Find a Mentor: Improve your Dental Practice

Mentoring is a critical tool in learning about the practice and management of dentistry – but one that many fail to utilize.  Finding a good mentor can help you learn things you can’t learn in dental school, or even through continuing education – things that only experience can teach.

Take advantage of your mentor’s body of knowledge to find out about potential pitfalls and how to handle certain situations in your dental practice.  Learn from your mentor’s past mistakes as well as his or her successes.

If you don’t already have a mentor, or at least know someone whom you would like to mentor you, networking can help you identify a potential mentor.  Start by getting involved with a local dental organization.  Stay in touch with your mentor regularly via telephone and e-mail, and take him or her to lunch regularly. 

Don’t limit yourself to just one mentor.  As you attend continuing education classes and take part in conferences and other industry events, get to know your more experienced peers.  Talk to them about your issues and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Likewise, be willing to extend your help when others ask you for it; someday you will be a mentor to someone who may really need your advice.