Graduation season brings with it a rush of nostalgia, especially for those of us who’ve spent years (or decades) in the dental field.
It’s a time to pause and reflect on where we started, the challenges we overcame, and the lessons we didn’t know we were learning along the way. Recently, one of our longtime Curve Dental® customers shared a heartfelt conversation with us after hiring a newly graduated associate.
When we asked what advice he would offer someone just stepping into practice, he didn’t hesitate.
“There’s so much I wish I had known back then,” he told us. “And so much I didn’t realize I needed until I was knee-deep in it.”
Here are the four truths he shared—truths that resonate not only with new dentists but with anyone guiding, mentoring, or hiring them.
You won’t—and that’s okay.
Fresh out of school, many dentists feel the weight of expectations, both internal and external. You’ve got the degree, the training, and maybe even a job lined up. But stepping into a practice is a different world than the academic one.
Real patients don’t always follow textbook patterns. Treatment plans aren’t always accepted. Insurance can be frustrating. Team management is a skill most dental schools don’t teach.
That’s why new grads need reassurance. They need to hear from those who’ve gone before them: You don’t need to have it all figured out. Your confidence will grow. Your speed will improve. Your leadership voice will get stronger. You just need space to keep learning—and the right people around you as you do.
This one is personal.
He told us he spent years chasing perfection—polishing preps, striving for perfect workflows, trying to lead like he had it all under control. But it came at a cost: long hours, mounting stress, and moments when the joy of the work started to fade.
“I wish someone had told me to protect my joy,” he said. “Because when you lose it, everything else gets harder.”
New dentists often carry the weight of imposter syndrome and the pressure to prove themselves. As practice owners and mentors, one of the most meaningful things we can do is help them reconnect with the why behind their career. Celebrate small wins. Normalize the learning curve. Make room for laughter, questions, and the occasional imperfect day.
“When I graduated, I joined an existing practice as an associate. They used a server-based software system that felt clunky and confusing, but I figured that was just part of the job. I was already overwhelmed trying to navigate treatment planning, patient communication, and learning how to be efficient. The software made it harder, but I didn’t know any different.”
So when it came time to open his own practice, he stuck with what he knew. Same system. Same inefficiencies.
“It wasn’t until I started hiring that I realized what I was passing down. I saw how frustrated my team was and how much time we were wasting. And it hit me: this isn't fair. Not to myself, not to my staff, and definitely not to my patients.”
That realization led him to make a change.
Switching to Curve Dental gave his team a clean slate—a cloud-based, all-in-one platform that simplified everything from scheduling and imaging to billing and patient communications. New hires were up to speed faster. Daily workflows became easier. And for the first time, the tech felt like a support system, not a burden.
“If I had Curve when I started out,” he told us, “I would’ve felt so much more confident, so much earlier.”
“I still remember the first dentist who believed in me,” he said. “Not because he gave me a perfect case or a glowing review—but because he listened. He made time. He saw me not just as a provider, but as a person.”
Mentorship isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being present. It’s about making space for honest questions, guiding someone through the hard calls, and helping them find their own rhythm.
New grads are hungry for wisdom, but they also want to feel safe enough to ask for it. The more approachable we are as leaders, the more confident they become as clinicians.
As another class of dental school graduates steps into their careers, it’s worth asking: What do you wish someone had told you back then? And how can you be that voice, that presence, that advocate for someone just starting out?
At Curve, we’re proud to support the next generation of dentists with tools that make the work feel better: cleaner workflows, easier onboarding, more time for patient care, and less time battling your tech.
Because when you create an environment where young dentists can truly thrive, you’re investing in more than just your practice.
You’re shaping the future of the profession.
Ready to create an environment where new grads—and your entire team—can thrive? Let us show you how Curve makes it possible. Click here for a personalized demo.