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Anyone who becomes a dentist first assists after graduation in order to gain practical experience
Photo: Markus Scholz / picture alliance / dpa
The start into working life is exciting, exhausting - and often completely different than planned. In the series “My first year in the job” young professionals tell how they experienced this time. This time: Assistant dentist Ida *, 27, from North Rhine-Westphalia needed a second attempt to find a job that would help her.
»I came up with the idea of becoming a dentist during my year abroad in the USA. I was there in a high school class with several girls who all wanted to do something with medicine. We often sat together and considered which courses and professions would be suitable. Back then I thought more and more: Why not dentistry? My father is an orthopedic surgeon, but that was somehow too rough for me. Even as a child, I was more into the fine art, built small airplanes and played with model kits.
Back in Germany I called my dentist at the time and asked if I could go with him for a day.
May I.
I was particularly impressed by how calm he was with children who were afraid to come to him.
It was then that I made the decision to become a children's dentist.
Now, a good ten years later, I am a long way closer to this goal.
That feels good.
First timpani, then practice
Immediately after graduating from high school, I started studying dentistry.
Especially at the beginning you learn a lot by heart: in biochemistry, how metabolic processes work;
in prosthetics, how a prosthesis must be constructed so that it does not tip over;
in pathological histology, as seen under a microscope.
My advanced organic course helped me the most.
Before the end of the physics course, in the fourth semester, the practical part of the dental training begins - and from my point of view also the time when the structural problems of the course become clear.
The funds made available are too scarce, there are too few supervisors: there are too many students, and the pressure is simply too great for many.
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If you do something for the first time under constant tension, it is exhausting. In the laboratory people cried every day - out of desperation, out of weakness.
Until shortly before the exam, my fellow students and I always had the feeling that some stick could still be thrown between our legs: even more certificates, even less preparation time.
The seven years of study were a great burden for me.
When I got my state exam, I was just glad it was over.
Too naive with the first employment contract
Fortunately, the search for a job was more relaxed. I had four interviews - and signed my contract as an assistant dentist before my exam. It was only afterwards that I realized that I had been way too naive. I should earn 2000 euros gross per month - more than 500 euros less than what you get on average at the beginning of the assistantship. In return, I should receive a share of the turnover if I bill patients for more than 48,000 euros in treatment in the first six months. If one treats as usual during the assistantship, for example making fillings and placing crowns, it is quite possible to achieve this amount.
The problem with me: Apart from sucking off saliva and sweeping the floor, I made little, so no turnover - and felt ripped off and badly treated.
I worked a lot, learned little and didn't have the feeling that my colleagues took me seriously.
At the end of last year I sought advice from a colleague who was friends.
He recommended that I look out for a new job where I could really treat and develop.
He himself switched to another practice shortly afterwards, I applied to be his successor - and got the job.
Quitting my first job after a few months was not easy for me.
In retrospect, however, it was the best that could have happened to me.
Now I have a boss who takes time for me and entrusts me with patients who challenge me, but who can also be treated well.
We regularly talk about individual treatments: What went well, what do I have to pay more attention to next time?
That helps me a lot.
I currently work 40 hours a week, spread over four days, and earn 2800 euros gross per month.
After the end of my agreed probationary period in October, it will be another 600 euros more.
Protected with two masks when treating
The pandemic is a demanding time to get into the job.
Many patients skipped their annual check-ups in 2020, perhaps because they were afraid of contracting the coronavirus.
This is a big problem, especially for people with sensitive teeth.
You now have a patchwork quilt in your mouth that is sometimes difficult for us to control.
But there is also the opposite: some patients are now dealing more intensively with their health and their teeth, which of course makes us happy.
I'm not afraid for myself.
I have had a double vaccination since the beginning of May, and when I work I wear two protective masks on top of each other.
Working underneath is sometimes exhausting, but I've got used to it.
I do my PhD on my day off and on the weekends.
My dream is still to specialize in children's dentistry and eventually become self-employed.
But I don't want to rush anything.
In the past few years I have proven that I can achieve the things I set out to do. «
* The protagonist wants to remain anonymous, her name is known to the editors.
Have you just started your career yourself and would like to tell us about it? Then write to us at SPIEGEL-Start@spiegel.de.