Graduating Dental School? Now What? Part 2
What to consider when you’re considering life after graduation.
“We make our decisions and then our decisions turn around and make us.”
~FW Boreham
You’re now well versed in the questions you should be asking yourself when considering the direction to take your dental career. It’s time for the final round of questioning, in which every inquiry is directed at your prospective employer. Taking a glimpse into what your life and career will look like here will help you make an informed decision.
What are the benefits of being affiliated with your network?
Being in the dentistry business doesn’t mean you are well-versed in the business of dentistry. In fact, many dentists graduate dental school with little business know-how, a disservice to any dentist with the hopes of running their own practice.
Running a successful dental practice requires business finesse, the appropriate resources, and steady time to tend to business matters, all while delivering clinical expertise. That’s why dentists join the ADI and DDS networks. They come here to be dentists, not just first and foremost, but entirely - focusing solely on the clinical aspects of dentistry while Affordable Care, the DSO for both ADI and DDS, provides 360-degree business support.
When the workday is over, Dr. Patel says, “I leave my practice and I don’t have to think about it unless I want to.”
From human resources to marketing, IT support to practice maintenance, and real estate management to continuing education programs, Affordable Care does it all, so that you can practice your craft.
Affiliation with ADI or DDS provides not only business support but a business network. “You get to know doctors all across the country with various interests and you always learn something from someone,” Dr. Powell says.
Dr. Ukaoma loves that, “you have a network already built around you with the same goals in mind. It’s so easy to pick up the phone and reach out,” she says.
Dr. Patel concurs, finding that being part of the ADI network has given him many opportunities to learn from others. “I look at the other successful ADI practices...I’ve seen what the doctors there have done, how the teams work, the attributes of ADI, and how to maximize potential.”
What mentoring opportunities are there here?
While in dental school, you’re accustomed to having mentors who teach you, mold you, and shape you into knowledgeable professionals. Once you step out of the classroom and into the working world, it’s common for dentists to feel isolated, a bit gun-shy and in over their head.
Having a trusted mentor as you enter the working phase of your dental career is just as important as those mentors back on campus. Whether you join a private practice or affiliate with a DSO, the one thing you need is guidance as you get your feet wet. Dr. Burns makes a point that even though you are entering the dental world equipped with high-level clinical skills, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” That’s the beauty of ADI.
“ADI is a fantastic home for young dentists...the mentorship with this company is incredible,” says Dr. Powell. “You’re getting paid very well as a professional dentist and you're also getting that mentorship aspect. I still say it's the best-paid residency in the world.”
Dr. Fereg also credits the mentoring he received from practice owner, Dr. Daniel Fenton, whom he worked with as an Associate, as being instrumental in taking his career and skills to the next level. “It’s a totally different ballgame,” he says of the mentorship opportunities. He continues “[Dr. Fenton] mentored me from the ground up and I jumped on it. When I had the opportunity to open my own practice, he was the one that pushed me. He said, ‘You're going to take this and go out on your own.’”
In order to compete in the world of dentistry, you have to stay relevant.
Will There be Continuing Education Opportunities?
In order to compete in the ever-changing, ever-moving world of dentistry, you have to stay relevant. You maintain your value by increasing your knowledge and experience through continuing education programs.
Though some employers will support you in your continuing education goals, not all will provide you the necessary funds or time off. Dr. Powell advises graduate students, “This is definitely something to consider. Who is paying for your continuing education and how much?”
ADI and DDS affiliated dentists are offered dental implant training through nationally recognized institutes, which is instrumental in taking one’s career to the next level. Dr. Burns recalls, “One of the things that attracted me to ADI was the world-class training opportunities they provide you. The implant dentistry training...I see it as a residency in implant dentistry.”
Within her first month at DDS, Dr. Ukaoma was sent to 50 hours of continuing education courses. In carefully selecting the commencement of her dentistry career, “I still wanted to have an avenue to learn and get exposure to more procedures,” Dr. Ukaoma says, “If there is anything else I'm interested in, DDS supports me in that.”
Will I be able to access optimal dental technology, equipment, and resources?
Naturally, you want access to the latest and greatest. After all, the equipment and technologies you use have a direct impact on accuracy, efficiency, productivity, and your ability to deliver quality care. The latest and greatest, however, doesn’t come cheap. Some practices choose to invest in advanced dental technologies, while some simply don’t have the means.
An advantage to working with ADI is their tremendous buying power. With hundreds of practices to outfit with supplies and equipment, ADI creates steadfast vendor relationships and demands competitive pricing solutions.
“We are able to offer our services at lower prices to our patients and use top of line equipment and materials because we have that buying power,” Dr. Powell says, “A lot of technology that we have at ADI is not offered anywhere else. Buying power is absolutely a huge thing.”
Is there an on-site lab?
Whether you’re creating dentures, implants, crowns or bridges, you need access to a lab. As the large majority of labs are off-site, deliverables are not immediate and there is an increased potential for inaccuracies. A survey by LMT Magazine and Dental Economics found that 46% of dentists have switched their primary laboratory in the last five years, the number one reason being inconsistent quality.
Along with quality issues, an off-site lab equates to additional patient appointments, indefinite back-and-forth communication between practice and lab, a heightened potential for miscommunication, and a less streamlined process overall.
An on-site lab solves all of those problems. According to Bennett Napier, Executive Director of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, only 2% of dental practices have an on-site lab. This is what differentiates ADI and DDS, as every affiliated practice boasts an on-site lab.
“It’s a game-changer,” asserts Dr. Peter Fereg, “I can’t imagine doing dentures without an on-site lab. We can do so much that other people can’t do, for example, the same day denture.”
Dr. Powell reiterates the power of the on-site lab. “It is so key. Let’s say we do a wax try-in. We bring the lab tech out to look at it on the patient. We all work together as a team, side by side, right then and there, making any adjustments we need to get a more customized result. If I had to send everything out to a lab, it would take two months to make a denture.”
What advice would you give to a dental student who is approaching graduation?
These young dentists have been where you are now, talented and eager with anticipation. They too had the same questions and sought the answers that would give them insight and direction. They are now able to look back and share their own personal advice.
Dr. Michael Powell: “Make sure you are getting paid fairly, that you have full autonomy, continuing education opportunities and that you can maintain an ethical practice.”
Dr. Peter Fereg: “Find a mentor, so that you can grow and know how to grow. Ask employers how much mentorship you will receive and what they will do to ensure your growth.”
Dr. Ola Ukaoma: “Determine some areas that you want to grow in and the goals that you have. Write them down. Ask focused questions of your prospective employer. Whatever type of dentistry you are interested in pursuing further, make sure that the practice or company can support you in those endeavors.”
Dr. Devin Burns: “You need to really look deep within and find out what type of dentistry you want to practice...what impact you want to have on your community and patients.
Completing dental school is a time for celebration and congratulations. It’s quite an accomplishment. All that’s left is one question: What's next for you?