Ripping up the rule book
by Alan Clarke
Alan Clarke shares his top 10 tips for young dentists
1. Establish your why
Really deep dive on why you are involved in this profession. Dentistry can be tough, staff can be disruptive, and patients often think we’re money grabbers! However, it can be fun for the right person and for the right reasons, if you frame it through the right lens. There can be freedom, creativity, multiple ways to pivot your career, stable earnings and a profession conducive to a great work-life balance. If you find your niche and forget about everyone else’s opinions, you can start to work in alignment with your given purpose.
2. Discover if you are a pioneer or a follower
This might seem an unusual statement, but your drive and the way you want to live your life will determine how you choose the courses you take and mentors you surround yourself with. Do you want to create a niché or do you prefer to lean into a historically created and well-determined pathway? All too often we see mentors help for a bit but then tension rises when you start carving your own path that is perhaps different to theirs. That mentor may close up and cool the situation, ultimately stifling rather than supporting. Trust me, I have been there. Rather than seeking mentors who are doing the same as you, find people who have the same life goals as you, the same bravery, motivations and values. Then you will create a friend and business adviser for years to come!
3. Learn how to read an academic paper
Refresh those skills! We are lucky to be surrounded by multiple treatment modalities and industry reps presenting studies that support their product’s claims, so let’s engage our brains and discern, not to dismiss, but to fully see the scientific- and people-focused landscape we inhabit.
4. Learn about the game of the profession
A lot more happens behind the scenes than you would ever imagine. How does dentistry work? Industry, regulation, legalities, suppliers, companies? You will become a better clinician if you learn about motivations, finance and how the ‘game of dentistry’ works! It will enable you to have more informed conversations. You will be able to discern and cut through the rubbish!
5. Choose your courses wisely
Be aware of sales tactics. Ask yourself, why is this dentist divesting from their apparently ‘highly profitable clinical time’ to teach this course, what do they bring to the table and how implementable is this going to be in clinic?
My advice is to always frame an early bird rate with a value proposition and a reflection to your career development plan to determine if this is the right spend for you.
6. You are the only barrier to your professional growth
Don’t allow your setting, the lack of technology in your practice, or your affordability of courses become a career blocker. Some of the more profitable and driven dentists are reaching their potential not because of the myriad of courses they have attended, but because they meticulously apply their new knowledge and create systems.
Successful, thriving dentists are the ones that commit to enhancing their workflow each and every day.
7. Work smarter, not harder
Communication is key. Remember change is hard for everyone, so diary zoning, longer cosmetic examinations and social media will elevate your productivity and start building the diary you want!
8. Not everyone has to be an influencer
What does a celebrity endodontist look like? We don’t know because it is hard to make endodontics look sexy on Instagram! Social media doesn’t work for every avenue of dentistry and that’s absolutely fine. Word of mouth will always win so don’t feel pressured to share online if you don’t want to.
9. This is a marathon not a sprint
A long, varied and fulfilling career is the goal. There will inevitably be lots of pivots, wrong turns, grey areas and human connection in abundance along the way, so don’t overthink, don’t panic and you will find your place.
10. Don’t follow everyone else
Don’t let comparison be the thief of joy. Look ahead, be bold, have fun, be disruptive and follow your values.
