The more I expand within my own career, the more I realize that the world today is valuing confidence more than technical skills.

And confidence doesn’t only equate to standing in front of an audience on stage. Being able to hold a successful conversation with most people, on their area of expertise, the ability to ask smart questions and understanding the value of good preparation – all of these are massively underrated skills that lead to an immediate connection with anyone we want.

Dentists have an interesting life.

They exude confidence in their familiar spaces – with their patients, with their staff and with themselves. Being able to render a variety of treatments successfully is a massive confidence boost. Yet when it comes to any conversation outside of clinical work, diagnosis and treatment plans, many dentists struggle and are hesitant to share their thoughts. From confident, to insecure – the energy shift is unbelievable, let alone mindbogglingly unfair. Because like any other noble medical profession, dentists are pure of intention and opted for this profession to help heal people.

In today’s article, we’ll explore how dentists can leverage their clinical skills, to expand into other areas where they immediately inject more value – by building more confidence.

The Hidden Gap After 5-10 Years in Practice

It’s a strange truth: a dentist’s routine can be both comforting and limiting at the same time. After a few years in clinical practice, although most young practitioners have ironed out the uncertainty of new graduate life, they may however find themselves repeating the same cases, the same workflows, & the same conversations. In other words, it can get boring very fast.

Meanwhile, the industry is evolving fast:

• Digital products are quickly becoming the norm globally

• AI is entering diagnostics.

• Tele dentistry is being explored and reshaped

• Corporate dentistry and DSOs are influencing the business model.

Lacking to plan one’s long-term career as a dentist and upskill constantly, now carries a very tangible risk of falling behind – not because one isn’t good at dentistry, but because one forgot to broaden their value.

Clinical excellence remains vital, but today it’s only part of the equation.

Dentists who thrive in the next decade will combine:

• Clinical excellence

• Business and leadership acumen

• Industry insight

• Professional visibility

We’re already witnessing the impact of NOT having the above on the quality of life of an everyday practitioner. I ran a survey within my own network and found the following factors on the rise:

• Financial stress – generally speaking, dentists in the east are underpaid and those in the west are under debt for 10-15 years after coming out of university. That’s stressing everyone out.

• Bore-out – intellectual stimulation plummets a few years into the job and dentists start getting numb in their daily lives, often leading to drastic decisions, like opening a lot more clinics than one can manage or taking on KOL projects or university roles that bring their own travel and commitments.

• Burn-out – managing too many clinics, university commitments, travel commitments etc all add up to burn out.

There’s a small arm on the rise, though quite small on a global scale – which is the concept of Dental Service Organizations or DSOs. Though most dentists globally are still primarily working out of their own private establishments, DSOs are quickly gaining popularity as they are a constant income stream for practitioners. Financial stress has led to the creation of this entirely new business model and in the next 2 decades, we’ll observe how it fares on a global stage. Currently the USA is leading this model. However, the remaining two pain pints of Bore out and Burn out continue to remain unaddressed.

Most of my work directly tackles all three of the common pain points of practitioners and it all starts with upskilling.

Did you know: If you google “profession with the highest suicide rates” then dentistry pops up on top?

The value of CE credits and clinical upskilling programs

The typical scenario for a regular dentist is that they consider upskilling to be limited to the programs to become better practitioners. Most dentists take these programs annually to meet credit requirements and get their licences renewed. This is a fantastic way to ensure that dentists are always aware of the latest developments in the clinical space. However, not every country in the world requires these and those that do, already have a practitioner population with reduced quality of life despite these programs.

Random online CE courses can’t replace strategic upskilling.

The most effective programs are intentional – they combine relevant content, high-value networks, and most importantly – practical pathways to new opportunities.

Key elements to look for in a good program:

• Cutting-edge updates: not just theory, but application that can be implemented immediately.

• Business & leadership modules: understanding financials, marketing, and team dynamics.

• Industry networking: connecting with dental companies, researchers, and thought leaders.

• Mentorship & career mapping: aligning a dentist’s skillset with emerging opportunities.

• Accountability: ensuring that what is taught gets implemented practically.

If we combine these elements with the factors of success discussed earlier, we are now building a strategy to successful career expansion for the everyday dentist.

The Shift from Insecure to In-Demand

A career roadmap strategy is critical to ensure that a person, who happens to be a dentist, can take maximum advantage of the shifting trends in the global economy and be prepared by having multiple revenue streams active and not just one.

The ability to execute on their roadmap is next. It’s stunning to observe how meticulously hard working all students are when in dental school, yet when in to a few years of clinical practice, and feeling numb from lack of intellectual stimulation, how few dentists actually do the bare minimum to make a shift in their life and improve their standard and quality of living.

Most people will agree to this – to be a successful doctor, one must be confident. Yet over time, many doctors build arrogance, under the guise of “expertise”. They are no longer connecting with the person they are talking to, they are more interested in “being right”. And at its core, this is a coping mechanism of feeling numb and incomplete. The boredom of daily routine, manifests in these moments where the dentist senses an opportunity to shine and feel alive again, yet at its core, it’s a dark insecurity brewing in the shadows, expressing itself as ego.

Confidence is not something one learns. Rather it’s built by learning what needs to be learnt, with a clear purpose. And the most common reason that dentists don’t learn something new, is because they think they’re pretty smart in that moment. Boredom creeps in as a result of repetitive life, and now one finds oneself wearing a mask, because the rest of the world thinks the dentist is pretty smart, and if they start learning anything new, that would be a “step down” from what exists in the now.

One’s fear of perception by the outside world seems to dictate the expression of the mask they wear.

Which is why the most famous and wisest people in the world understand the concept of “Timing”. They build their new versions in silence. Not seeking accolades, not sharing prematurely who they wish to become.

The best dental KOLs started by dedicating 2-3 hours per week and learning a new skill outside of what they knew clinically.

With strategic upskilling, a dentist can:

• Gain credibility that extends beyond the practice walls.

• Open doors to consulting, advisory, speaking, and highly paid freelance opportunities

• Develop confidence to lead teams, pitch ideas, and contribute in high-stakes settings.

• Open the possibility for a new career in the future should clinical work no longer satisfy them.

Rather than waiting for opportunities, they begin attracting them and the cost is being patient enough to understand that the education precedes the building phase which precedes the Growth phase.

Don’t Wait for Stagnation to Force Change

Dentistry will continue to evolve – with or without those in the profession. Dentists who don’t invest in themselves risk becoming functionally replaceable in a market that values multidimensional skillsets.

The good news? Transformation is within reach. I designed a program where I support ambitious dentists become sought after profiles within the MedTech space. The purpose of creating this program is a culmination of my experiences, both as a clinicians and as a medtech executive, supporting the medical device industry for more than half a decade.

I quickly understood the need of dental product companies requiring better skilled professionals to support their product development and growth. And who better to support them than an army of up-skilled dentists – who not only know how dental products are used, but also how they are made.

The Premium Dental Advisor Program is designed to take dentists from clinical-only to industry-ready, bridging the exact gap that leaves so many mid-career professionals feeling underprepared.

They don’t have to remain in the uncertain middle. With the right strategy, they can become the dentist others call when they want results.

If you want to learn more about the Premium Dental Advisor Program and discover how to shift from insecure to in-demand – without stepping away from practice, then complete this form and sign up for a career road-mapping session using THIS LINK.

Author Profile

Dr Namrata Upadhyay is a dental surgeon and Founder & CEO of NamNR Pro – The Global Dentists’ Pool®. She is a clinician, ex-executive to dental startups, Board advisor, Course instructor, Speaker and MedTech consultant  specialising in clinical study, regulatory and marketing for all risk classes of medical devices. She is also the Co-chair of the Medical device special interest group under in the European Medical Writers Association. She now leads change in the Business of smiles through her 2 initiatives via her company NamNR Pro namely the Global Dentists’ Pool® and the Premium Dental Advisor Program. You can reach out to her at namrata@namnrpro.org and connect with her on Linkedin here.