“You have power over your mind – not the outside events. Realise this and you will find strength”  

Some of the best advice I’ve received has been in my final year of studies as a dental student. There has been some great support from supervisors and colleagues along the way, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Patients can cancel last minute, equipment can fail on you during a procedure, and some days you’re just not at your best. That’s ok! These moments may test your technical skills, patience, resilience, and the ability to come up with solutions on the spot. 

In writing this article, I remembered the most meaningful advice I was given and how it helped me come up with a number of solutions, so the problem at hand was tackled using different techniques, materials, and teaching even it wasn’t my day to be.

The reality is nothing can prepare you enough for what might go wrong. What you do have control over is your response going forward. Writing this now, I just completed minor oral surgery on a patient with the help of assistants and our lead supervisor. I had planned the case well, the patient was lovely, the procedure was fine. But something I have practiced and performed over-and-over again became a struggle in a matter of moments – suturing.

Just the week before, a similar case had gone so well – why weren’t things working now? Instead of letting the frustration get to me I took a step back and asked for help. We were able to complete the surgery and reflect on it afterwards, but it was a key moment that made me realise how these obstacles can shape you. If you’re having a bad day, just remember to take a breath! 

“Reliability is built in advance, not explained afterwards” 

I must admit, a lot of the tips and tricks I will share come from one of the best supporters I have had during my JCU tenure. The supervisor was a great teacher and helped me overcome a lot of challenges not only as a clinician, but also as a person. The truth is, everyone depends on you to be prepared, punctual, and consistent in this profession. As we say to a lot of our patients, prevention is better than a cure. We shouldn’t wait until there is a problem to then go and try to fix it. It’s important to remain credible and reliable as a young dentist since this will build our reputation. You don’t want to start conforming to bad habits.

Building these qualities comes long before you see patients or start a procedure. It comes down to your routines, how you organise your life, being able to look after yourself before you look after others. Even small things like knowing your worksite, getting there on time, being prepared for the day’s work so there aren’t many surprises all matter. When you have the time, following up with patients, staff, lab work and being one step ahead. These are the sorts of qualities that will allow you to excel inside and outside of your clinic. Learn to lead by example.

As a final year student, the workload of studies, placements, and just day-to-day life can keep the pressure constant. This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect but just following through with your commitments and working around obstacles the best that you can. It’s in showing your strength but knowing your weaknesses that allows patients and supervisors to gain trust. Your habits will define the kind of dentist you become.

“Don’t start something you can’t finish e.g. the most complex case of your career” 

Coming towards the end of your undergraduate stint, you will be surrounded by a lot of like-minded people that are great at what they do and have their own unique strengths. It can also be a challenging and competitive environment. We are lucky to be in a profession that has so many opportunities and no limit to where our degree can take us. For this reason, it can be overwhelming at times hearing what other people want to do, or are already doing. Being in a digital age and access to social media may also make this a difficult experience.

Nevertheless, with good intention, achievement also requires a lot of enthusiasm too. We must make sure things are planned and timed well so that it doesn’t land us in tricky situations. There will always be a focus on learning and professional growth but there can be procedures and outcomes that seem really tempting and straightforward before experiencing first-hand what the real world is like. Each opportunity caries its own responsibility – not just to our patients, but for clinical hours, lab turnarounds, the supervisor’s time, and your own abilities.

It's important to understand what you are capable of. There is a fine line between pushing the boundaries to improve versus risking complications, or even medicolegal action. In dentistry, your work is never complete. You cannot leave a case halfway through and compromise the patient. You must uphold the integrity of your work and those around you. We must also try our best to reduce the stress we carry by honestly navigating these challenges. A supervisor once told me: “whatever you open up, you should be able to close”. It’s not that I took on a case before where there was limited time or resources, or with lack of mentoring. We knew the complications that may arise, and so too did the patient. We were confident in our abilities and providing a sound outcome but sometimes things don’t go to plan. Your success shouldn’t be measured by the cases you have done or the number of procedures undertaken, but rather your growth and striving for clinical excellence. 

“Dentistry is equally as terrifying as it is exciting” 

This may be the reality of our profession, and we see it with the patients that come into our practices. We are gradually improving their experiences, along with the abilities of our new generation of qualified dentists. Being in your final year of studies can be a similar experience. On one hand, it is the last push before you step into this rewarding career. On the other hand, the independence required to manage yourself, make decisions, and take on complex treatments can be quite daunting. It is a big transition into the workforce, and as many say: “what you learn in university is nothing compared to what you will gain once you finish”.

It’s important to have a positive outlook in these moments to make the most of our tertiary education without putting too much on the plate. With rural and regional placements becoming more of a focus, there is an emphasis on cultural experiences and clinical proficiency. It is no small feat to be performing at a graduate level in a new location with new people, juggling travel and life, and also finding time for yourself. If you can remain calm and collected during the highs and lows, there is no doubt you can make it out with flying colours. In no time, it will be the end of the year, and you will realise all the amazing things you achieved, not only as a clinician, but also as a person. Cherish these small moments! Be kind to your patients, peers, and staff because having a warm environment to thrive is so important at this stage of your career. 

If someone is having a bad day, don’t take things personally. They may have said or done something that was not directed towards you. Learn to manage your emotions and appreciate any humour that comes your way. It’s important to look after yourself as a student and stay strong in these moments. Focus on the small things that matter in dentistry and stay consistent. There’s a reason you keep hearing about nailing the basics before getting ahead of yourself. Try your best to keep the glass half full because you can make it through this final stretch. Only good times to come! 

“Make the hard decision now, take the easy road later” 

This might sound a little cliché – I remember people telling me this all the time when I was younger. The classic principle of working hard at the start and living an easy life doesn’t really resonate with people in our current society as there is a shift in social norms and culture, but there is still some truth to this. It may be the difference between finishing with confidence and stumbling with stress. Sometimes in our profession we go through steep learning curves that shape us to become better people and dentists.

For example, I have had moments where there are time constraints to do a procedure, but the patient may have come in with certain expectations on the day. The hard thing to do is re-book them knowing you need more time and planning even if they may not be fully satisfied in the moment. I was reminded of an unspoken rule recently that you can promise the patient too much unbeknownst that you are biting off more than you can chew. We are problem solvers and people pleasers at heart but not everything has to be resolved on the spot.

It can be quite uncomfortable to face these sorts of truths. You may feel like you’re not good enough or something has not been done right. However, being a dentist is not just about reading textbooks and operating on people. It’s about everything I mentioned before and more – knowing and perfecting the art. We must be up to date with the latest information, learn to manage people, show leadership, and direct the team effectively. We must also take ownership, be empathic, and come back to do this again the following day right? Try your best not to be too harsh on yourself. 

This profession rewards those who think ahead. If you know yourself well enough to make the hard choices, to not skip any steps, to triple-check your work, then you’re going to be a lot less stressed in the future. I recently made an error with some removable pros impressions and didn’t realise it until they were sent way. I had to communicate further with the labs and created extra work for myself in the future. We were able to navigate the situation, but these things can be done smarter rather than harder. You don’t want to be taking work home with you or constantly thinking about it. If you can establish good habits early, then the transition into the workforce will also be a lot smoother. The easy way is earned, not chosen. Discipline will create excellence! 

This article was written in collaboration with Dental Protection. If you would like world-class protection and exclusive member benefits, sign-up through our online portal now! Have confidence in knowing you have excellent support anytime you need, at any stage of your career, and for whatever challenge that may come your way.