Access to excellent mentorship is not just a nice-to-have aspect of a dental office. It’s a need-to-have ingredient for a dentist’s success. I have had the benefit of receiving incredible mentorship during my career, which has allowed me to reach amazing heights in a relatively short period of time.
Now, I focus on bringing that same caliber of mentorship I received to other up-and-coming dentists. Here are a few of my mentorship building blocks that help me pay it forward to the next generation of dental professionals.
Encourage mentees to trust their instincts
New doctors often feel uncertain as they begin their careers, so having the support of a seasoned dentist can work wonders. When I was first starting out, my mentor encouraged me to take a role as a managing clinical director at an Aspen Dental practice in Columbia, Mo. Even though this was a bit of an unconventional beginning, my mentor’s advice to trust my instincts and take the leap into the director position was the best I’ve ever received.
By supporting me in this way, my mentor helped to build my confidence, which is crucial for new dentists. Everybody makes mistakes, which can quickly derail budding self-assurance. Remind your mentees to have a positive attitude; mistakes provide some of the best learning experiences. As mentors, it’s our job to have our mentee’s backs, especially when a mistake damages their confidence.
We want to train new dentists to trust themselves so that patients can trust them, too. By helping your mentees build themselves up, you’re also strengthening the bond they can create with their patients.
Push mentees to embrace all learning opportunities
You may be the ideal mentor, but your mentees shouldn’t be learning from you alone. No one has all of the answers at all times, so pushing your mentees to embrace learning opportunities from many different directions will be extremely valuable to their growth and development.
These learning opportunities can come from other doctors. Throughout my career with Aspen Dental, I’ve benefited greatly from the support I’ve received not only from my mentor, but also from countless other respected experts. I have never approached a case with worry, because I know I have access to many seasoned doctors who can guide me in challenging situations.
Continuing education courses and additional trainings can also bolster your mentee’s growth. The learning and development support I’ve received through in-person and online courses has allowed me to not only advance my clinical skills, but also made me a better mentor to up-and-coming dentists.
Create a positive work culture for your mentees
As a mentor, you’re responsible not only for your direct mentees, but also for cultivating an office culture that uplifts everyone. When you make the office feel like a dental home and prioritize employees’ work-life balance and overall wellbeing, you’re benefiting every single person who walks through your office doors, including patients.
From the moment I started at the Aspen Dental Columbia office, with the encouragement of my mentor, I worked to overhaul the environment, making it a supportive, exciting and fulfilling place to work. Transforming the office culture had major trickle-down effects; the practice’s productivity grew from significant underperformance to the best in the state.
When you nurture an office culture that welcomes everybody, you set an example for your mentees and all other employees. Coming into the office each morning becomes something people can look forward to, which is an attitude that improves the patient experience as well.
Mentorship is rewarding in more ways than one
Mentorship has played a pivotal role in my career. I am extremely grateful to my mentor for encouraging me every step of the way, providing invaluable guidance and setting an excellent example.
Now that I’m in a position to be a mentor as well, I’ve sincerely enjoyed the experience of helping up-and-coming doctors reach their highest potential. I’ve always wanted the opportunity to teach, and being a mentor allows me to achieve that goal. Playing a role in lifting up new doctors is a reward in itself. I’m just as proud of my mentees’ achievements as I am of my own.
By supporting your mentees and giving them the encouragement they need, you’re also helping your patients. Dentists who feel confident and supported are better able to provide the best possible care, which, as dental professionals, is our ultimate goal.
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Brett Parrott, DDS, is the doctor-owner of two Aspen Dental practices in Missouri. He has been with Aspen since graduating from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Dentistry in 2018. He loves teaching the next generation of dentists to provide the best possible patient care.