An Oral Health Therapist's Guide to Your First Year of Practice

Close your eyes and imagine the sounds of dental school. It’s a spectrum that has lived rent-free in your brain for the last few years. The high-pitched buzzing of handpieces running simultaneously. The never-ending exchange of peers complaining about requirements. The sound of an explorer probe and examiner assessing your Class II cavity prep (and the corresponding spike in your heart rate). It was chaotic, relentless, and tiring.

Here is the thing you probably didn’t realise until you graduated: It was safe.

If you were about to perforate a pulp chamber on a crying child, your tutor would (usually) be there to stop you. If you didn’t know the answer, you could ask your dental bestie. And now, you’ve graduated! You got the Ahpra registration, the frame on the wall, and the job.

Now, you’re in the clinic. It’s just you, your dental assistant, and a patient who assumes you’ve been doing this for ten years. There is no tutor coming to check the margins. There is no safety net.

Let’s talk about the emotional, professional, and logistical reality of your first year as a dental practitioner. Welcome to the transition. It’s the weirdest, hardest, and most trying time of your career. If you feel like you’re drowning right now, I want you to know something: This is completely normal! And you are not alone. 

Imposter Syndrome 

You know that feeling when your classmate posts a picture-perfect cavity prep to their social media and…what? Quickly followed by a sinking feeling that you’ve been left behind. That you’re not on par with your peers. That’s Imposter Syndrome, a highly researched behavioural phenomenon which is very common among high-achieving healthcare professionals (1). 

Research shows that imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent during the transition from university to independent practice. In dentistry, this feeling is visceral. It’s easy to look around and think everyone else has it figured out (when in fact, we are all still learning!). The National Library of Medicine found an enormous 84.1% of undergraduate dental students surveyed had moderate to severe imposter phenomenon experiences and 7.05%t showed intense imposter phenomenon experiences.

Here’s the truth: You are not an imposter; you are a beginner. And as a beginner, you are simply learning. It will take time to build your confidence but trust the process, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember, you have an entire network of colleagues and mentors for guidance and support when you need it. 

Keep a diary of your wins. This could simply be in the Notes App on your phone where you save positive testimonials, growth wins and thank-you notes that you can look back on when imposter syndrome hits. 

Young Clinician Stigma

It’s going to happen. And multiple times. It will annoy you. On a hard day, a sceptical patient questioning your age and experience can shatter your confidence. Navigating this dynamic requires resilience. The emotional hurdle here is maintaining your composure. In my experience, it’s best to laugh if off! A friendly, “I know, I’ve got to thank my mum for her good genes, I plan to keep my young looks into my 50’s” can help alleviate the situation because confidence isn’t about your experience, it’s how you carry yourself.

Clinical Speed vs. Clinical Excellence 

In dental school, you were assessed on precision. In the real world, you are judged on efficiency and patient feedback/management. Managing these two conflicting frameworks can be a shock to the system! In dental school, you had 90 minutes to do an extraction, now your receptionist has popped her head in because you’re 15 minutes into the next patient’s appointment and you haven’t given post op instructions yet.

You may feel pressure from your boss (or your own paycheck) to pick up the pace, but the truth is that it takes guts to move slower when the world is urging you to be faster. The more you rush, the more likely you are to make mistakes or misread a patient’s emotional cues. Be the clinician that runs 15 minutes late and helps the anxious patient walk out happy, rather than the one who runs on time but forgets their bedside manner.

The "Money Talk"

While dental school teaches you Class II restorations and the Cusp of Carabelli, it rarely teaches you how to look a patient in the eye and tell them their broken tooth needs a crown. Oh, and that crown costs $2000. Transitioning to a provider mindset where value must be communicated can be tricky. This is why you see many clinicians invest in communication courses and lean on their mentors. You’ll learn quickly that a patient’s trust in your treatment plan is rarely based on your margins (they can’t see them), it’s based on your ability to communicate value, being clear and transparent about costs, and empowering your patients to make informed decisions. 

The logistical challenges in dentistry are often considered the boring part, and the part that’s covered by one lecture in university, however, they’re usually what burns people out. 

Dentistry’s Physical Demands

“Dentist Neck” is not a myth - it is an occupational hazard and reality for many dental professionals. Chronic pain from musculoskeletal disorders from research worldwide suggests that the prevalence of general musculoskeletal pain ranges between 64% and 93% (2). Investing early in magnification loupes or ergonomic loupes and mastering indirect vision will significantly reduce musculoskeletal strain. Keeping active through weight training or reformer pilates will help work those little back muscles and give you structural support practicing dentistry. In short, the above aren’t just a “nice to have”, they’re imperative for your physical health, preventing pain and allowing career longevity for a degree you worked hard for! 

Budget Blind Spots

That first paycheck will give you a dopamine rush like no other. Before you go on a spending frenzy and purchase designer handbags and the luxury car, the greatest luxury a young clinician can have is financial freedom. Educational debt and early lifestyle inflation are strongly associated with burnout in healthcare professionals (3). Learn to budget and live below your means, because if you do, you can afford to leave a workplace you don’t align with sooner than later; or you can afford to work four days a week instead of five.

Phew! That was a lot (but necessary). And a reminder, this transition is also full of opportunity, personal growth and finally being able to practice what you’ve worked so hard to achieve! But how do you actually survive the next 12 to 24 months? Here’re the playbook every seasoned clinician wishes they had.

Mentorship > Supervision

A supervising clinician may help check a bitewing x-ray, but a mentor helps guide you in your career. Be proactive in seeking out a range of mentors. For example, a relatively new grad will be able to relate to you more and you may be more comfortable asking the “silly questions.” Whereas a more seasoned clinician of 10+ years is someone who you aspire to become. Different mentors provide different perspectives, and the right mentor will be heavily dependent on what you need out of the relationship. However, you cannot do this alone. Attend networking events, or industry trade shows like the Australian Dental Expo, and join a local study club to start meeting people in the industry and find the right mentor for you. 

Learn about the mentoring mindset here.

Reframe Success

Success is no longer the letters ‘HD’ on a piece of paper. Success in practice looks like being a lifelong learner, being a respectful team member, being an empathetic listener to your patients, focusing on your interpersonal skills like effective communication, learning from your mistakes and staying humble.

Be Nice to Your Assistant!

Your dental assistant can make or break your work-life. A good assistant is a patient whisperer. They’re able to calm the most anxious of us, they can save you when you’re running behind by setting up the free room and they know exactly where that instrument is you’ve been looking for, for the last 10 minutes. Treat them with respect. When you have a good relationship with your dental assistant, your day will be 50% less stressful. And hot tip: all dental assistants (and most humans) appreciate a coffee every now and then!

There is No Shame in the Referral

The mark of a good clinician is knowing when a procedure is out of their scope and letting go of the idea that they have to do everything. If you see a wisdom tooth that looks like it’s hugging the nerve, refer to the oral surgeon. There is no award for struggling through a procedure and causing unnecessary distress for your patient - you will earn a reputation for being safe and patient-centred the more you use the phrase “I want a specialist to handle this for you”, and as a professional, you should always refer anything that is beyond your level of skill and experience. 

Leave Work at Work

One of the hardest lessons in dentistry is learning to leave the teeth at work. Setting boundaries is essential for career longevity and to avoid workplace burnout. A practical way to enforce this is to develop a “wrap-up routine”- finish your notes, check and make notes for tomorrow’s patients so when your scrubs come off, you mentally switch off too. Another way to switch off is to participate in hobbies that have nothing to do with dentistry - tennis, pilates, baking, running. Remember, you are not your career, you need to enjoy other things in life too! 

Read Dr. Erica Hwin’s reflection on her struggle with burnout here.

The Big Picture 

If you take anything away from this, remember that this phase is temporary. There will be painful days, but that’s where the growth happens! Be kind to yourself. You have the know-how, and you have the heart. Every difficult procedure is a learning experience, every awkward conversation with a patient develops your communication skills. You’re building the foundations necessary for a sustainable career.

Emma Cubis is a Melbourne-based Oral Health Therapist who contributes to the profession on a broader scale as the Young ITI Delegate and Communications Officer for ITI Australasia and as the Curaprox Australia ambassador. She also extends her impact through her online presence on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and as the host of the Talk Dental to Me podcast and CPD membership, where she continues to inspire, educate, and engage the dental community.

Dental Practitioner Support is a 24/7 national and confidential support service for dental practitioners and students across Australia. If you’d like to chat to someone or are seeking professional help, you can call our support line on 1800 377 700.

1. Salari N, Hashemian SH, Hosseinian-Far A, Fallahi A, Heidarian P, Rasoulpoor S, Mohammadi M. Global prevalence of imposter syndrome in health service providers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychol. 2025 May 28;13(1):571. doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02898-4. PMID: 40437646; PMCID: PMC12117965.
2. Hayes, Melanie & Cockrell, D & Smith, Derek. (2009). A Systematic Review of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Dental Professionals. International journal of dental hygiene. 7. 159-65. 10.1111/j.1601-5037.2009.00395.x. 
3. Seehusen DA, Fleischer S, Peterson L. Relationships of Educational Debt With Hours Worked and Burnout Symptoms Among Early-Career Family Physicians. Ann Fam Med. 2025 Sep 22;23(5):427-433. doi: 10.1370/afm.240623. PMID: 40983549; PMCID: PMC12459698.