Hurdles of a First Year Dentist

With the end of senior year coming to a close, I remember listening to most of my classmates talking about where they “matched” for different residencies. They were excited to begin a new chapter in their life-long commitment to academia. What about the students who wanted to be done with school and go out and finally make a living for themselves? I didn’t hear them talking as excitedly about starting a new job in the “Real World.” The truth was that most of these students had no idea what to expect in their first year of working. I know I didn’t. All I

knew was that in a few short months, I would be working as a general dentist. Maybe it’s not as glamorous as becoming an oral surgeon or an orthodontist, but I liked general dentistry, and I was anxious to get started.

My father has been a general dentist in Melbourne, Fla., for over 30 years, and I had always thought that I would be practicing with him when I graduated. I knew working with my father would be a great, comfortable transition into private practice. However, I also knew that turning a single-dentist practice into a practice big enough for the both of us would take a lot of time and money. Furthermore, my father’s patient flow would have to double if I wanted to have any patients of my own. Reality sank in when I saw my loan total. Going into practice with my father quickly became a less enticing option for

my first years out of school. If I wanted to get out of debt quickly, I was going to have to look for opportunities elsewhere.

If I felt like I knew all the answers after only one year of practice, then I know something must be wrong. Striving to be a conscientious dentist, I want to be sure I am doing the best that I can for my patients.

As a very involved dental student, I had the opportunity to serve as a national leader with the American Student Dental Association, which is headquartered in Chicago. I started thinking to myself that living in a big city and working on my own for a few years might not be a bad option. When else in my life would I have the freedom to do something like that? I could work on my dental skills, make money, pay off some loans and have some fun before I decided to settle on a place to practice more permanently. Thus began a whirlwind of events that had to occur to make practicing in Chicago a reality.

Deciding what to do after dental school can be a difficult task, and the answer can be different depending on your goals. For most, the dream of starting a dental practice fresh out of school is an impossibility. So where does that leave most graduates? Either they apply to a residency, or get out there and become an associate dentist somewhere that is willing to take a chance on a new graduate with minimal experience. My situation is obviously different from those dental students who already have a family to support, those who are going into residency, or those who will be serving in the armed forces after graduation. In the past year, I was able to pay off at least one-fourth of my student loan debt and hope to be done in the next three years. My ultimate goal of opening my own practice may just be closer than I had originally hoped. Then again, I haven’t completely ruled out moving back to Florida to work with my dad. For now, I think I’ll stay where I’m at because I’m happy in Chicago. ■

After taking the proper board exams, finding the right job would be more difficult than anticipated. Chicago is the heart of organized dentistry, and consequently, there are so many practices in the Windy City that the market is saturated with dentists. Luckily, I found a job working for a small clinic on the south side of Chicago that caters mostly to underserved children. It’s not the most glamorous of jobs, but it has provided me with a consistent salary to help pay for my school loans.

Looking back at my first year of practice, I can certainly say that I have learned speed and have noticed improvement in my clinical skills. However, working has also shown me quickly the areas that I need to work on if I want to become a better general dentist. Almost every day, there are questions I have that I need to look up or ask another dentist about. I call my father all the time to discuss cases where I am unsure of what to do next.

Tremendous Earning Potential • Defined Career Path to Ownership Proven Practice Model • Comprehensive Marketing & Business Support Ongoing Professional Development

Dentist opportunities available nationwide! The average Aspen Dental Practice Owner spent less than 2 years with Aspen Dental prior to becoming an Owner.

At Aspen Dental we recognize that our success is a direct result of empowering and supporting ambitious dental professionals. We provide a professional, fast-paced, entrepreneurial work environment based on a mutual respect that keeps our interests aligned. Together, we build and develop successful, patient focused dental practices.

AspenDentalJobs.com/424

SM

We’ve got the perfect

opportunity for you!

Join Aspen Dental – the premier network

of dental practices.

Connect with us:

Aspen Dental is an EOE.