Employment Qualifications According to Dr. Gervasi I wanted to hear from those who have already navigated the challenges of transitioning from school to practice. What do experienced dentists believe makes a new graduate employable? I spoke with two doctors who have been through this journey themselves. Their perspectives offered valuable advice on what employers look for in a young dentist — and how we, as new graduates, can set ourselves up for success. One of those doctors is John Gervasi, DDS, a 2021 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy and an alumnus of NYU Langone’s AEGD residency at Roseman University. Gervasi emphasized the value of pursuing a residency, particularly one that differs from dental school. He advised graduates to seek programs that expose them to new skills and treatment procedures. “A program that challenges you and pushes you beyond your comfort zone is imperative,” he said. Gervasi believes employers expect new graduates to join a practice with a strong foundation. “A residency helps build that foundation in dentistry by connecting the dots between simple and difficult cases,” he said. “Unless you’re being mentored by a family member or close friend, it’s difficult to bridge everything together at your own pace and make sense of complex cases.” However, he clarified that success without a residency is possible — it depends on several factors. When joining a practice straight out of dental school, mentorship can vary widely. “One needs to consider how both parties — the new grad and the owner — define mentorship,” he said. He elaborated that a patient mentor will help a new dentist develop treatment plans that meet realistic patient demands. “Treatment-planning is your blueprint before touching any instruments or drills,” he added. Gervasi shared an example of treatment-planning for a partial denture, emphasizing the importance of keeping the end result in mind — deciding which teeth to preserve as abutments and which to extract to ensure the partial’s success. Factors like bone loss, periodontal health and finances also come into play. “Treatmentplanning for complex cases involves many variables, and, without a solid foundation, it can be a real challenge,” he said. “A residency program gives you the experience to handle these complexities with confidence. Think of it like having personal trainers in a gym — they push you to the next level by sharing their skills and knowledge.” He explained that he valued his residency experience because the mentors understood his starting point and where he needed to be by the end of the program. They recognized his strengths and weaknesses, oversaw his cases, questioned his reasoning for treatment decisions and evaluated his clinical skills. “Can you get all of that from mentorship straight out of school?” he asked. He also shared a useful tip for job interviews: “Ask, ‘What does mentorship look like to you?’” This question helps gauge whether the potential mentorship aligns with your needs. Are you someone who just needs reassurance after a quick glance at a radiograph, or do you require step-by-step explanations and demonstrations?
20
AGD IMPACT
MAY 2025
Understanding these things about yourself before you begin interviewing can help you assess whether a practice is the right learning environment for you. “You also don’t know how patient your mentor will be when days get busy and stressful,” he added. Gervasi also highlighted the importance of speed and quality. “Speed is important for new graduates, and, if I were hiring someone fresh out of school, I’d consider it a measure of efficiency. Speed comes with time, but quality matters most,” he said. “Quality work builds trust with patients.” He encourages new dentists to be up front about procedure times. For example, you might say, “I’d like to do this as efficiently as possible for you, but I also want to ensure a successful outcome, so please be prepared to spend an hour or two with me.” He acknowledged that extended procedure times, like threehour molar root canals, are common in dental school but not practical in private practice. “Patients expect procedures to be done in a timely manner,” he said. “This is another reason why a residency is beneficial — it helps build a strong foundation and prepares you to work more efficiently. You find a comfortable pace for yourself.” In his opinion, residents are years ahead of where they would be if they went straight into practice. He pointed out that owner-doctors are unlikely to assign large cases to new graduates who take too long to complete them. Many new dentists switch jobs within their first year or two — or return to residency — because they lack the experience to handle complex cases. “Residencies provide built-in mentorship that not only enhances your skill set but also improves your efficiency,” he said. When searching for a job, Gervasi advises new graduates to consider what they bring to the table, their skills and their comfort levels. During his residency, he completed around 100 root canals, which gave him confidence in endodontics. Since he wanted to include endodontics in his daily work, he avoided practices that mostly referred those cases out. Gervasi urged graduates to be realistic — not just about their speed and abilities, but also about their income expectations. He advises steering clear of quota-driven offices, where meeting numbers can compromise the quality of care. “Every patient and case is different. Some patients don’t respond well to local anesthetics, and some need breaks during treatment. Patients want to be treated as individuals, not numbers,” he said. “I chose my current office because they allow me to treat patients the way I see fit, without being driven by quotas or insurance metrics.” Something not always taught in dental school, Gervasi noted, is how to interact with patients, colleagues and staff professionally. “An employable new graduate should be professional, teachable and willing to listen from others,” he said. “Patient management is a completely different tier of dentistry. You may know how to do that restoration, but, if you can’t make your patient comfortable in the chair, that’s a problem.” Finally, Gervasi encouraged new dentists to stay humble and appreciate both the good and challenging days. “Keep your heart in dentistry, because that’s what will carry you through,” he said. “I hope that each new grad finds their path in a healthy environment after dental school. And I hope every owner looking for a new associate finds someone who is teachable and works hard to help build their practice.”