There has been a great deal of discussion about the need for a GPR (General Practice Residency) program for recent dental school graduates. With less than 100 such programs available in the United States, and about 6000 graduate, this presents a significant problem for dental school graduates who are not proceeding with post graduate training in a specific dental specialty but rather diving right into private practice.

These are some of the issues a recent dental graduate might face when applying for an associate position.

• Lack of real-world experience – Dental school focuses mainly on theory and simulations. Without a residency, a new dentist may have limited hands-on experience treating a wide range of patients. An office may prefer a dentist with proven clinical experience.
• Less developed clinical skills – Residencies allow new dentists to perform more procedures under supervision and expand their skillset. A dentist without this added training may not have as much experience with complex treatments.
• Need more mentoring – New dentists can benefit from the coaching of experienced doctors that a residency provides. An office may not want to dedicate resources to intensive mentoring.
• Less knowledge of practice operations – Residencies teach key practice management skills like scheduling, insurance, billing etc. New dentists without this may require more training.
• Patient skepticism – Some patients may be hesitant to be treated by a dentist who is fresh out of school with no additional training. This can impact new patient flow.
• Lack of specialty exposure – Residencies allow sampling different dental specialties. A dentist without this may be less aware of their interests and career path.
• Little to no professional connections – Residencies provide valuable networking. A dentist without these contacts may have limited referral sources.
• Questionable commitment – This may not be trued in reality but some dental practices might feel that completing a residency shows dedication to expanding skills. A dentist without one may raise concerns about long-term commitment.

While not impossible to get hired without residency training, new dentists with a GPR or specialty program often have a competitive edge. However, outstanding grades, professionalism, and persistence during the job search can help offset the lack of residency.

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