41 Dental Interview Questions to Help You Get Ready for Your Next Job
In the medical field, dentistry is a fun and financially rewarding job. Whether you just finished dental school and are looking for your first job or are ready to join a larger practice, it’s a good idea to look at sample questions that a potential employer might ask to prepare for an interview. This article gives you examples of general and in-depth questions you might be asked in a job interview, as well as sample answers to some of the more difficult questions you might have to answer. 41 Dental Interview Questions to Help You
General dental questions for interviews
When you first go to a dentist, you might be asked some of the following:
- Please tell me about yourself.
- How do you do what you do best?
- Where do you think you are weak?
- What are your most unique qualities?
- Why do you want to work there?
- In three words, how would you describe yourself?
- Can you tell me what motivates you?
- What are your long-term goals?
- How much money do you want?
- What’s the best thing you think you’ve done?
- What would you do if you and a coworker had a disagreement?
- What about you is unique?
- What would you say about a successful career?
- How do you handle yourself when things are hard?
- Would you be willing to travel if you got this job?
Questions about work and history from the past
These questions will help you prepare to talk about your past work and accomplishments:
- What do you think about yourself that makes you good for this job?
- Can you tell me about the school you went to?
- How did you learn to become a dentist? Can you describe your program?
- Will you tell me about a time at work when you had to figure out how to solve a problem?
- What was the best part of your last job?
- Have you ever considered opening your own business?
- Have you ever had to make decisions about something?
- Have you ever been in charge of a practice’s business?
- What have you done to continue your professional development of current dental techniques and procedures?
- Do you have any dental specialties, like working with kids or putting people to sleep?
- What is the most important thing you’ve learned over the years?
In-depth questions
The following questions about dentistry are more in-depth and can help potential employers learn about your skills and knowledge of the field:
- Why did you decide to become a dentist instead of doing something else in the health field?
- How can you tell if a person’s teeth need to be x-rayed?
- With local anesthesia, how would you get a filling?
- Can you tell me how your attention to detail has helped you care for patients?
- Have you ever had to help a scared patient during a dentist visit?
- Can you tell me about how you take care of people in the hospital?
- How would you explain to a patient that something was wrong with their teeth? How would you tell a patient that they need a cavity filled, for example?
- Can you describe your most difficult task? What happened in the end?
- How long do you think an extraction would take you?
- How fast did you usually get things done at your last job? How well did the office take care of people when they came in?
Sample interview questions and answers for the dentist
Here are some sample questions and answers from a dental interview to help you prepare for your next one:
1. What does a typical exam look like for you with a new patient?
You’ll have to show potential employers that you know everything there is to know about how to do an oral health exam on a patient. This question can show the interviewer that you know everything about dental health there is to know. You should also talk about how you would care for different types of patients in your answer. Be sure to say something nice about how you talk to people when you answer this question.
Example: “When a new patient comes to my office, I try to make them feel comfortable and build trust by treating them with care and kindness. I would ask them about their dental history to find out if they’ve ever had problems with their teeth or if they’re afraid of going to the dentist. I would also use standard procedures for an oral exam to look for signs of healthy gums and teeth and to check for oral cancer.”
2. What would you do if you were taking care of a child who needed a tooth pulled?
How well you can work in a family dental office will depend on how you answer this question. Employers want to know that you can meet the needs of clients of all ages and abilities, since you would be working with people of all ages and abilities. By giving clear answers to this question, you can also show that you know a lot about how to take care of your teeth.
Example: “When a child needed a tooth pulled, I tried to build trust and make the child feel at ease by making them as comfortable as possible. At each step, I would explain what was going to happen and make sure the child was still calm. Working with kids is an important part of having a family practice, so I think it’s important to show kids that they don’t have to be afraid of the dentist. I work hard to make sure that the child and their family have a calm and easy time.”
3.Has a patient ever told you that they didn’t agree with your medical advice about their oral health?
This question can show how you handle disagreements and how important customer service is to you. Make it clear that your patient’s needs come first and that you will listen to their worries. You can also talk about how important you think it is to always be professional and keep clients happy.
Example: “Yes, I’ve had patients who didn’t agree with what I thought was best for them. I remember a very clear case of an older woman who was afraid of getting an extraction. She asked why I couldn’t just put in a filling, and she got mad when I told her that if we didn’t pull the tooth, it could cause her more problems.
I didn’t lose my temper and told her that I could see why she was worried. I showed her the x-ray again and talked to her about another option, which I told her could also put another tooth at risk. I told her it was her choice in the end, but I suggested the option I thought would cause her the least pain in the long run. She did decide to have the surgery, and when it was done, she thanked me.”
4. What kinds of procedures would you feel comfortable doing in our office?
You can talk more about your skills as a dentist if you answer this question. Tell us about the care you’ve given for people’s teeth in the past.
Example: “At my last job, I was in charge of all dental procedures, like fillings, crowns, and extractions. I have also learned how to give local anesthesia and gas to people who need it. I can do all diagnostic tests and look at the results of x-rays so that I can suggest procedures for oral health.”
5.Would you like to join our practice now or in the future?
If you want to work at a dental office that is owned by the dentists who work there, this question might come up during your interview. If you might be asked to become a partner in the practice, it’s a good idea to think about this choice in advance. You can also answer even if you don’t decide right away. This lets you start by getting used to how things work.
Example: “I’m glad you brought this up. It’s an honor to be able to work in partnership with this practice. Please explain more about how this would work. I want to think more about this idea before I answer.”
