Dentists don’t get nearly enough credit for all that they do. Not only do they have to make sure that they are helping multiple patients per day, but they also have a lot of tasks that are expected of them in their own life as well. Here are 18 struggles only dentists do and how they keep up with things so well.
Dealing With Patients Who Don’t Listen
Dentists are always telling their patients to brush multiple times a day, floss daily, use mouthwash, and avoid harming your teeth unnecessarily. However, each time a client comes back with oral health issues, all that the dentist can ask is, “why didn’t you listen?”
Smelling Bad Breath
Unless you spend all day working inside of a mouth, then you likely don’t know how disturbing this can be. Dentists are continually working with patients who have bad smelling breath, which can make for a long day at the office.
Keeping Up With Daily Efforts Of The Practice
Dentists aren't just worried about ensuring the health of all of their patients. Instead, they also have to keep up with the daily efforts of the rest of their practice as well. Many patients fail to realize that they are just one person and dentists have plenty that they have to worry about.
Working On Dental Emergencies
If a dentist offers 24-hour emergency services, there is no telling when they’ll get a call to go to the office. When a dentist has to see to a patient in the middle of the night, it can make for a long shift the following day.
Integrating New Products
Medical reps are always visiting dentists and pitching them their products. In order to provide their clients with the best health care products available, dentists must keep up with these products to ensure they are safe and healthy to use.
Keeping Up With New Dental News
Not only do dentists always have to bring new products into their office, but they also have to keep up with new dental news. Whether it’s learning a new way to combat gingivitis or a new process for cleaning teeth, dentists need to be on top of everything to ensure the best for their practice.
Maintaining A Website
In today’s tech-driven world, dentists need to have an online website. But simply creating a website isn't enough. Instead, dentists need to ensure that their website is continually active and easily found by prospective patients.
Cleaning Their Supplies
Patients will be happy to know that a competent dentist is always cleaning their supplies to make sure that their facility is clean and safe.
Hiring New Staff
Dental staff can turn over just like at any other job. So while a dentist may rely on their staff to do a lot of the maintenance at the front of the office, it’s their responsibility that they make sure they hire the best people for the job.
Marketing Their Practice
In order to get recognized, dentists always have to be talking to others and networking for their practice. If they don’t, they’ll be missing out on clients and watching the competition soak up the financial rewards.
Maintaining A Family
After your dentist takes off their gloves and turns off the lights at their practice, they get to go home and spend time with their family. It might be hard to imagine, but dentists have a family just like you.
Finding Personal Happiness
When you consider all that dentists do at work and the fact that they also have to be there for their family, it’s almost impossible to imagine them doing anything else. However, many dentists have other hobbies and take part in other activities that make them personally happy.
Finding New Ways To Evolve
If dentists want to stand out among the competition, they need to find new ways to continually evolve. Whether it’s bringing in new equipment or expanding their practice, prospective clients want to see dentists who are always on top of things and evolving with the practice.
Seeing A Variety Of Oral Circumstances
You never know what you’re going to see as a dentist. Two minutes after seeing a patient with perfect oral health, someone who hasn't visited the dentist in years could sit down in the chair. Therefore, they have to be ready for whatever comes their way.
Keep Up With Current Events
Dentists need to take the time every day to stay up to date with current events. After all, that’s where they get most of their topics for small talk while you are in their office.
Ordering Entertainment
In order to keep their patients entertained, dentists need to continually bring new entertainment options into their office. Whether it’s ordering the latest edition of a sports magazine or bringing in new movies, the entertainment in the office can make for more enjoyable trips for the clients.
Staying Physically Fit
Dentists know how important it is to stay physically fit. Therefore, they need to find time in the day to hit the gym, go for a run, play a round of golf, or do whatever else it may be that keeps them active.
Keeping Up With Their Own Oral Health
Just because they are paid to look at others teeth, doesn't always mean that dentists will keep up with their own oral health. However, if they want their practice to prosper, dentists need to keep up with their own oral health just as much as their patients.
I'm just your average hygienist with a passion for excellence. I do what I do best, which is to help my patients achieve healthy smiles and provide & educate them with oral health care solutions and lifelong cosmetic procedures.Dr. Riley believes in delivering the highest level of dental care with a personal touch to every patient who seeks his help.