This step begins before you start work and is actually most important when applying for jobs. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to firstly, have a mentor and ensure they stick to their agreement to mentor, and secondly, ensure they are a good mentor.

Many jobs will advertise ‘Mentorship Programs’ to new graduates, but offer little to no support and have you working alone on certain days. Starting out I would avoid this at all costs. Down the line when experience levels are higher, a day or two a week working alone isn’t so daunting. But the first six months are vital for building confidence and competence. Can you imagine finding yourself three hours into a surgical extraction with a waiting room full of backed up patients, the tooth won’t budge, and you are the only dentist within 100km. That is a sure way to lose all confidence in that procedure and rattle you to your core. Not to mention the patients’ less than pleasant experience.

Secondly, make sure they are a decent mentor and human being. Not all practitioners hold themselves to high standards and may have bad habits you do not agree with. If you find yourself doubting their techniques, don’t be afraid to stick with your training, and remember you have the most up to date education. Seek second opinions from a wide range of your colleagues, dentistry is a big community so use it. If it doesn’t sit right in your gut, walk away. There is an abundance of good quality dental practitioners who will impart valuable knowledge and techniques and set you up for a career in high quality treatment. If possible, look for a few mentors you can bounce ideas off, learn tips and tricks from a range of experience and figure out what style of dentistry you gravitate towards.

If you are fortunate enough to have access to specialists as mentors, then capitalise on that! Even though the procedures may be out of your scope it can help you communicate effectively with patients as to why you may be referring them. Specialists also have an abundance of knowledge on how to avoid mistakes commonly made by general dentists as they spend so much time fixing them. Surrounding yourself with specialists can also selfishly help nudge you towards or away from a speciality you may think of embarking on.

Lastly, if you find a good mentor, cherish them! Mentoring can be rewarding but ultimately, they sacrifice time and effort to help. Recognition of this, with a card or a gift is often greatly appreciated.

Patient communication comes very naturally to some but not all. If you have the gift of the gab then count yourself lucky, as it has been widely reported that patients are less likely to complain or have post procedure complications if they simply ‘like’ their dental practitioner.

Getting to know your patient on the initial consult appointment is invaluable and can save you a lot of trouble down the line. Always allow more time for that first encounter and take notes at the end of the treatment plan on personal details. Whether they have children, play sport, are going away on holidays. These small details make a world of difference, especially to nervous patients.

Managing patients’ expectations is also a huge part of minimising difficult situations. We all strive for an ideal outcome and it can be very tempting to gloss over possible complications of procedures, especially if it is a procedure you are fairly confident in. However, explaining the ideal treatment plan A and alternate treatment plan B and last resort treatment plan C can help a patient understand that complications are a very real risk and despite your very best efforts, things can go wrong. Setting scenarios such as advising the CEREC machine may break mid-mill (happens to us all) and there is a chance they will have to come back for a second appointment for their lab made crown instead, will prepare them for that outcome. If you don’t have any issues, fantastic, you’ll look like a whiz.

Lastly, learning to set boundaries with patients from the outset will also save you a world of pain and frustration. Saying ‘no’ to demands that you think are unrealistic and unreasonable is well within your rights. A wise Periodontist once told me ‘Consent goes both ways.’

Booking long appointments initially is key. It may not be the most cost-effective way to start, but it allows you to treat properly and reduces stress when things inevitably go wrong or take longer than anticipated. Get good first, then get fast. Speed will come with experience but making sure you are giving yourself ample time to gain experience will pay dividends even within a few months. This can be one benefit to starting on salary vs commission and it is very common for newly graduated practitioners to negotiate starting on salary for the first six months to a year before transitioning to commission.

One fantastic way to help save time is having ‘Fast-note’ templates. Treatments and notes as a whole need to be tailored for each person's situation. However, having certain structures for ‘Initial Exams’ or ‘Composite Restorations’ or ‘Crown Preps’ where you manually add in specifics to that patient's case can save a lot of time, and provide you with a methodology for treatments you are unfamiliar with. Remember though, all records need to be personalised!

Exercise may seem like the last thing on your mind at the end of a long workday. However, staying strong and fit will not only give you a physical outlet for some of the pent-up stress but also keep your body moving again after long days spent hunching over patients. The difference between periods of activity vs inactivity during work weeks is huge and I find the weeks where I’ve forced myself to those 7pm gym classes are leagues more tolerable both mentally and physically. Extra kudos to those who can squeeze in a morning session before work.

This article is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of tips for the first year of working. The most important thing is to enjoy the journey and find pleasure in the small wins just as much as the big.