Has Dentistry Kept its Promises to You?

There are a lot of great reasons to become a dentist—as I have written about here before; it remains among the most desirable professions in the nation, and for good reason. It is a profession that promises real fulfillment, economic stability, and a great lifestyle to those who do it right.

And yet you still hear from dentists who feel like a lot of what drew them to the profession turned out to be broken promises.

Do these sound familiar?

You were promised the opportunity to be your own boss—but it feels like you are serving many bosses. The patients, the team members, the economic requirements to keep the practice going, even the lifestyle itself, require constant attention to sustain, to the point where it is easy to feel more like a slave than a boss.

You were promised the opportunity to set your own hours—but the reality is the schedule seems to run you. Part of the allure of operating your own practice was supposed to be the freedom to schedule your work in a way that suits you. So why are you constantly feeling oppressed and stressed by a schedule that seems to get more and more demanding?

You were promised independence—but you have come to see how dependent you are on others. Your team members, the specialists you refer to, your lab partners—all it takes is a breakdown somewhere along the line and you end up feeling the pain.

You were promised that you would get to do what you love—but often the most satisfying parts of dentistry take a back seat to the all the other demands. Sure, you would love to focus your energies on performing comprehensive complex cases, but there are all those other parts of owning a practice that you don't love so much that are crowding your thoughts.

If you find yourself feeling let down by the profession in ways like this, it is probably time to take another look at how you are managing your career. The truth is, running a dental practice, like just about any complex line of work, will seize control of you if you let it.

So don't let it. Assert your intent. Get the education and coaching you need to establish your leadership of your life in dentistry. Master the essentials of diagnosing, treatment planning, and value creation to get patients on board with your philosophy. Approach team leadership in a focused and organized way. Work with colleagues to provide a seamless interdisciplinary experience. Find out how to get your calendar, and your practice, working for you.

Believe me; the promises of a great life in dentistry are very real. I know that is true because I have seen so many dentists achieve that great life. But those promises do not come automatically when your name goes on the door. You have to step up and claim them.




If you find topics like this helpful, check out Imtiaz Manji's practice management courses available to you through our Course Library. Not yet a member of Digital Suite? Click here to learn more.