The Struggles of Starting My First Job After Dental School
Starting my first job after graduating from dental school has been a journey filled with both challenges and learning experiences. For those of you who are new here, I recently graduated from dental school and began working as a dentist. While I was excited to finally step into my career, I quickly realized that transitioning from student to practicing professional came with its own set of difficulties.
The Challenges of Dental School vs. Working Life
Dental school was tough. Between exams, classes, labs, and the pressure to perform, it often felt overwhelming. On top of that, you’re either taking out loans or paying hefty tuition fees, which adds to the stress. One of the frustrating aspects of school is the amount of time spent learning techniques and procedures that you may rarely use in actual practice.
Talking to other dentists who have graduated, I often heard that you truly start learning once you begin working. While that was encouraging, it also made me question the purpose of many of the tasks we did in school. Additionally, the financial burden was always on my mind — watching friends in other careers start earning money while I was still in school made the process feel even longer.
When I finally graduated, I assumed that working would be significantly better. And in some ways, it is! But I quickly learned that where you work plays a major role in your experience.
The Importance of Your Work Environment
One of the biggest factors that determines whether you’ll be happy or miserable in your job is the office you work at. Many new dentists wonder if they should go into private practice or join a Dental Service Organization (DSO). The truth is, it depends on the specific office and team you end up working with. Some private practices are amazing, while others are full of drama. The same goes for DSOs — some have bad reputations but great offices, while others have great reputations but less-than-ideal work environments.
Finding the right office fit is crucial. Your relationships with co-workers, managers, and fellow doctors can make or break your job satisfaction. I quickly realized that the work environment matters just as much as the technical skills I learned in school.
The Pressure of Being a Doctor
A major adjustment for me was realizing that I was now seen as a doctor — not a student. In dental school, if you made a mistake or didn’t know something, it was understood that you were still learning. But in practice, patients expect you to have all the answers.
This led to a lot of internal pressure. I wanted every filling, every crown prep, and every procedure to be perfect. If a patient asked a question I wasn’t sure about, I felt like I should already know the answer. Even when my work was fine, I would second-guess myself, overanalyze small details, and sometimes take longer than necessary to complete procedures.
The Struggle with Efficiency
Another major hurdle was adjusting to the pace of real-world dentistry. In school, we had long appointment times — sometimes up to three hours for a single filling. Faculty members had to check every step, and waiting for approvals often made the process slow. But once I started working, I no longer had that luxury.
I had to learn how to work efficiently while maintaining quality. My partner doctor gave me a valuable tip: set time stamps for each step of a procedure. For example, if I was doing a crown prep, I’d aim to finish the actual prep in 20 minutes, then move on to scanning within 10 minutes. This helped me stay on track and prevent procedures from dragging on unnecessarily.
Even with extractions, I had to learn to recognize when to switch techniques if something wasn’t working. Before, I might have spent too much time trying one approach instead of adapting quickly. Learning to track my time and adjust my methods was a game changer for my efficiency.
Balancing Confidence and Humility
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of balancing confidence with humility. In school, I sometimes had moments where I felt great about my work, only to be humbled by a difficult case. The same thing happens in practice — just when I think I’ve mastered something, I encounter a case that challenges me.
It’s crucial to have grace for yourself while still pushing to improve. Early on, I was extremely self-critical. If a procedure didn’t go as planned or if I had to refer a case out, I’d dwell on it for days. I’d compare myself to more experienced dentists and wonder if I was behind.
That’s why having a supportive community is essential. Talking with other new dentists and attending CE courses helped me realize that we’re all in the same boat. Growth takes time, and no one becomes an expert overnight.
A Message to Anyone Starting a New Job
Even if you’re not in dentistry, these struggles are universal. Whether you’re an engineer, accountant, business professional, or in any other field, transitioning from school to work is an adjustment. There will be moments of self-doubt, growing pains, and lessons to learn.
The key is to be patient with yourself. Accept that mistakes will happen, focus on improving each day, and lean on your peers for support. With time and experience, you’ll gain the confidence and skills needed to thrive in your career.
I hope sharing my journey helps others going through similar experiences. If you’re feeling overwhelmed in your first job, just know that you’re not alone. Keep pushing forward, and trust that you’ll continue to grow with every challenge you face.
