Time, our most valuable commodity — along with our good health, of course. It’s hard to believe how many years have passed since my last first day of school: the day I started my fourth year of dental school. My D3 and D4 years seemed like they would never end, and I distinctly remember doing my clinic orientation as a… Read More »
“Dr. Vaughn, I wanted to ask you . . . do you enjoy dentistry?” “Interesting,” I thought. “What a simple, straightforward yet completely complicated and intricately loaded question I have just been asked by this bright-eyed, good-intentioned college student.” “Y-Yeah. . . I do.” I paused. I could feel the perspiration gathering on my forehead. Could he sense… Read More »
“Did you always know that you wanted to teach?” This is a question that I’m asked very frequently, and my answer is probably like many of my colleagues: “Absolutely, not!” When I entered dental school, my goal was to return home to Memphis, Tennessee, after graduation and practice general dentistry. Little did I know, my career would take… Read More »
One of the best things about being a dentist is that your career is what you want it to be. On the surface, I know a great deal about many subjects. Dental school prepared me with just enough knowledge to get by and sent me on my way. From there, it was up to me to seek opportunities… Read More »
Being a new dentist in the current job market is not easy. Sky high tuition loans, a shortage in the labor market (that includes assistants and hygienists), being asked to perform hygiene apart from clinical dentistry, and having to pay high rents if you prefer to be in the city, are just some of the concerns we are… Read More »
Editor’s note: Thank you to our readers and contributors for allowing the New Dentist Now become a platform for new dentists to share and learn about their experiences and insights. If you would like to contribute, please contact newdentist@ada.org. We look forward to 2022! What you should learn in dental school, but don’t As I start my endo… Read More »