Dentistry is among the most sought-after careers. Being a dentist is highly rewarding as you can embrace various challenges when treating, assisting, and engaging dental patients. However, whether you intend to work with adults or children, you should have the right chairside skills to make your patients comfortable during dental procedures.

Most of these skills are not specific to dentistry. They are a mixture of interpersonal and technical skills, allowing dental graduates to interact with their patients and colleagues successfully. Beyond the medical knowledge required to be a dentist, the success and chances of getting dental jobs depend on the following skills.

1. Manual Dexterity

Like other medical fields, dentists perform complex procedures and restorations that should be performed meticulously for assured success. Unlike other body parts, the mouth is a small working space, and the slightest mistake can cause more harm.

For instance, tooth restorations should be done thoroughly, and dentists should have a good grasp of medical knowledge, artistry, and equipment for these treatments to be successful. A tooth filling is also uncomfortable, especially if the problematic tooth is high up.

It requires a lot of skill to reform damaged teeth or restore their original structure, while ensuring the patient can eat and rest comfortably later. For perfect results, dentists should have excellent manual dexterity and superior hand-eye synchronization.

2. Attention to Detail

All medical fields require professionals with great attention to detail. Dentists should have the right skills and techniques to augment the color, appearance, alignment, shape, and size of their patients’ teeth. In most cases, mastery of art and great attention to detail are key ingredients in ensuring that patients can smile beautifully again.

Dentists work with patients with many different needs. Regardless of the diversity in their needs, being detail-oriented is important for dentists to perform their procedures successfully. Attention to detail is also important when examining the patient as this ensures that nothing is missed during the diagnosis and treatment.

3. Communication Skills

Dentists work and interact with patients, nurses, and other hospital staff daily. Excellent communication skills are crucial for a smooth working environment. Contrary to what most people believe, excellent communication skills are crucial in medical professions.

For starters, if dentists can’t communicate and interact with their patients, they cannot satisfactorily answer their questions and alleviate their anxiety. Even with excellent technical skills in dentistry, poor communication skills will make your patients uncomfortable.

Good communication skills also help ease your working environment. Dentists interact with nurses, hygienists, lab technicians, receptionists, and more. Developing a positive relationship with other hospital staff through communication is beneficial.

4. Enthusiasm

Emotional intelligence, which guides the ability to connect and create a good rapport with your patients shouldn’t be underestimated. Regardless of the number of patients they see daily, dentists should personalize interactions with every patient. Radiating enthusiasm for patients has a significant impact on the quality of care. Patients feel cared for if dentists engage them in lively conversations.

Note that these conversations shouldn’t solely revolve around dental issues. Find out what your patients are experiencing in real life, their work, and general issues. Being social makes patients incline to care providers, making them regular clients.

5. Ability to Work Under Pressure

Dentistry is a high-risk and high-stress career that requires individuals who can work well, even under pressure. Dentists often encounter difficult situations, especially when dealing with difficult patients or treating challenging dental conditions.

While not everybody is tailored to work under pressure, dentistry graduates can learn how to handle stress as dental practitioners by developing a rich professional support network. If you can’t handle stress perfectly, you can find a mentor, whom you can discuss various challenges with and exchange ideas. Learning to manage stress helps young dentists grow confidently in their careers and provide better treatment for their patients. They can also face challenging situations comfortably.

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6. Adaptability

Adaptability is a must-have soft skill for most professions. Even after qualifying as a dental practitioner, you should keep up with recent advancements in the dental field and continually refine your dental hygienist skills. It is prudent for dentists to stay on top of industry developments, equipment, and techniques. Adapting to the constantly changing working environment enables dentists to provide better treatment and specialized care.

7. Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are also beneficial to dentists. Those who practice dentistry should demonstrate leadership daily, especially when leading their office staff. Dentists not only make major decisions about patients’ dental health but should also communicate with other members positively. Dentists should be good leaders to develop synergy among the team.

8. Compassion and Calmness

Dentists and other medical professionals should be ready to serve. If you practice dentistry for monetary benefits, you won’t enjoy dealing with your patients. In every dental procedure, you should prioritize your patients’ needs. Every action should be justified, transparent, and compassionate to the patient.

Most patients dread visiting their dentists or get nervous before and during dental appointments. You should gain your patient’s trust and ease their anxiety. Showing a calm demeanor will make your patients feel relaxed as they prepare for a procedure on their highly sensitive body part.

9. Good Business Skills

Excellent business skills are also beneficial for dentists. While some dentists seek employment in hospitals and healthcare facilities, others prefer starting their practice immediately after completing their training and residencies.

Dentists who start private practice should have good business skills to run their venture. They are tasked with hiring and training staff, ensuring all legalities are followed, marketing the practice, and managing the daily operations of the practice.

10. Problem-Solving Skills

Dentists should always be prepared to find resolutions and provide high-quality treatment for their patients. Patients present with different dental conditions that they expect their dentists to have a solution. Quick problem-solving skills are required to find solutions, manage team members, and resolve non-medical issues.

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Endnote

While dentists should attain certain qualifications to practice, the skills mentioned above are major contributors to success. Highlighting these skills in your resume or job application letter also increases the chances of securing employment. Before pursuing a career in dentistry, you should assess whether you possess these skills. If not, you should work to develop and improve these skills during your period of study.

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