Professional Courtesy: Hot Topics for New Dentists by Dr. Thomas Giacobbi

by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, editorial director, Dentaltown magazine

I graduated from dental school more than 25 years ago. That’s a long time, but in some ways not much has changed: Whether you’re about to graduate or you just finished school, you will be confronted with educational costs, board exams, experience (or lack thereof) and the distribution of dentists. You have a lifetime of education under your belt, and entering the workforce is filled with big decisions. The good news is that these are perennial issues that we each find a path to conquer.

Educational costs

The mountain of debt that follows most new dentists into their profession is well documented. My debt was significantly smaller than what you may be facing now, but it was large in the economy of the time—in fact, I referred to my student loans as my “second home” because the payment was nearly equivalent to my mortgage. My best advice is to live below your means until you’ve established a plan for loan payback. A great book on the topic is The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley.

Board exams

One of the positive unintended consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is that we may finally see some board exam reform. The pandemic hit when students around the country were finishing their studies and preparing for in-person board exams. Some students managed to take the exam before the shutdown, but others were unable to take the much-criticized live patient exams that have been a mainstay for too many years. Let’s hope we can finally work toward an exam that does not require live patients with specific conditions to be the final word on your dental license.

Experience

On the other hand, the pandemic’s timing put a major dent in experience that junior and senior dental students could gain. Face it, a new graduate from dental school knows just enough to be dangerous. As the old saying goes, they call it practice for a reason.

I think it’s more important than ever to consider extending your education with a hospital-based GPR or an AEGD program. The experience and knowledge you gain from these programs doesn’t compare to going out into the workforce. Working in a corporate practice or small private practice simply doesn’t provide the time needed to sharpen your skills or have access to multiple mentors. A GPR or AEGD is built for instruction as the priority.

Distribution of dentists

Many students and young dentists are concerned about the number of dentists in the industry. Is there a glut? Do we have too many dentists? The short answer is no. The primary problem with access to opportunity is the distribution of dentists. Gone are the days of opening your doors and patients pouring in; today, you’ll need to be more flexible in your quest for success. Consider working in a community that has a statistical need for a dentist. The pandemic is driving population from some cities into the suburbs and small towns. These will be the areas of growth in the future.

You’re not alone

I hope these topics will stimulate some conversation with your colleagues and I invite you to share your comments on Dentaltown.com. The site is home to thousands of dentists around the world who are willing to share their thoughts and wisdom through our message boards 24/7/365. You will also find an extensive library of CE courses to guide your professional development.

Feel free to leave a comment or question under this article online at dentaltown.com/magazine. You can also reach me by email at tom@dentaltown.com. Best wishes for success in this wonderful profession!