21 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You will split time between examining patients, diagnosing conditions, and doing dental procedures like fillings, root canals, or extractions. Expect blocks of patient visits, then reserved time for surgeries, cosmetic treatments, or lab work such as making models for dental appliances.
Paperwork and admin appear every day: updating dental clinical records and dental charting, answering insurance paperwork, supervising staff, and using systems like eClinicalWorks EHR and Microsoft Office or Excel for schedules and billing.
Most clinics use eClinicalWorks EHR for patient charts, prescriptions, and treatment plans; know how to open patient dental clinical records and add dental charting entries. You’ll also use Microsoft Office for letters and Excel for simple reports or inventory lists.
Learn template use and shortcuts in eClinicalWorks to save time. Clinics vary, but being comfortable with those three—eClinicalWorks, Excel, and Word—covers most clinics’ everyday needs.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 124,390 employed general practitioners; the median pay is $170,950 per year. The lowest 10% earn about $86,250 and the top 10% earn about $319,630.
Use BLS data as a starting point; local pay varies by state, clinic type (private vs. military), and your mix of clinical, surgical, and administrative work.
Yes, if your role includes dental care you must train in procedures listed: repairing teeth, filling pulp chambers, root canals, and oral surgery. Training comes from accredited dental school or postgraduate courses and supervised clinical experience.
Maintain skills by logging procedures in dental clinical records, practicing with models for dental appliances, and following clinical supervisors until you’re signed off for independent practice.
A general practitioner who performs dental tasks overlaps with dentistry but usually also manages broader medical problems, prescriptions, and referrals. Dentists focus mainly on oral health, appliances, and specialized dental surgeries.
Military medics focus on battlefield care and military logistics; a GP with military duties may manage public safety, defence policies, and military logistics plus clinical care. The title and duties depend on the employer and your certifications.
AI can help summarize records, suggest differential diagnoses, or draft treatment-plan notes, but you must verify everything. Use eClinicalWorks EHR and your clinical judgment to confirm diagnoses, prescriptions, and procedures before acting.
Never rely on AI for anesthetic dosing, surgical steps, or infection-control practices—those require licensed clinician decisions. Keep manual infection controls like masks, gloves, and safety glasses as standard practice.
Management and admin skills are crucial: supervising staff, delegating activities, managing administrative systems, and handling paperwork or insurance claims. You’ll use these when scheduling, approving clinic protocols, or resolving billing issues in Excel or Office.
Communication matters too—teaching patients about oral hygiene and diet, obtaining consent for surgery, and documenting everything clearly in dental clinical records and dental charting.