What to Expect During a Dentist Interview: Questions, Tasks & More

After the long years of dental school, residency, or more, the last step between a dental student and a career is the job interview. The best way to prepare is to go over some of the questions and tasks you’ll go over with the potential employer.

Common Dentist Interview Questions

The questions directed at you during a dentist interview will help the interviewer get to know you better. They already think you are a good fit based on your resume, but they want to know your character. Here are some of the questions they might ask to help with that:

• What is your educational background?
• Will you describe a time you overcame something challenging in the workplace?
• What is the most important thing you’ve learned about the field in the last four years?
• What did you like about the previous position you held?
• Have you been in a leadership position before?

In-Depth Questions That Come Up During a Dentist Interview

Once the employer has a chance to get to know who you are, they might want to test what you know. The employer wants to make sure that you understand what you are talking about and can use that knowledge in a fast-paced environment. Here are some of those in-depth questions:

• Why did you choose dentistry over another profession?
• What type of anesthesia would you use when applying a filling?
• Can you talk about your typical bedside manner with patients?
• How long does it take you to complete a tooth extraction?
• What issues would you consider before assisting an elderly patient with their oral care?
• Would you describe how you would come up with a treatment plan for someone with periodontal disease?

What to Ask the Employer

Once the interviewer has had a chance to learn more about you and your skills, you have a chance to ask about the employer. Asking these kinds of questions shows your interest and critical thinking, which are qualities employers like. When you get a chance, try asking some of these questions at the interview:

• What is this practice’s philosophy on dental care?
• What kind of patients do you most commonly treat?
• What kind of tools or technology do you have to help with providing care?
• What would your goals be for me at this practice?