Working as a New Graduate

Getting settled into clinical practice in the real world can be daunting, and there is so much to learn. But remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. Here are some tips to help make for a smooth transition into a rewarding career in the dental profession.

Amid the excitement of receiving your first job offer, something important can fall by the wayside: the fine print of contracts! They can be tricky to understand, but they are very important documents, so taking the time and care to understand them can save you a lot of trouble down the line.

There are several key elements to look out for:

• the nature of your working relationship with the practice,
• your position and duties,
• the location(s) of work,
• payment terms and any deductions,
• working hours and business expectations,

• policies around leave and resignations, and

• probation or exclusion periods.

Print multiple hard copies of your contract, highlighting any clauses you are unsure of, and seeking expert legal advice before you sign.

Your professional associations offer provide guidance and template agreements which can be helpful references. Don’t feel pressured to agree to terms you’re unsure about, and remember that there’s nothing wrong with saying no and exploring other opportunities.

The way dental clinics are set up can vary quite a bit from what you may be used to from your university days. Equipment, materials, personalities, products, software, and workflows can be significantly different from the predictability of student clinics, and it might not always be clear who to ask for help, and where to find the things you need. Set yourself up for success with these strategies and tips:

• Gather all your important documentation and keep it in an accessible location. Make a list of important dates to keep track of fees and renewals.
• Set aside time to familiarise yourself with the clinic. Explore cupboards and drawers to find your bearings, and adjust dental and operator chairs to suit your ergonomic needs. You should have space set aside for your personal belongings and equipment, but label what is yours, and always be mindful of other practitioners you may be sharing a surgery with.
• Know who’s who and take time to meet and greet all members of the team. Determine the best ways to communicate with the front of house. Keep track of your availability, changes to your appointment book, leave and whereabouts, especially if you're working across multiple clinics. Importantly, set clear boundaries and keep it friendly but professional with boundaries to maintain a healthy working environment.
• Study key software guides and equipment, and material manuals. Familiarise yourself with basic administrative, infection prevention and control, maintenance, and patient referral procedures.
• Consider printing and laminating a guide to your preferred appointment times and scope of practice to keep at reception.  Allow yourself leeway for checking in with senior colleagues and taking a bit longer than they do – speed isn’t a priority in the early days.
• Keep a wish list of materials and products you would like. It may not be feasible for the clinic to acquire everything you desire, but compromises should be reasonable. For more substantial purchases, consider using scientific evidence, or business cases to support requests for larger purchases, focusing on investment and being mindful of demonstrating patient needs.

• With so many different, intricate and expensive moving parts in our line of work, breakdowns and malfunctions can occur. Make sure you know how to action repairs and replacement of anything that needs attention.

Dental clinics can run quickly, and although delays are sometimes inevitable, managing time effectively can be challenging as new graduates. Here are some tips to stay on schedule:

• Arrive at least 30 minutes before your first patient to settle in and get ready for the day.
• If huddles aren’t part of the clinic routine, take time to review your schedule and patient notes, annotate a day sheet with important information, and forewarn reception and dental assistants about tricky cases.
• Allow extra time for your appointments as you build confidence and speed.
• Try running a stopwatch on the surgery computer to measure how long different stages of appointments take.
• Devise a system to discreetly signal when you are going to be behind on time – it can’t always be helped, and everyone appreciates advanced notice.
• Develop robust clinical note templates that allow for easy data collection. Copy and pasting notes is not always a good idea, so having prompts to collect important information goes a long way.
• We can say a lot during our appointments that ends up being forgotten. Providing printed post-operative and oral hygiene patient instructions can save time and ensure clarity for patients.
• Avoid skipping meals, water and toilet breaks—your wellbeing is essential!

There’s so much change and progress with technology, products and materials, and there are many different options for continuing professional development. It can be hard to choose. Here are some tips on how to choose the right one for you:

• CPD should align with and support your education and development goals, either to strengthen your scope of practice or strategically expand it
• The Dental Board of Australia has supplied a reflective practice tool to guide you in identifying areas for professional growth.
• Advertising, sponsorship and product placement in CPD are inescapable, but consider the ethics and What sort of evidence is referred to in the learning material? Are the providers supplying free samples? Would the activity fall under scientific or non-scientific CPD?
• Good quality education will always make the learning objectives clear, support independent learning activities, include an assessment component, and provide ample opportunities to open to floor to Q&A.
• Your certificate of attendance is the least important part of your CPD records! Keep track of your activity with a spreadsheet, take detailed notes, and keep them stored in a secure online or shared folder (with password protection) for easy reference.

I recommend joining a professional association membership.

• The Australian Dental Association (ADA) provides resources like the annual Graduate Handbook, Australian Dental Journal, and the News Bulletin. Members have access to a jobs board, clinical discussion forum, a National Digital Library full of resources, pharmaceutical advice, and webinars on key updates for the profession, plus much more. All members of the dental industry have access to the ADA’s Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control and the Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary, which are two crucial documents to know
• Oral health therapists, dental hygienists, and dental therapists can benefit from organisations like ADOHTA and DHAA, while dental prosthetists can turn to the ADPA, for general advice, peer support, and various member resources. All the professional associations run CPD and social events throughout the year, as well as various committees and working groups to advocate for and support the profession. These can be great opportunities to connect with your peers.

As recent graduates, we are used to working systematically with regular feedback from our teachers and supervisors and have ‘textbook’ outcomes and marking criteria in mind. In daily practice, however, things don’t always go to plan. Expectations from others may be different, and there may be instances where real world scenarios look very different from supervised clinical experience in an educational setting.

While mistakes can be part of the learning process, it is important to understand the limits of your training, competence and experience. From time to time, we may be pushed to the limits of our capabilities, however setting clear boundaries and communicating with your colleagues can help you to practice safely and in turn, enhance your professional confidence.

Challenging personalities and complicated scenarios can’t always be spotted from afar, and sometimes patients (and us) are just having a difficult day. Complaints may also arise regardless of your best efforts.

I find it is helpful to:

• Set realistic goals for the year and reflect on wins and losses as they arise to stay grounded.
• Keep a log of cases that didn’t go as planned, and set aside regular times with the principal, lead clinician or mentor to review errors and plan out actioning them in a sustainable and inclusive way.
• Don’t take complaints personally, and if in doubt, seek prompt advice from your professional indemnity insurer. Apologies are very important, and remember, saying sorry does not mean that you are admitting responsibility for something that hasn’t gone to plan, but acknowledging the patient’s experience.
• Include communication skills in your CPD activities. It takes a lot of practice!
• Ensure clinical notes are sufficiently detailed and timely. Be sure to use neutral and objective language.

• Refer complex cases when needed. We are only supposed to perform treatment and give advice for what we are trained, educated and competent in, so consider your limitations and whether a senior colleague may be more suitable for the patient’s needs. In time, you will build resilience and skills to manage more complex presentations.

Starting your career as a dental professional is an exciting but challenging time. Remember, you are not alone in facing the ups and downs of your journey. Dental Practitioner Support is here to provide confidential guidance and a listening ear, 24/7. Call us anytime on 1800 377 700 or explore our resources designed to support your mental health and wellbeing. We're here for you, every step of the way.