Dentist interview questions and answers

I start by talking to the patient before they get in the chair, asking what worries them. Often it is one bad past experience with pain. I explain each step before I do it and agree a stop signal, like raising a hand, which I always respect. I use topical anaesthetic before injections and inject slowly. For very anxious patients I book a longer first visit that is only a check-up and cleaning, so their first experience with me is easy. Last month a patient who had avoided the dentist for years completed three fillings with me using this approach.

Before each patient I wear fresh gloves, mask and eye protection and make sure the chair, light handles and surfaces are disinfected and barrier-covered. After the procedure, instruments are cleaned to remove debris, ideally in an ultrasonic cleaner, dried, packed in pouches and sterilised in the autoclave. I check the indicator on each pouch before opening it in front of the patient. Handpieces are cleaned and sterilised between patients. Sharps go in a puncture-proof container and waste is segregated by colour-coded bins as per biomedical waste rules. I also flush waterlines at the start of the day.

I stop the procedure immediately, remove anything from the mouth, and recline the chair so the patient is lying flat with the legs slightly raised. I check whether they are responsive and breathing and feel for a pulse. Usually a faint recovers within a minute or two. I loosen tight clothing, give oxygen if our clinic has it, and stay with them. If they do not recover quickly or I cannot feel a pulse, I call for emergency help and start basic life support. Once they recover, I check their blood sugar history, whether they ate, and I document the event before deciding whether to continue another day.

I never ask the patient to stop a blood thinner on my own, because stopping it can cause a stroke or clot. I take a full medical history, including which medicine they take and why, and I write to or call their physician to confirm the plan and any blood test they want done before the procedure. I plan the extraction for the morning early in the week, so we can manage any bleeding. I keep the procedure as atraumatic as possible, use local measures like haemostatic packing and sutures, and give clear written post-operative instructions and a number to call.

I show the patient the problem first, using the X-ray or an intraoral camera picture, so they understand why treatment is needed. Then I explain two or three realistic options, for example root canal with a crown, or extraction with a bridge or implant later, with the advantages, drawbacks, number of visits and cost for each. I write the estimate down so there are no surprises. I tell them what I would recommend and why, but I make it clear the decision is theirs. If cost is the issue, I suggest phasing the treatment starting with the urgent part.

I prefer saving a natural tooth when it is restorable and has good periodontal support. So I look at how much sound tooth structure remains after removing decay, whether a crown can be placed, the bone support on the X-ray, mobility, and whether the tooth is important for chewing or as a bridge abutment. I also consider the patient’s general health, ability to attend several visits and budget. If the tooth has a vertical root fracture, very poor bone support or cannot be restored, extraction is the honest choice, and I explain replacement options.

I take an X-ray only when it will change my diagnosis or treatment, not as a routine. I check whether recent images from another clinic are available. I use the lowest exposure setting suitable for the image, digital sensors where available, and a thyroid collar and lead apron for the patient. I ask women of reproductive age whether they could be pregnant; if so, I avoid non-urgent X-rays and discuss the situation with the patient. I stand behind the barrier during exposure, and I record the reason and findings for every radiograph in the patient’s file.

I use tell-show-do: I explain in simple words, show the instrument on their finger, then do it. I call the drill a “water brush” and give the child small jobs like holding the mirror. I keep the first visit short and positive, even if all we do is count teeth and polish. I involve the parent, but I ask them to stay calm and avoid words like “pain” or “injection”. If the child needs urgent treatment and cannot cooperate, I do not force it; I discuss referral to a paediatric dentist who can offer sedation or general anaesthesia.

I start with the history: type of pain, whether it is triggered by biting, cold or sweet, how long it lasts and whether it wakes them at night. Biting pain soon after a filling is often a high spot, so I check the bite with articulating paper and adjust it. I test vitality and percussion and take an X-ray to look for gaps, deep decay or changes at the root. If the pain is lingering and severe, the pulp may be irreversibly inflamed and the tooth may need root canal treatment. I explain honestly what I find and do not charge for correcting my own work.

A young woman once asked me for crowns on all her front teeth because she wanted a whiter smile. Her teeth were healthy, and crowns would have meant removing a lot of sound tooth structure permanently. I explained that honestly, showed her what crown preparation involves, and offered more conservative options: professional cleaning, bleaching and possibly composite bonding on two chipped teeth. I told her I would not recommend crowns for healthy teeth. She chose whitening and bonding and was happy with the result. Turning down treatment loses some money today but builds long-term trust.

For every patient I record the chief complaint, medical history including medicines and allergies, examination findings, a charting of all teeth, radiographs and the diagnosis. For each visit I note what was done, the anaesthetic used, materials, any complications and instructions given. Before procedures like extractions, root canals or implants, I explain the procedure, risks, alternatives and cost, and take written consent in a language the patient understands. I update the medical history at every recall, because medicines change. Good notes protect the patient and me if a question comes up later.

During a lower molar root canal, I separated a small file in the mesial canal. I stopped, took an X-ray to see where it was and told the patient calmly what had happened and what it meant. I placed a temporary dressing and called my senior endodontist, who agreed to see the patient that week. He managed to bypass the fragment and complete the treatment. I did not charge the patient for the extra visit. Since then I check files under magnification before use and discard them after the recommended number of uses.

A patient complained that her new crown felt bulky and she had been charged more than the estimate. I called her in, listened fully and checked the file. The crown was slightly over-contoured and I had not updated her estimate when we added a core build-up. I adjusted the crown contour that day and apologised for not explaining the extra cost beforehand. I offered to waive the build-up charge, which the owner approved. She later referred her sister to us. Since then I always give a revised written estimate before adding anything to a treatment plan.

In my internship at the college clinic, I was paired with an assistant who had worked there for fifteen years. At first I was slow and asked for instruments late. I asked her to show me how the senior doctors set up their trays, and we agreed a simple sequence for fillings and extractions. She began preparing the next instrument before I asked. My chair time per filling dropped noticeably and patients waited less. I learned that experienced assistants know a lot, and treating them as part of the team makes everything smoother.

A patient came with a deeply impacted lower third molar very close to the nerve on the X-ray. I had done many simple extractions but not a surgical case that complex. I explained the risk of nerve injury and told him that an oral surgeon would be safer. I wrote a referral letter with the X-ray and history and called the surgeon myself. The patient appreciated my honesty and returned to me later for his regular care. Referring when needed keeps patients safe and actually earns their trust.

On a Saturday with every slot booked, a man walked in with a swollen face and severe pain from an abscess. I checked quickly that his airway was not affected and there was no spreading swelling to the neck, which would have needed hospital referral. I asked reception to inform the next two patients about a fifteen-minute delay and offer them a call when I was ready. I opened and drained the abscess, gave clear instructions and booked him for a root canal. The delay was short, patients were informed, and he came back to complete treatment.

Two years into practice I realised my root canals took too long with hand files alone. I attended a hands-on rotary endodontics course, practised on extracted teeth for a few weeks and then started using rotary files on straightforward anterior and premolar cases under my senior’s eye. Once I was confident, I moved to molars. My appointments for molar root canals went from three visits to two in most cases, and my post-treatment X-rays improved. I still use hand files where the canal anatomy is tricky.

I understand a clinic has to run as a business, and I am comfortable with targets based on patients seen, treatment completion and patient feedback. The best way I can help revenue is to diagnose thoroughly, explain treatment clearly so more patients accept it, and make sure they complete their plans. What I will not do is recommend treatment that a patient does not need. In my current clinic, focusing on completing treatment plans and following up missed recalls raised my monthly collections without any hard selling.

Your clinic offers a full range of treatment, including implants and orthodontics, with specialists visiting on fixed days. That lets me handle general dentistry while learning from specialists and seeing complex cases through. I also noticed from your website that you use digital X-rays and intraoral scanners, which I have used and want to get better at. You are close to where I live, so I can be reliable with early and late slots. I want to settle into one practice for several years and build my own set of regular patients.

I am open to either, but with four years of experience I would prefer a fixed base plus a percentage of collections above a set level. The fixed part gives me stability during slow months, and the percentage rewards me for building a patient base and completing treatment. I would want clarity on how lab charges and materials are deducted before the percentage is calculated. If the clinic prefers a pure percentage model, I would like to understand the current daily patient flow so I can judge whether it works for both of us.