A dream turned into reality; that’s how every dental graduate would describe their convocation day. The moment we receive the prestigious prefix “Dr.” before our name, hold that hard-earned degree in our hands, and see the pride gleaming in our parents’ eyes: words fall short to describe this moment.
As a child, I always believed that being a doctor was the most respected profession. This belief inspired me to pursue dentistry. At the time, I didn’t understand the difference in how society perceives doctors versus dentists; to me, both held equal nobility. It was only later that I learned: to many, a dentist is just a dentist, while a doctor is seen as something more.
But as the applause faded and the convocation gowns were folded away, reality of life after BDS began to set in. The pride of earning the title "Doctor" was soon replaced by the weight of expectations, limited opportunities, and growing uncertainty. What once felt like the beginning of a fulfilling journey soon became riddled with unexpected challenges.
While many of my friends struggled to find placements in private clinics after our internship, I considered myself fortunate to have secured a position at an established clinic run by a highly experienced dentist with over 35 years of practice. I was thrilled and excited, both to start treating patients and to finally begin earning.
However, that excitement was short-lived. Although the clinic had a steady flow of patients, most were hesitant to be treated by a freshly graduated dentist. They preferred the familiar hands of the senior practitioner. I was limited to performing only basic procedures, with little to no opportunity to learn or grow. A month passed, and I realized I hadn’t received any pay either. That’s when the harsh reality of dentistry began to sink in.
The experience left me questioning everything I had envisioned about my career. I found myself stuck, underutilized, unpaid, and unsure of what to do next. And I soon realized I wasn’t alone. Many of my peers were going through the same struggle; either jobless, working without pay, or performing repetitive, basic procedures with little clinical learning. The reality is that the transition from student to professional in dentistry is rarely smooth.
There is a wide gap between what we’re taught and what we actually get to practice. Most dental colleges continue to focus on conventional treatment methods; a common example being the use of amalgam restorations. However, in private practice, composite or tooth-colored restorations are far more preferred due to their aesthetic appeal and patient demand. Unfortunately, composite restorations have still not been adequately integrated into the dental syllabus in many institutions.
Similarly, root canal treatment, considered the bread and butter of general dentistry, is often not taught in a hands-on, practical way during undergraduate training. Ironically, it's only after stepping out of college that most dentists truly learn how to perform a root canal.
Another major challenge faced by dental graduates is the prevalence of underpaid internships or low-paying assistant dentist positions. With the increasing number of dental graduates each year, the job market has become highly saturated. A 2023 cross-sectional study among dental graduates from Kerala reported that nearly 27% remained unemployed after graduation, highlighting the saturation and uncertainty in the current job market¹.
As a result, securing a position in a private clinic has become increasingly competitive. To put it simply, private clinics now have a wide pool of candidates to choose from, which makes them less inclined to offer fair compensation to freshers. If one candidate declines an offer, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of others waiting to take it. This demand-supply imbalance allows many practices to hire young dentists at minimal salaries. Unfortunately, newly graduated dentists, eager for clinical exposure and experience, often find themselves in a vulnerable position, easily persuaded to accept low pay with limited opportunities for growth or learning.
Some individuals choose dentistry because a parent or someone close to them is already in the profession. In such cases, they benefit from proper guidance, mentorship, and a clear roadmap for how to build their career. However, for the majority, the story is quite different. They may be the first dentist in their family, with no one to turn to for direction. This lack of guidance can make the post-graduation phase particularly challenging. With limited awareness about available career paths; whether clinical, academic, or non-clinical, they often find themselves feeling lost and uncertain about how to move forward or establish themselves in the profession.
Now imagine this: you've studied diligently for four years, graduated with good marks, and stepped out of college full of hope, only to realize that much of your education focused on studying the problems and solutions in detail, but not necessarily on the skills essential for real-world survival in the profession. To add to this, you're underpaid, unsure of your next steps, and slowly coming to terms with a career that feels far more uncertain than you were led to believe.
It’s only natural for this situation to take a toll on your mental health. The constant pressure to succeed, comparing yourself to others, and the fear of falling behind can lead to stress, anxiety, and even burnout.
A global meta-analysis revealed that approximately 37% of dental students experience depression, emphasizing the emotional toll that often accompanies the profession².
Sadly, mental health is rarely talked about in dentistry. We are trained to treat patients, but not taught how to handle the emotional ups and downs of our own journey.
Another major challenge that fresh dental graduates face is social pressure. Attend any family function, and the moment you say you’ve just graduated, you’ll likely hear: “When are you opening your own clinic?”
Setting up a dental clinic requires a huge financial investment: equipment, rent, staff, and daily operations, which most fresh graduates simply can't afford right away. On top of that, society often expects quick success and tends to undervalue the importance of gaining experience through assistant jobs or further studies. There’s little understanding of the time, patience, and effort it takes to build a stable practice.
This constant comparison and questioning can leave young dentists feeling inadequate or rushed. But the truth is, every journey is different, and success doesn’t always need to happen overnight or look the same for everyone.
Another significant challenge fresh dental graduates face is the lack of dental awareness among the general public. Many people still view dental treatment as optional or secondary, only seeking help when there is pain or discomfort. Preventive care, regular check-ups, and oral hygiene education are often overlooked.
As a result, fresh graduates struggle not only to find patients but also to help them understand the value of timely and routine dental care. This limited awareness leads to low patient flow, especially in new or small practices. Patients may hesitate to invest in treatments or question the need for procedures, making it harder for young dentists to build trust, deliver comprehensive care, or sustain their practice financially.
One of the most deeply rooted challenges dental professionals face is the perception that dentists are inferior to doctors. Despite the years of rigorous training, clinical skills, and the critical role dentists play in overall health, society often views dentistry as a “lesser” branch of medicine.
The title “Doctor” before a dentist’s name is sometimes questioned or dismissed altogether, reinforcing the idea that dentists don’t hold the same level of expertise or respect.
This perception can affect confidence, professional identity, and even how patients respond to treatment recommendations. It also contributes to the pressure dental graduates feel to “prove” their worth in comparison to medical professionals.
What is often forgotten is that oral health is an integral part of systemic health. From diagnosing serious conditions to relieving pain and restoring function and aesthetics, dentists play a vital role in improving quality of life. Recognition of this fact is long overdue.
To every dental graduate out there: whether you’re working as an assistant dentist, planning to open your own clinic, exploring a non-clinical path, or still figuring things out, your journey is valid, and your contribution is real.
The path may not be straight, and the recognition may not always come easily, but the impact you make is lasting.
So the next time your tooth aches, remember the consultation you seek might come from a newly graduated dentist, an assistant still learning the ropes, a future clinic owner, or even someone who chose to step away from the chair but still holds the same knowledge and dedication. They are all doctors.They’ve studied your teeth in detail, planned treatments in their minds a thousand times, and can diagnose with precision—sometimes even without making you lie down on the dental chair.
Because being a dentist isn’t just about the tools we hold; it’s about the understanding we carry, the care we offer, and the quiet perseverance behind every smile we restore.
Anjali, S., Priya R. Nair, and Rakesh P. “Unemployment and Vulnerable Financial Situation Among Recent Dental Graduates of Kerala, India: Results From a Cross-Sectional Study.” Journal of Global Oral Health 6, no. 1 (2023): 23–28. https://jglobaloralhealth.org/unemployment-and-vulnerable-financial-situation-among-recent-dental-graduates-of-kerala-india-results-from-a-cross-sectional-study/
Ebrahimi, Elahe, et al. “The Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Disorder Among Dental Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Medicina 57, no. 12 (2021): 1395. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9795033/
MSM/SE