New grad dentist dilemma
Hello everyone,
I wanted to ask if it’s normal for new dentists to find the first few months challenging. I’ve been working for about three weeks now, and I feel like I’m quite slow in clinic—sometimes taking up to two hours for fillings. I also find myself constantly second-guessing decisions and doubting the quality of my work.
Adjusting to a new workflow has been tough—managing multiple hygiene checks, working with a more limited instrument setup compared to school, and not always having someone available to discuss cases or review my work. I also worry about my diagnoses—whether I’m identifying caries correctly, and what if I miss something during recall or new patient exams. It feels like there isn’t much of a safety net.
Is it normal to feel this way early on, or am I overthinking things? I’d really appreciate any advice on how to build confidence, improve efficiency, and manage these thoughts.
Thanks so much.