Should we work only in the profession in which we have a degree? During my college days, I was very determined to work in a dental clinic after my graduation because I liked interacting with patients, knowing their concerns, and treating them.
But, during my internship, I was stuck in a dilemma about whether I should choose a clinical or non-clinical field. However, I decided to work in a dental clinic after my graduation, as I wanted to experience for myself how a clinic function.
In the clinic, I was assigned to do basic treatments like scaling (cleaning) and restoration (filling). The head dentist was great, and he explained all the medications and treatment costs. Even though my salary was less, it was better when compared to my friends who were working at other clinics. Because I was a fresher, I wasn't given cases like crown preparation, denture fabrication, etc. I just assisted in those cases with suction. However, after 6 months of clinical experience, I decided to quit the clinic.
I began researching more about non-clinical options, which led me to medical writing. Now, working as a medical writer on different platforms is helping me grow professionally. As part of my work, I have to do a lot of research, which helps me improve my knowledge not just in the dental field but also in the medical field. We should be able to know where we belong. After working in the clinic, I realized I belonged more to the research side. But this won't be the same for everyone. Dental graduates with an immense passion for clinical dentistry will follow that path, and some end up with successful clinical practices as well.
But is it just passion that matters nowadays? Even if dental graduate is extremely passionate about clinical dentistry, their circumstances may not allow them to practice it in the way they want. To get into a government college for a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS), one must obtain a very high rank; otherwise, it will cost more than Rs. 25 lakhs (an approximate figure) to join a private dental college for MDS, which many people cannot afford or do not want to spend. Similarly, setting up a dental clinic also costs a lot. This is one of the main reasons that many dental graduates are flying abroad. But the Indian dental degree is not valid in many countries like the U.S., Canada, etc. We are supposed to study dentistry there for another 4 years to practice in these countries, which again will cost a huge amount of money. So, a lot of dentists are taking up master's courses like Master of Public Health (MPH), Health Informatics, and so on.
In India, the list of non-clinical jobs that can be done by dental graduates includes the following:
Medical transcription
Medical coding
Medical writing
Dental/Medical reviewing
Clinical Research
Pharmacovigilance
Medical officers in insurance companies
Medical biller
Hospital administration
Public health professional
Many dentists have already shifted to the professions mentioned above, and many are doing some of these jobs along with their clinical practice. Most of them are happy that they find a good work-life balance in non-clinical jobs. In addition, some jobs even have work-from-home opportunities. Some dentists also work with NGOs and other charitable organizations.
What I believe is that when we think outside the box, amazing things can happen. But at the same time, it's important to follow our hearts. At the end of the day, we should be happy and proud of what we are doing and how we are contributing to the transformation of society.
