Balancing the clinical and real world of dentistry

Dental
1

The main issue concerning the fresh graduates isn’t filling a cavity or doing RCT in the clinic rather its how to manage the clinic.

Dentistry is not just about your skills but its like running a business.

We spend years perfecting our root canals, crowns and implants, yet the moment we step into our own clinic reality hits like a drill in the wrong spot: dentistry isn’t just about skills- its business.

Suddenly, we’re juggling staff, finances, marketing, and technology upgrades. Being a brilliant clinician doesn’t automatically translate into a thriving practice.

The result? Overwhelm. Burnout. Mistakes that cost more than money—they cost confidence, reputation, and sometimes, mental health.

So here’s the question: should dental education start teaching entrepreneurship, business strategy, and practice management? Or is the “learn as you go” model enough?

What is your take on it?

4 Likes
2

I feel in this growing competition, the colleges should give seminar, classes and plan something like posting in clinics to know the real-world experiences of running a clinic in private sector.

3

College should teach basic of how to run clinic. It gives clarity before opening clinic what all we need to do in clinic with treatment.

All will be prepared before opening the clinic.

4

My opinion would be it would be better with learning after experience. Experience is best teacher, one incident can create different view point.

5

Absolutely, integrating entrepreneurship and practice management into dental education is essential. It empowers graduates to confidently run successful clinics while balancing clinical excellence with smart business decisions.

6

There should definitely be a subject for practice management in the curriculum. Time management, business strategies, pricing of procedures and how to manage material cost should all be taught to new dentists

7

“Yes, definitely. The dental education pattern should include business strategies and practice management sessions during internship postings as part of the curriculum. This will give early-career dentists more confidence in this highly competitive environment.”