'How do I stay relevant when the profession is changing?'

With techniques and technology evolving fast in dentistry, Sarah McKimm advises a reader on how to feel relevant and keep learning throughout their career.

The scenario

I’m a dentist with more than 20 years of experience in general practice. Lately, I’ve been feeling increasingly anxious about how much the profession is evolving – digital dentistry, AI diagnostic tools, facial aesthetics. It seems as though every CPD course is a new world that I haven’t entered yet.

The younger associates around me are confident with scanners and offering cosmetic treatments. I love what I do, but I’m starting to feel like if I don’t evolve, I won’t be able to maintain my career. Part of me wants to jump into these new skills, but another part worries I’ll never catch up or that it’s too late to pivot. How do I stay relevant and confident when the profession is changing so fast?

What is Chairside Chats?

Sarah McKimm is a qualified counsellor with more than 20 years of experience in the dental profession. She is here to offer a space where dental professionals can explore the human side of dentistry together, looking at what’s behind the mask through a unique perspective.

Each month, she will take a question from one of you and explore it with care, compassion, and insight. Drawing on her dual background as a counsellor and experience as a dental professional, she aims to provide empathic, non-judgmental responses tailored to the struggles faced in this field.

While she can’t offer counselling here (or replace professional support where it’s needed), she hopes to share some practical tips, professional insights and coping strategies.

Sarah’s reply

Dear reader,

Thank you for writing in with such honesty. Your concerns are both valid and very human – and it takes courage to share what’s going on beneath the professional surface. What you’ve expressed will resonate with so many clinicians, especially those who’ve been in practice for a long time. You are far from alone in feeling this shift as dentistry continues to evolve at pace.

What stands out most in your letter is how much you care – about your work, your patients, and doing things well. That kind of care can’t be taught. It’s built through years of experience, of showing up, of earning trust.

‘Feeling overwhelmed or unsure is completely natural, especially when others seem to speak the “language” fluently. But it’s important not to compare’

Two decades in general practice is an incredible achievement. You’ve already adapted to huge changes before – remember when record cards sat in piles on the side, X-rays were developed in the dark room, and amalgam was mixed by hand? You’ve moved with the profession before, and that adaptability is still very much within you.

That said, this current wave – AI, digital workflows, facial aesthetics – is a lot. It can feel like every CPD course opens a door into a whole new world, and for many, it’s uncharted territory. Feeling overwhelmed or unsure is completely natural, especially when others seem to speak the ‘language’ fluently. But it’s important not to compare.

Younger associates may feel at home with digital tools because they trained with them – but they’re still finding their feet too, just in different ways. What they bring in digital confidence, you more than balance with depth of experience, diagnostic insight, patient rapport, and real-world clinical skill.

‘Being relevant isn’t just about technology’

Being relevant isn’t just about technology – it’s about connection, trust, and care. The heart of dentistry hasn’t changed. Patients still want to feel safe, heard, and well cared for. And that’s something you already do exceptionally well.

It’s perfectly okay to feel torn – excited by the idea of learning something new, yet unsure where to start or worried it’s ‘too late’. But it’s never too late to grow. I’ve felt that pressure too, especially in my counselling work. What I’ve learned is that when I try to approach CPD from a place of ‘should’ or ‘must’, I shut down. That kind of external pressure often leads to overwhelm, especially for those of us who are neurodivergent or sensitive to high expectations.

‘Your experience, your judgement, your patient relationships – these are irreplaceable. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re building on a solid, deeply rooted foundation’

But when I follow my curiosity or connect my learning to something that genuinely matters to me – like how I can better support my clients – it becomes more meaningful and less overwhelming. And it doesn’t feel so lonely when you do it alongside someone else.

During my counselling training, I buddied up with a peer. We challenged each other, supported each other when things got tough, and made sense of things together. That connection was invaluable – and I’ve found the same in professional development. If there’s a new area of dentistry you’d like to explore, consider teaming up with a colleague. You’ll not only share the learning, but the emotional load as well.

Here are a few reflections and tools that might help as you navigate this phase of your career:

1. Follow your curiosity, not the pressure

Start with something that genuinely interests you – not something you feel obligated to do. If you’re drawn to digital scanning or facial aesthetics, let yourself explore that. Learning is far more sustainable when it’s self-directed and meaningful.

2. Start small – and let that be enough

A webinar, a half-day course, or simply shadowing a colleague is a perfectly valid way to begin. You don’t need to master everything overnight. Gentle steps still move you forward.

3. Learn alongside someone else

If you can find a colleague who’s also curious about a new skill, consider learning together. It makes it feel less daunting – and having someone to talk things through with can make all the difference.

4. Honour what you already bring

Your experience, your judgement, your patient relationships – these are irreplaceable. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re building on a solid, deeply rooted foundation.

5. Let go of the idea that you must do everything

You don’t have to chase every trend. Focus on what aligns with your values and feels right for your practice. Growth doesn’t mean changing who you are – it means evolving in ways that fit.

So yes, the profession is changing – but that doesn’t mean you’re being left behind. You get to grow at your own pace, in your own way, and still hold onto everything that makes you a great clinician.

You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you need to be – and you’re still very much needed in this profession.

Take gentle care,

Sarah

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