Finding Your Authentic Path to Success in Dentistry: Beyond Production Numbers and Profit Margins

How to define success on your terms while building a fulfilling dental practice that honors your values

In an industry obsessed with production numbers, patient volume, and profit margins, many dental professionals find themselves trapped in pursuit of someone else's definition of success. But what if the key to sustainable fulfillment in dentistry isn't about achieving predetermined benchmarks—but about discovering what authentic success means for you?

In a recent episode of The Authentic Dentist Podcast, Dr. Allison House and Shawn Zajas explored this crucial topic, offering insights that could transform how you view your dental career journey.

The Comparison Trap in Dental Practice

Every dental professional has experienced it: scrolling through social media and seeing a colleague's latest achievement, attending a conference where speakers showcase their "proven systems," or hearing about another practice's massive production numbers. These moments can trigger what Dr. House calls the "comparison trap"—that sinking feeling that you're somehow falling behind or missing the mark.

"You see someone else and you see the glitz and the glamour, but that's actually not the journey that you're going on," explains Shawn Zajas. "You might start drifting and feeling like, oh my gosh, am I completely missing it? Where you might be perfectly still aligned on what you value."

This insight touches on a fundamental challenge in dental practice leadership: the tendency to measure our success against external metrics rather than internal alignment with our authentic selves.

Redefining Success in Dentistry Through Values Alignment

Dr. House shares a transformative exercise she regularly uses—identifying her core values using Brené Brown's values assessment. After narrowing down to her top three values (altruism, achievement, and beauty), she discovered something profound about her definition of dental practice success.

"For me, achievement is when I finish a case, all of the margins are right, the patient's happy, then I feel like this huge achievement," Dr. House explains. "I don't need anybody else to say it, I love it. That's not the same as I'm crushing it in my practice and making 3.2 million."

This revelation illustrates a crucial principle for authentic dental practice: true fulfillment comes from alignment with your core values, not conformity to industry standards.

The Evolution of Professional Identity in Dentistry

One of the most compelling aspects of this conversation is how both hosts acknowledge that professional identity evolves throughout a dental career. Dr. House, with over 23 years in practice, admits, "Here I am approaching 50, and I can say that I still don't know. And it still evolves."

This evolution includes:

From Modeling to Mastery

Early in their careers, most dentists model themselves after mentors or successful practitioners they admire. This modeling phase is natural and necessary—but it's not the destination.

Discovering Your Zone of Genius

As practitioners develop competence and then excellence, they begin discovering what aspects of dentistry truly energize them versus what drains them. This self-awareness is crucial for long-term sustainability in dental practice.

Adapting to Changing Values

Dr. House notes how her priorities have shifted over time: "Connection is more important to me now... Whereas when I was younger, I was just working on proficiency, the achievement piece."

Finding Your Authentic Practice Model

Perhaps the most liberating message from this episode is Dr. House's insight about practice models: "If you go into a practice model that you hate, it may not be that you hate dentistry. It may be that this is just not the right model for you."

This challenges the notion that there's a "best" way to practice dentistry. Whether you thrive in:

• High-volume, efficient systems

• Relationship-focused, slower-paced care

• Specialized clinical excellence

• Innovation and teaching

• Community-based practice

The key is finding alignment between your authentic self and your practice structure.

Overcoming the Perfectionism Trap

Both hosts vulnerably share their ongoing struggles with authenticity, providing permission for listeners to embrace their own imperfections. Shawn admits, "Am I authentic every single moment of my life? No. I mean, I still get caught up in all the other, the glitz and lose sight of what's important."

This honesty models authentic leadership—acknowledging that the journey toward genuine self-expression is ongoing, not a destination you arrive at once and maintain perfectly.

Practical Steps for Defining Your Success

1. Identify Your Core Values

Use resources like Brené Brown's values assessment to narrow down your top three values. Let these guide your decision-making rather than external pressure.

2. Recognize Your Creative Process

Understand what energizes you versus what drains you. Some dentists thrive on variety and interruption; others need focused, uninterrupted time with patients.

3. Question Industry "Shoulds"

Challenge conventional wisdom about practice management, production goals, and professional development. What works for others may not align with your authentic brilliance.

4. Embrace Evolution

Accept that your definition of success will evolve as you grow both personally and professionally. This evolution is natural and healthy.

5. Focus on Sustainable Fulfillment

Instead of chasing external validation, focus on creating sustainable practice models that honor your values while serving patients excellently.

The Courage to Be Authentic in Dentistry

Ultimately, this conversation challenges dental professionals to have the courage to define success on their own terms. This doesn't mean lowering standards or avoiding growth—it means aligning your professional choices with your authentic self rather than conforming to external expectations.

As Dr. House wisely notes, "You have to decide who you are for you and what you want your life to look like." In a profession with so many possible paths, this self-knowledge becomes your competitive advantage and the foundation for both clinical excellence and personal fulfillment.

The most successful dental professionals aren't necessarily those with the highest production numbers—they're those who have found authentic alignment between their values, their practice model, and their unique gifts. When you discover this alignment, you're not just building a practice; you're expressing your authentic brilliance in service of others.

Ready to discover your authentic path to success in dentistry? Start by examining your core values and questioning whether your current practice model truly aligns with who you are becoming, not who you think you should be.