THE HANDPIECE LESS TRAVELED
Five Career Decisions Every Young Dentist Needs to Make
Dental school teaches you how to become a dentist.
It doesn't necessarily teach you how to build a career.
The Handpiece Less Traveled explores five decisions that can shape where your dental career takes you—and how much control you have over it.
Where should I practice?
Where can I learn the most?
Should I own a dental practice?
When should I pivot?
How do I build financial freedom?
You don't need to have your entire career figured out.
You just need to make the next important decision well.
COMING JANUARY 2027
FIVE DECISIONS CAN SHAPE A CAREER.
Dental careers rarely turn on one enormous decision.
They're shaped by a handful of decisions made over time.
01 — WHERE SHOULD I PRACTICE?
02 — WHERE CAN I LEARN THE MOST?
03 — SHOULD I OWN A DENTAL PRACTICE?
04 — WHEN SHOULD I PIVOT?
05 — HOW DO I BUILD FINANCIAL FREEDOM?
The answers won't be the same for every dentist.
And they may not be the same for you at every stage of your career.
The goal isn't to find the one right path.
It's to make each decision with your eyes open.
THIS ISN'T A BOOK ABOUT THE PERFECT DENTAL CAREER.
I've spent nearly twenty years in dentistry.
I've been an associate, a partner, and an owner.
I've worked in corporate dentistry, small private practices, large group practices, and practices of my own.
I've started practices. Bought practices. Sold practices.
I've made money.
I've lost money.
I've experienced success—and bankruptcy.
And I've changed direction more times than I originally planned.
I didn't write this book because I figured out the perfect way to build a dental career.
I wrote it because I didn't.
The lessons in this book came from decisions that worked, decisions that didn't, and the things I wish I had understood before making both.
This isn't a blueprint for following my career.
It's a framework for thinking more clearly about yours.
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF...
You're trying to decide where to build your career.
You're comparing job opportunities and wondering which one will actually help you grow.
You're thinking about practice ownership—but aren't sure whether it's the life you actually want.
You're wondering whether you should stay where you are or make a change.
You're making good money but aren't sure whether you're actually building financial freedom.
Or maybe you don't know exactly what you want your dental career to look like yet.
That's okay.
You don't need a twenty-year plan.
You need a better way to think about the decisions in front of you.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PREDICT YOUR CAREER.
YOU HAVE TO RETAIN THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE IT.
COMING JANUARY 2027
The Handpiece Less Traveled
Five Career Decisions Every Young Dentist Needs to Make
David Whitlock, DDS
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