Common Interview Questions For Dentists

Interviewing is a skill but luckily it does not have to be inherent, it can be learned. The following are some guidelines to help you answer common interview questions for dentists, along with a few other helpful hints to help you get the position.

Preparing For The Interview

  • Prepare documentation to highlight your studies and experience

  • Curriculum vitae or resume

  • Description of previous cases

  • List of practiced procedures

  • Letters of recommendation

  • Questions you may want to ask the interviewer

  • Copies of dental credentials and certifications

  • References

  • Review common interview questions for dentists

Common Interview Questions For Dentists

Education background

  • How would you describe your educational experience?

  • Are you happy with your performance?

  • What would you change about your academic experience?

Personality traits

  • How would you describe yourself as an employee?

  • What type of personality types do you work best with?

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?

  • How would go about correcting your weaknesses?

  • How would your co-workers describe you?

  • How would your friends describe you?

  • What type of people do you like? Or dislike?

  • Do you enjoy helping people? Why?

  • Do you consider yourself creative?

Big picture dental philosophy

  • What would you say is your dental philosophy?

  • Once you knew you were interested in healthcare, why did you choose dental and not medical or veterinarian?

  • What do you like most about dentistry? Least?

  • What do you think you can contribute to the dentistry profession?

  • What is your philosophy on how oral health relates to overall body health?

  • Do you think you’ll still be interested in dentistry in ten years? Why?

Dental experience

  • What experience do you have in a dental office?

  • Why are you looking for a new job? (if you’re leaving one)

  • How would you describe your knowledge of current technology and procedures?

  • What have you done in the last year to improve your knowledge?

  • How would you handle an unhappy or uncomfortable patient?

  • What experience do you have with the business and administrative side of running a dental practice?

Future and other interests

  • What are your goals as they relate to dentistry?

  • Would you be interested in buying-in to this practice or owning your own practice in the future?

  • Describe your volunteer or community service activities.

  • What non-dental organizations did/do you belong to?

  • What personal goals do you have for you or your family?

  • What do you like to do in your free time?

General Guidelines For Answering Interview Questions

  • Use examples – The best way deliver an answer that will impress your interviewer is by backing it up with real-life examples.

  • Quote people who know you – If a co-worker once said, “You are the hardest worker I know,” use that statement in an answer.

  • Be clear – Organize your answers so they are easy to follow.

  • Be yourself – Employers want to know the real you to make sure you can work well together.

  • Be honest – The last think you want is an employer to find out that they were lied to. They will respect your honesty.

  • Be excited and enthusiastic – You will likely work daily with the people you meet during the interview, so show them that it will be a rewarding experience.

  • Show interest – Show the interviewer that you are serious about this job.

  • Show respect – Anyone you meet during the interview may have an impact on whether or not you get the job.

  • Be curious – The more you know about the job, the better you will be able to determine if you would be happy there.

Questions You May Want to Ask the Interviewer

  • What is this practice’s dental philosophy?

  • What types of patients do you treat?

  • What are the most common types of treatments you administer?

  • What kind of technology do you use?

  • How is your practice changing? Is it growing?

  • Do you actively market or depend on referrals?

  • What are your goals for the practice?

  • What role would I play in this practice?

  • What would your goals be for me?

 

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