1. “Good work = Patient satisfaction.”
Nope, not happening.
You can deliver textbook-perfect work, but if the shade is off by 0.0001% or you didn’t smile just right that day, it’s off to Google reviews!
UNLEARN THIS: Patients don’t always understand the science behind the treatment and want the final result to be executed exactly according to an image in their minds. Communication and perception management go a long way.
2. “If you know your stuff, success will follow.”
Success in academics doesn’t always translate to a successful practice. While our accolades are an asset as a whole, realistically they do not help negotiate clinic rent or attract patients in an oversaturated market.
UNLEARN THIS: Dentistry today = 50% clinical skill + 30% business sense + 20% knowing when to take a break/ recognise your limits and refer or call a consultant.
3. “You have to do everything yourself”
From scrubbing instruments to explaining insurance codes, we were trained to be one-person armies in dental school.
UNLEARN THIS: Delegate, automate, collaborate. Burnout isn’t a badge of honour.