their self-confidence. Dentists are also educators, as they inform and offer important advice for patients to improve their dental hygiene and protect their teeth and gums.
So it's a race that you can always feel good about. To find out if a dental career is really the career you want, you might want to look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of a career in the field of dentistry to ensure that you're choosing correctly. . .
