Hosted by Dr David Keir

Ever wondered what your dental career will actually look like after graduation? The transition from dental school to private practice isn’t just a new job – it’s entering an entirely different world of dentistry that your education barely prepares you for.

In this episode:

• Learn the real differences between university clinics and private practice environments





• Discover how to navigate your first few weeks as a new graduate





• Understand realistic productivity expectations and how to build your patient book





• Get practical advice on time management and appointment scheduling





• Find out how to balance quality care with practice efficiency

Whether you’re still in dental school or recently graduated, this insider’s guide provides the roadmap you need to confidently step into private practice.

Ready to get the dental career head start you deserve? Subscribe now and share this episode with a classmate who needs to hear this valuable advice!

Key moments

00:00 – Introduction to Private Practice Reality

02:16 – Observing and Adapting to Practice Culture

05:32 – Setting Appropriate Appointment Times

09:34 – Balancing Workload as a New Graduate

11:52 – Emergency Care and Building Your Book

14:53 – Maximizing Downtime for Growth

17:20 – Understanding Production Expectations

20:40 – Strategies for Efficient Productivity

22:35 – Final Advice for New Graduates

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Thank you to our sponsors…

Dental Protection Limited

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Dental Protection have proudly been supporting the Dental Head Start podcast since day one! The Dental Protection team understands the ever-changing challenges faced by dental professionals and we take our responsibility to members seriously. Our professional protection package helps you practise with confidence, safe in the knowledge that we are always by your side if things go wrong. With over 40 years protecting Australian dental professionals, we have the global stability and financial resilience to be by you

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Dental Advice Network

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This episode of the Dental Head Start Podcast is proudly supported by Dental Advice Network.

Whether you’re one year out or forty, we all have clinical questions—and it’s OK not to have all the answers. That’s exactly why the Dental Advice Network exists. With leading experts like Dr Omar Ikram (Endodontist), Dr Amanda Phoon Nguyen (Oral Medicine Specialist), Dr Steven Parker (Dental Sedationist), Dr Manu Ayer (Specialist Anaesthetist), Professor Ian Myers (Restorative expert), Dr Kar Mun Chan (Specialist Paediatric Dentist) and Associate Professor Geraldine Moses (Dental Therapeutics and Pharmacology expert), it’s your go-to place for clinical advice, case support, and evidence-based insights.

From medication queries to red flags in oral pathology—or even just a second opinion—Dental Advice Network connects you to trusted voices in dentistry and medicine, including an in-house medical doctor. You’ll also get access to clinical webinars, CPD content, and curated updates to stay ahead in your practice.

It’s peace of mind, peer support, and education—all in one place.

 And for Dental Head Start listeners, we’ve teamed up with Dental Advice Network to bring you an exclusive 10% discount when you subscribe. Just use the code HEADSTART10 at checkout. Plus—if you’re a first-year graduate, you already get a massive 50% off.

Check them out at dentaladvicenetwork.com.au, and thank you to Dental Advice Network for supporting the next generation of dental professionals and the Dental Head Start podcast.

The post Dental Mentoring Series #7 – A Day In The Life Of A Graduate appeared first on Dental Head Start.