General dentist can mean so many different things to so many different dentists. It’s a blanket term, which is why it sure doesn’t account for the multitude of variations in how people choose to structure their dental practices. If you’re having trouble settling into a niche or figuring out how to practice the way you want to, you’re not alone.
Everything from patient expectations to our own presumptions can get in the way of a fulfilling career. You may find yourself bogged down by cases or treatments you hate and feel like there is no way out. That simply isn’t true!
Niche doesn’t have to mean that you only do one type of dentistry. It can relate to the kinds of patients you want to see, the types of cases you want to take on or anything else that suits your fancy. The question is, are you willing to make the hard choices that are sometimes required to mold the world to your vision?
Finding Niche Success
On the path of a professional career, it’s easy to lose sight of the goals that pushed you forward at the beginning. You need to make a living, so you go through the motions until you have financial stability. Once you get there, you think that will be enough. It isn’t.
It turns out real meaning doesn’t come from dollar bills for most people. It’s not wrong if that’s what drives you, but it probably won’t be a good place to draw inspiration from for the long term.
Part of finding a niche is re-connecting with the purpose of dentistry. That purpose can be unique to the dentist, though we share a common goal of helping patients toward better oral health.
The number one thing you can do is start to ask: What will actually make a day of work satisfying?