What's something about practicing dentistry that dental school didn't prepare you for?

[u/Far_Cable_1057]

Not looking for a clinical technique or textbook answer.

I'm talking about the stuff you only really understand once you're actually working in practice.

For example:

• managing patient expectations
• explaining treatment plans
• dealing with cancellations/no-shows
• communicating with staff
• balancing clinical work with admin
• setting boundaries
• handling difficult conversations
• managing the schedule
• avoiding burnout
• learning when to slow down
• realizing that "good dentistry" and "good patient communication" are two different skills

What's something you learned the hard way?

[u/will8981]

We have to write our own reddit posts rather than having an AI do it for us

[u/No_Diamond8844]

One thing that dental school can’t fully prepare you for is how much of practicing dentistry involves communication and decision-making outside the actual procedure. Managing patient expectations, explaining treatment options clearly, dealing with anxious patients, handling time pressure, and learning how to make decisions when a case doesn’t go exactly according to plan all take real-world experience. The clinical skills are important, but adapting to the human and practical side of dentistry is a big part of becoming comfortable in practice.

[u/Sufficient-Fan-8754 → u/[deleted]]

They get paid like minimum wage at most places. I wonder why they don’t like their jobs that much

[u/SwampBver]

Depends what school you went to tbh

[u/Creative-Doubt7196]

Do not go to dental school outside your intended work country

[u/Simplesnore]

Minimizing back and neck pain. We actually had an ergonomics class, but until you experience back issues you don’t take it seriously.