Clinical Direct Care interview prep.

Behavioural questions to expect

1. Walk me through your training + practice so far.
2. Tell me about your current practice or most recent role.
3. Why this kind of practice setting - solo, group, or DSO?
4. Why this specialty / scope of practice?
5. Why the firm?
6. What's your read on our comp + production economics?
7. Tell me what you understand about our technology + team setup.
8. Tell me about a complex case you treatment-planned + executed.

Technical concepts to master

• Case acceptance + treatment planning

  Treatment plan presentation · Co-diagnosis + visual education · Financial conversation · Sequenced treatment plans · Comfort with the no

• Dental procedure + sequencing

  Stabilisation first · Perio before restorative · Endo vs extraction + implant decision · When to refer

• DSO vs private group vs solo - economic models

  DSO (Dental Service Organisation) · Private group practice · Solo practice · Associate / production-based comp

Practical drills

• A 47-year-old new patient presents with generalised moderate periodontitis, 3 carious lesions across 3 quadrants, a failed PFM on #19 with recurrent caries, and aesthetic concerns about anterior staining. They have PPO coverage with $2,000 annual maximum. Walk through your diagnosis, sequenced treatment plan, and presentation.
• A long-term patient has had 2 failed PFMs on #14 + #15 in 4 years. You're recommending crowns be replaced with monolithic zirconia + a perio referral first. They say 'I don't think I want to spend the money again.' Walk through your conversation.
• Your practice's recall rate has dropped from 78% to 62% in 18 months. Hygiene days have open columns. Design an intervention.

Smart-question anchors

• Setting + ownership - DSO equity vs partnership vs salary; future plans + growth
• Comp + production - structure, daily / monthly target, lab + supply share
• Procedural mix + scope - what stays in-house vs referred out, mentorship for new procedures
• Technology + workflow - digital impressions, CBCT, CAD/CAM, clear aligners, EHR
• Team + hygiene - hygiene capacity, assistant ratios, front-desk strength, recall systems

Sourced from

ADA Practice Transitions + Dental Economics resources · Dental Economics + DentalTown community benchmarks · Levin Group + Pride Institute practice consulting benchmarks · ADSO (Association of Dental Support Organisations) + DSO market reports · AAE + AAP + AAO + AGD specialty + general dental scope guidelines