CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 2

S upporting Y our P ractice What I Know Now… Advice for New Graduates "What was the smartest professional move youmade 5 years after graduation?" This question was posed by Dr. John O’Keefe on the Oasis Discussions website in January, and the responses from dentists across Canada flooded in! Here are some replies: I found several great mentors who were successful in dentistry and in their personal lives…and I copied everything off them that I could! They were always so willing to share and help, and they remain great friends 30 years later. I also got involved early in the local dental society and stayed involved throughout my whole career.” ✸ I found that at many lectures I attended, especially day-long ones, the lecturer often sat alone at lunch or dinner, so I tried to sit with that person during a meal. Those casual, personal interactions have resulted in learning beyond the lecture, and resources and contacts that have served me well over the 31 years of my career.” ✸ The smartest thing I did was to not buy into a practice. Because of that, the following years (though challenging) were spent doing locums. I got to see many different offices, learn more than most about different techniques and products, and travel. One of my more interesting weeks had me working 6 days in 5 different offices. That life is not for everyone, but it was a relief for me to know dentistry doesn’t have to be the mundane daily life of private practice. I now work at a walk-in emergency clinic, which still has most of the benefits of the locum life. ✸ I did a hospital residency (GPR). I learned so much during that time. Classmates gave me a hard time about doing the GPR and said, “Don’t be afraid to go into the real world!” But it has paid off big time with all the additional procedures I learned to do, such as difficult extractions, tori removal and IV sedation, and my improved understanding of medical risks… plus it was such great fun.” ✸ One of the smartest things I understood early in my career was never say to no to a patient in pain and learn the basic dentistry needed to relieve pain, including honing basic endodontic and surgical skills. Be confident enough to learn these skills or be willing to call upon the specialists in your area and make sure your patient is seen as expeditiously as possible. Patients will always remember your efforts to go over and above to accommodate them when they are in pain or in any emergency situation.” ✸ 45 Issue 2 | 2018 |