How far do you travel to your dentist? A good dentist is a valuable asset, especially outside the big cities. It’s encouraging to learn that there are bright young dentists in Australia that have discovered that a country practice can offer benefits, professional and personal, over work in the city.
Australian Rural & Regional News asked Dr Parshad Sankey, now in Clare, and Dr Michael Dimitrov, in Gladstone, about their country experience.
L-R: Dr Michael Dimitrov and Dr Parshad Sankey.
Dr Parshad Sankey
Associate Dentist at Village Dental and Implant Centre, Adelaide/Maven Dental, Clare
ARR.News: Why have you personally chosen to practice in country Australia rather than the big capital cities?
Dr Parshad Sankey: I chose to practice in country Australia rather than big capital cities following joining a regional practice in a new graduate role after university. I really enjoyed the experience and found that the work I did was more technical and complex due to fewer specialists nearby to refer my patients on to. At the moment I am currently working between practices in Adelaide and Clare. Next year I will be moving to Clare and working in the practice there full-time.
In the regional clinic, I am more involved in my patients’ treatments, and I can develop great relationships and trust with them as I see them on a six-monthly basis. When working in metro clinics, my treatments were more standardised and simpler, and I felt like I never had the chance to expand my skills or have the career satisfaction I was looking for. That has changed now I am working regionally.
ARR.News: What do you see as the key advantages and disadvantages of country over city practice for dentists in Australia?
Dr Parshad Sankey: The biggest advantage for me personally was my career development and growth while working in a regional clinic. As I am the only dentist at the clinic, I have had to expand my skills outside of my comfort zone and put in the effort to study more, and do extra training to be able to deliver the best possible treatments for my patients.
Regional clinics are also a lot busier than clinics in the city. There is a steady flow of patients coming in ranging from general checkups to big dental issues that need treating. There are no specialists available close by, which means my patients are coming in with any and every problem possible. I have found that I can do more and treat more patients at the regional clinic.
One disadvantage is that regional clinics are short-staffed, and there is an overall shortage of dentists who are willing to practice regionally. Due to a higher number of staff, you do feel more supported in metro clinics. When I got the opportunity to work at the Clare practice because they were short-staffed, I was already looking for a new job as I was not feeling fulfilled with my job in the city. It was perfect timing and working part-time in Clare made me realise I wanted to work regionally full-time.
ARR.News: Has country practice lived up to your expectations so far? Any unexpected challenges or bonuses?
Dr Parshad Sankey: Working in a regional practice has lived up to my expectations and I find I have a great balance of working regionally and being able to visit more metro areas on my weekends and days off. I am able to get the best of both worlds and have my career satisfaction here, as well as live a relaxing, small-town way of life in Clare. I can visit Adelaide on my days off.
The biggest bonus for me is the career and skill progression I am getting working regionally. I am able to treat a large number of patients with many different conditions.
ARR.News: How have you found the country lifestyle?
Dr Parshad Sankey: I really enjoy the country lifestyle. Clare is in a beautiful region of South Australia with lots of wineries and things to do. Clare is about an hour and a half from Adelaide so it is the perfect location to live regionally and still be close enough to the city to go on the weekends. I find my work-life balance is great working here. I get the best of both worlds and I have a busy practice every day in a really beautiful part of the world.
I love being able to develop close relationships with my patients and I have found that a regional clinic is the best place to establish these. You are embraced so quickly by the locals and it’s lovely to experience being part of a close-knit community.
ARR.News: How long are you planning to continue to work in the country?
Dr Parshad Sankey: I can see myself staying at the Clare practice for the next five years. I am getting such great experience here as I have patients come in with so many different issues needing different treatments, and as a result, I can easily expand my career and skills. I love working with regional patients and establishing that close relationship you don’t get in metro areas. I will be doing four days a week for the considerable future and am excited to be able to have that flexibility to work as well as travel around the area and other parts of Australia.
ARR.News: What would you say could be done to encourage more dentists to consider country practice?
Dr Parshad Sankey: To encourage more dentists to consider country practice, dentists and dental students need to be shown the benefits of working in a regional clinic can have on your career and skill growth. For me, my regional placements and new graduate position were what opened my eyes to consider practicing in a regional area.
I would 100 per cent recommend other dentists to relocate regionally. The benefits of working regionally are not just lifestyle centered, I have gained so much experience I would never get working in a metro clinic, as you really have the chance to expand your skill set at these clinics. The country lifestyle and community are also huge perks, and it is much more rewarding being able to treat and get to know a patient and their family.
ARR.News: What about going on the road with your practice?
Dr Parshad Sankey: I would consider practicing at multiple rural practices if the opportunity arose, however, only if it was within close driving distance of the established practice in Clare. I would still prefer to be in one practice for a majority of the time, as this allows me to develop stronger relationships with my patients and I can be available whenever they need.
Dr Michael Dimitrov
General Dentist at 1300SMILES, Gladstone Qld
ARR.News: Why have you personally chosen to practice in country Australia rather than the big capital cities?
Dr Michael Dimitrov: I chose to practice in country Australia rather than big capital cities having grown up in Gladstone, where I practice now, and having always loved living regionally. When I completed my university placements in Cairns, Darwin, and rural areas of the Northern Territory, it opened my eyes to the disadvantages rural and remote communities are facing regarding medical services. Regional practice keeps me busy due to less competition but also due to the significant demand and need for dental care in these areas.
I also love the sense of community with patients in regional areas. Dentists become part of families’ lives, treating multiple generations, and watching children grow up. I’ll never forget the comfort I was granted through having the same dentist as a child, and I enjoy being that person for my patients.
By being the sole dentist in rural areas, there is no breakdown into specialisms, whereas, in cities, it is not uncommon to see different practitioners with each visit. Unsurprisingly, there are more cases of unhappy patients in the city, and it is not uncommon for clients to report dentists due to dissatisfaction with the practice. However, I have never had an unhappy patient as I have been able to build a good rapport with them.
ARR.News: What do you see as the key advantages and disadvantages of country over city practice for dentists in Australia?
Dr Michael Dimitrov: In terms of advantages, a huge benefit for dentists practising in the country is the lifestyle. I’ve been able to achieve an amazing work-life balance and quality of life, through building a relaxing environment where I am surrounded by a great community.
I often find that I am busy and productive at my practice, rather than waiting for patients to drop in, and these are clients that I know well and see often. As well as familiar faces in the workplace, I am able to see my friends and family often, and I love being part of a close-knit community. This is especially important given the flexible roster I can maintain, meaning I have a great family – both blood and community-based – that I can spend my free time with. I’m also blessed with the ability to travel around Australia due to my flexible work-life balance.
Of course, there are some challenges with being so busy in the regional realm of dentistry, and this means that there is a greater need for support. However, working for Abano I have found that I have received that, with barriers that dentists normally face, such as with set up, education, and stock, taken away. Abano also supports clinicians by helping us attend educational events which help us understand the specific needs of regional communities. They also run free webinars and training and ensure we have the same benefits as in metro areas, as well as the equipment we need to provide a top level of dentistry regionally.
ARR.News: Has country practice lived up to your expectations so far? Any unexpected challenges or bonuses?
Dr Michael Dimitrov: Practicing dentistry has lived up to my expectations in terms of the quality of life and close-knit community feel I have been able to mirror within the practice.
An unexpected challenge has been the need to grow oral hygiene education within the community. I often find children’s oral hygiene and dental decay very bad due to a lack of parental education. Early intervention equals prevention, and by teaching children the importance of oral hygiene from a young age, we can stop patients from leaving conditions until it is too late. Although not unexpected, regional dentists are also faced with the lack of fluoridation issue, and so education is more important than ever to ensure people are aware of alternative ways to protect their teeth.
A bonus to country practice is that I have a fantastic commute – six minutes with no traffic. It really makes the difference to the city commute where often you can be sat on a bus or train for at least an hour. Starting my day without the stress of this has been a huge positive.
ARR.News: How have you found the country lifestyle?
Dr Michael Dimitrov: Having grown up in the country I have loved returning to the regional way of life. I enjoy the coastal country town dynamic, and the quality of life it enables me to have. Compared to big cities, the cost of living is considerably better, and cheaper housing has taken away the worry of rising rental costs that city-goers face.
While it can take a while to get used to for people who haven’t had a country background, it is amazing how quickly you can find a good support network in such a close community.
A huge bonus is the weather – it never rains, it’s sunny and I’m right by the water.
ARR.News: How long are you planning to continue to work in the country?
Dr Michael Dimitrov: I’m planning on continuing to work in the community for the foreseeable future – all of my family and friends live here, and it is part of my identity. I love being able to live regionally and have the time and flexibility to travel on weekends to cities – meaning I get the best of both worlds.
ARR.News: What would you say could be done to encourage more dentists to consider country practice?
Dr Michael Dimitrov: We need to provide more information and awareness of the perks – whether that be professionally or from a personal perspective.
It would be great to see schemes where dentists are empowered to give regional dentistry a go and try it out. My university placements were a great opportunity for this, and something that should be routine when studying.
Awareness of the career paths and ability to start your own practice would be beneficial for dentists, as well as the need for education of dental hygiene within rural communities. As caregivers, dentists are drawn to communities that need them most, and there needs to be a greater call for action to support those that need it.
