There are a few things that can be done to help new dental graduates start their careers on a positive note, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Dr. Lyon, a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for Dental Care Alliance, recently spoke with Becker's about the challenges new dentists experience entering the dental field.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Barry Lyon: Dental school is a long four-year journey that requires working hard, learning totally new concepts and being skilled at time management. No wonder finally obtaining a professional degree is so satisfying. However, the learning isn’t over. There are totally new challenges to face, and expectations of what practicing dentistry must be like are often not met. There’s an old saying that recent grads "don’t know what they don’t know." Practicing dentistry is not easy for seasoned practitioners; for new dentists, it can be daunting.
Perhaps the most important decision a new grad makes is selecting their first job, and that can be a make-or-break decision. Beginning a career in the wrong office is at the very least discouraging, while landing in the right place is a tremendous advantage.
The greatest benefit to the newly hired dentist is being mentored by a successful and seasoned practitioner who can take what was learned in the artificial environment of dental school and show how to make it work in real life. Learning to work with an assistant, understanding the needs of the patient, developing the proper treatment plan and avoiding cases beyond their experience level all allow a new dentist to get started on the right foot. Success, both professional and financial, is readily achievable by simply providing the patient what they need without the specter of education loan repayments influencing their decisions.