How Can I Excel in My Dental Career? The Ultimate Guide

Getting that all-important first dentist job is a crucial step in your career. But what steps can you take to make sure you excel in your job? Our guide tells you exactly what you need — and where you need to be — to make the most of your dental career.

No matter what job we do, we all want to excel in our line of work. In the majority of cases, a medical career — especially a dentist job — requires years of training and education. It’s essential for dentists to feel that this time hasn’t been wasted and they feel energised and fulfilled from their job. So how can you ensure you advance in your dental career?

Take Responsibility

Being proactive is empowering, as it gives you the ability and confidence to take on responsibilities, make important decisions and display your leadership skills. Employers value initiative and, while everyone needs a little guidance or advice at some point, the ability to work independently shows your team that you have what it takes to progress in your job role.

Consider a New Location with Dental Nursing Jobs in Dubai

Moving to a new location can significantly help your job prospects. Going further afield and applying for dental nursing jobs in Dubai, for example, allows you to assert yourself in an entirely new setting, and get a taste of a new culture and way of living. Wherever you decide to move to, spending time abroad shows your commitment to doing everything you can to further your career.

If you’d rather stay close to home, moving to another practice in the UK is also a viable option. With a number of dental nursing jobs in London and Leeds, the only limit is your imagination and where you’d like to live.

Go Private

With so many cuts to the NHS and well-being at a low, it’s no surprise that dentists might opt to work in a private practice to enhance their career prospects.

A study conducted by The British Dental Association asked dentists to rate their happiness, satisfaction and the reward they got from their work. Almost half reported low levels of happiness and 55% stated they felt high levels of anxiety during the day. These statistics are concerning; not just for the overall health of dental professionals, but for those who want to excel in their dental jobs in the UK. Notably, however, practitioners who primarily do private work report higher levels of job satisfaction than those working in the NHS.

There are further benefits to getting a dental job in a private practice. Practitioners aren’t tied to the rigid promotion scheme of the NHS and with practices typically being smaller, there are better opportunities for advancement.

Embrace the Team Environment

Dentistry is a team-oriented environment. It’s easy in any medical workplace to get irritated by comments made by colleagues, when in reality the whole practice should be focused on the patient. Engaging in making petty remarks or biting back when you disagree with a colleague will not enhance your opportunity to excel; in fact, it could hinder it. Instead, look for a solution. Communication is a key skill for any medical professional, not least with patients but with our peers, too. Working together and making new suggestions will not only benefit your career, but the entire dental practice.

What Are Your Career Goals?

How can you expect to excel if you don’t know what direction you want your career to go in? Of course, the answer to this isn’t always clear cut, but any dentist looking to be the best they can be should give it some thought. An effective dental practitioner has some idea of what they want to achieve during their work life, whether it’s getting a dentist job in a new practice or advancing their education by earning additional qualifications.

Consider asking yourself “why am I in dentistry?” and develop a mission statement you want to live by. Whenever we attend a job interview or are considering a change, it’s only natural for us to have our own reservations and preferences. It might be that you’d prefer working in a smaller firm or want to work somewhere that allows you to specialise in your field of choice (such as orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry). Knowing your long-term goals will help you find an environment where you won’t only have the chance to excel, but you’ll want to.

Being in a dentist job can be hugely rewarding, and you can get satisfaction daily from helping patients — whether it’s by relieving their pain or giving them confidence with a bright, straight smile. However, excelling in your job role takes hard work, commitment and the right work environment. Following these steps will take you one step closer to improved happiness and satisfaction in your dentist job and a wealth of opportunities to progress in the future.

Are you looking to excel in your dentist job? At Jobs4Medical, we have the role for you, whether you’re looking for dental nursing jobs in Dubai or something closer to home. Our specialist job board collates dental jobs into one easy-to-use search engine, so you can find the perfect home for your skills. For more information on our services, give us a call on 01256 336632 or get in touch via the form on our contact page.