Our Reflections on Returning to City Practice

For the past 3 years dental practitioners Anthony and Yasmin have been practicing in the regional New South Wales town of TamwortBoth born and raised in major cities (Sydney and Toronto respectively), the shift towards regional was a rewarding jumpstart to their career. Now, they’ve moved back to the city with a fresh perspective on the differences for dental practitioners working in metropolitan and rural settings, and the challenges and opportunities that come with each.

Whether you’re considering a move to the city or simply weighing up your career options, we hope our insights on the differences between rural and urban dental practices, as well as how we found the transition back to city life, can provide some useful guidance.

The job hunt was one of the biggest challenges we faced upon returning to Sydney. We found that the market was competitive and if you were already working on a busy schedule, it could be difficult to balance. This was in direct comparison to our regional practice where we were fully booked months in advance; in the city, it took time to establish a steady and consistent stream of patients.

When we first made the move back to the city, many clinics were only able to offer us part-time roles, which meant we were working across multiple practices. While this allowed us to experience different work environments and treatment modalities, it also added the complexity of coordinating schedules and additional travel time. We recommend reaching out to your network and being open to all opportunities even if it doesn’t seem like the perfect fit.

One of the major lifestyle differences between regional and city life was the commute. In our regional town, we were fortunate to live just 10 minutes from work, allowing us more time for personal activities and rest. Moving back to the city meant longer days due to increased commute times. However, the availability of public transit was a welcome change, giving us more flexibility in how we get to work.

Finding the right job required in-person interviews, which presented its own set of challenges while we were still living rurally. Taking time off work to travel back and forth to Sydney for interviews was difficult, especially when trying to coordinate multiple interviews within the same trip. We had to be strategic about our visits, ensuring we made the most of our time in the city while balancing our existing job commitments.

We wanted to minimise downtime between leaving our previous roles and starting our new ones, making the transition between each as seamless as possible. However, moving our entire lives back to Sydney, while trying to secure jobs and housing, was a complex process. The need to start work as soon as possible added another layer of pressure, requiring careful planning to make sure everything aligned.

When we moved regionally, we were new graduates and eager to expand our skills and gain hands-on experience. By the time we returned to the city, we were 3 to4 years out of dental school and had developed a broader scope of practice, making us more attractive to city clinics looking for dental practitioners. This was especially helpful as we’d both gained experience in a range of treatments. While metro practices have a different patient flow and dynamic, they value clinicians who bring a well-rounded skill set.

One of the most significant shifts we found was the financial aspect of the move. The cost of living in the city is considerably higher than in regional towns and cities, and at the same time, our patient books were not as consistently full as they had been in the rural setting. This combination meant that we took a significant income hit, which required some financial adjustments in the early months of our transition. The initial quiet days were in stark contrast to our fully booked schedules in the regional town, but we knew that with time and patient retention, our workload would grow.

Since full-time positions were harder to come by in the city, we had to accept part-time roles at multiple practices for a few months before finding our perfect fit. This has its benefits and drawbacks. On one hand, working in different clinics day-to-day allows for exposure to diverse teams, patient demographics, and treatment approaches. On the other hand, it can be difficult to juggle schedules, manage commutes between multiple locations, and find two practices that are both busy and conveniently located.

Moving back to the city was a big change, both professionally and personally. While we miss certain aspects of regional practice—like full books, shorter commutes, and a lower cost of living—we also appreciate the opportunities and lifestyle that come with being in Sydney.

If you are considering a move back to the city, we recommend preparing for the job hunt early, being open to part-time roles initially, and allowing yourself time to settle into the new pace of metropolitan practice. Every transition comes with its challenges, but with careful planning and an adaptable mindset, it can be a rewarding experience.

If you have moved to a new area for work and need help adjusting you can reach out to the 24/7 Dental Practitioner Support helpline at 1800 377 700.

Originally from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Yasmin Samiee completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Medical Science and Biology before earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at the University of Sydney. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Aesthetic Dentistry at King’s College London. Dr. Yasmin is committed to providing dental care with empathy, kindness, and attention to detail.