Phil Broughton shows how to get the most out of your career.
Preparation is the name of the game if you want to succeed in dentistry today. Within the ranks of the dental practice, meticulous organisation and attention to detail are essential. Our surgeries are prepared each day for the treatments we are expecting to perform and we prepare each tooth painstakingly before every procedure. Bookkeeping, tax returns, employment law; clinicians are exposed to a minefield of rules and regulations on a daily basis, all of which must be regimentally adhered to. However, when it comes to tackling the bigger picture, our job satisfaction and future career paths, we begin to venture into unfamiliar territory.
Dentistry is often a solitary career and dentists rarely get the chance to meet their fellow colleagues, share ideas and discuss relevant issues. Unfortunately, there are too many dentists out there who, for whatever reason, are dissatisfied with the status quo but don’t know how to put their situation right. I’ll be the first to admit that whilst hammering away at the coalface it is not easy to set time aside for personal betterment. Nevertheless, to really get the most out of their careers, I firmly believe all dentists should spend some time planning their clinical, financial and personal goals, even if the plan only spans the next 12 months.
Ask yourself: why did you decide to become a dentist in the first place? Perhaps it was to help others or maybe to use your hands. Perhaps you have a passion for science and investigation? No matter what the driving force behind your career choices, one thing is for certain: dentistry makes you feel good.
At my new teaching facility in Manchester, my aim is to reignite dental professionals’ enthusiasm for their chosen career. This, I believe, can only truly happen when you work to the very best of your abilities. When you concentrate on perfecting those fundamental clinical techniques and if you practise good, solid, steady dentistry then the rewards will speak for themselves. Choose an aspect of dentistry that particularly interests you and immerse yourself in that subject. Get a decent camera and start taking pictures of your work as time goes by. I have found this to be a fantastic motivational learning tool as it clearly shows improvements in the clinician’s work which would probably otherwise go unnoticed. If you perfect the simple clinical tasks then the rest will come. The satisfaction of providing great dentistry is instantaneous.
However, you must feel comfortable about what you do and this is especially true for those at the start of their careers. In the face of such fierce competition, dentists should keep their business skills up-to-date but should avoid trying to be someone they can never be. If cosmetic dentistry genuinely does not appeal to you, then try something else. I like expeditious dentists but you have to stay within your limits. I am a clinician but a terrible manager, I don’t mind admitting that. However, by creating a friendly environment I have managed to attract the kind of dentists I like to work with and our skills complement each other perfectly. Together we are a body and a unit.
My experience has taught me that attention to detail is the key, clinically and in business. Call me a perfectionist but it bugs me if things aren’t right. From the material components of a restoration to the flowers in the practice waiting area, nothing is left disregarded. This attention to detail really helps us to grow our client base and last year my business partner and I managed to double the turnover of our practice, bringing in about £1.6m and proving that even in the midst of a financial crisis it is still possible to survive if you stick to doing good dentistry and have a true passion for providing an excellent service.
Nevertheless, we do work in a very difficult profession. I continuously try to keep my ideas fresh and strive to grow the referral base of the business. Never be shy to latch on to people who inspire you, learn from them and ask for their advice.
Primarily, it is a great help to get out of the surgery and meet your peers, whether this is socially or through study. This will go a long way to ensuring you always have fun along the way.
At my new educational facility Dare, my colleagues and I offer courses for dental professionals that are as entertaining as they are academic. The onus is really on gaining hands-on experience, in a friendly, relaxed environment. It is important that delegates feel like they are a part of something special so Dare provides a place for dentists to meet a network of likeminded individuals, all of them having taken an important step towards a more fulfilling and satisfying career.
To contact The Mall or for more information on training courses held at the onsite training facility, Dare, call 0161 830 7300 or email info@malldental.com