Redefining Career Transition in Dentistry Through My Journey from an Implantologist to a MedComms Expert

This is a story of a career transition in dentistry. How a dentist slowly shifted from treating patients to writing and working remotely in healthcare communication.

From the dental chair to a laptop desk? “Absolutely not!”

That was my honest first thought when I started doubting my path in dentistry. After dedicating 10 years to perfecting the art of smiles—and even specialising—it felt almost foolish to consider something else.

But was it really?

Back then, I couldn’t imagine the shift. Today, I can’t imagine not making it.

Life unfolds in real time, and we make choices along the way. In 2023, when the crown no longer felt like mine, I didn’t just adjust—I rebuilt the road, drawing from the side gigs I'd nurtured for years.

My Motivation Behind Career Transition in Dentistry

For there were many.

To begin with, getting motivated wasn't easy. Clinical practice, real patients and complex cases offer their share of vigour, adrenaline rushes and satisfaction. Amidst that, here's what can pique interest to look beyond:

1. Financial struggles

I've spoken about this before in my article on 'Are You a Dentist—or a ShopHelp, a Plumber, a Cook or a Delivery Guy? The Pay Grades in India Uniformize Them All' and I am saying it again. Dentistry in India, and in many other countries in the world, it is not financially rewarding, at least at the get-go.

• A newly graduated dentist in India typically earns INR 10k-15k per month for 8-hour shifts, 6 days a week, with some even working for free under the guise of 'gaining experience'.

• A dental post-graduate in India earns INR 20k-25k per month for 8-hour shifts, 6 days a week. With 4-6 years of experience, this salary increases to INR 50k-70k per month.

2. Growth is an expensive haul

Growth is essentially a long wait – of what?

Young dentists either hunt for jobs with poor wages or INVEST INVEST INVEST to set up private practice. All this after having to pay monumental school fees.

Getting a salaried job in a corporate dental chain or in a government hospital is another never-ending rat race. They are meagre and often overridden by quota systems, unrealistic revenue goals and insane work hours.

3. There is a real gap in medical communications

One of the biggest motivators for me was the communication gap.

In today’s tech-driven world, with automation tools everywhere, I found myself constantly pressed for time with consultations and follow-ups, especially with so few skilled, trusted dentists available.

How could I possibly find time to sit down with patients, sales reps, or mentors to communicate, educate, and upskill?

This is exactly why we need more professionals who have practical experience and can effectively communicate their knowledge to key stakeholders in the dental industry.

4. Freedom to 'not work' for the 262 workdays a year

This is given.

I was 31 and had not taken a paid holiday for over 10 days. I was trading my time, opportunities to be with family and travel for the 'business of smiles'.

That's acceptable, but not sustainable.

My Career Transition in Dentistry was No Maps, Just Milestones

Yes. That's an honest confession – I never did have to actively road map my ways given the need was enough and organic.

Alternative careers in dentistry as a side hustle

Medical communications happened to me way back during my postgrad days. So yes, I had time to get into the skin of this new term.

It started with –

• Real word-of-mouth collaborations from dentists and seniors around me. Strategising and writing for their patient education materials, brochures, CMEs and Facebook pages was fun-fun.

Navigating the jungle gym, not the ladder, was fun.

• That followed portals like Fiverr and upwork and multiple magazine and local newspaper interviews. Good times, you see (chuckles).

Non-clinical careers for dentists – the full-time role

Soon, I wasn’t just switching jobs—I was rebranding my professional identity.

Till I found myself financially at par with both jobs. Working 8 clinical hours and 2 non-clinical hours can be challenging, even with a solid bank balance.

Here's how the final remote careers for dentists looked:

I reduced my clinical work hours first to get the hang of remote work

First, I reduced my clinical hours to make room for remote work. That gave me time to build a rhythm, test my capacity, and understand if I truly wanted this change. Turns out, I did.

Quite clinical practice on cordial terms with my patients

Leaving clinical practice wasn’t impulsive—it was a warm, respectful goodbye to a phase that had shaped me. I parted on cordial terms with my patients, many of whom had seen me grow.

Moved in with my husband in the Netherlands

Then came the personal move—relocating to the Netherlands to join my husband. That change of geography also gave me new professional geographies: clients in the EU, USA, and India came into the picture.

Worked and balanced clients in the EU, USA and India

Time zones got trickier, but flexibility and freedom made up for it. The best part?

My dental background remained central—just reframed in WordDocs, research decks, PRotocols, whitepapers, and strategy calls instead of scalpels and scrubs.

The endless cycles of 'feast and famine' when transitioning from implantology to medical writing

Turning rinse-and-spit routines into research and strategy was the toughest part. I failed and I learnt.

Worked more, marketed less, only to face professional lull

When I first transitioned from implantology to medical writing, I worked more and marketed less. I assumed that good work would speak for itself (spoiler: it doesn’t always). I was head-down, client-focused, and hyper-delivering—but when the work dried up, I hadn’t built a strong enough pipeline to keep things flowing.

I refined my strategies and experimented with new tools.

I dived into fresh platforms, updated my portfolio, revamped my proposals, and began approaching my personal brand like a product. I experimented with tools like CRMs, time trackers, and pitch templates while sharpening my networking and self-positioning.

The quiet periods taught me a valuable lesson: visibility matters just as much as skill. It’s not only about being great at what you do, but also about being consistently known for it.

The feast and famine cycles still come and go, but now I know how to navigate them—and how to prepare for the next one.

Takeaway

Let me get a little “dentally cute” here—career transitions in dentistry aren’t like dental crowns; they’re more like composites. You can, and should, always build upon them.

As dentists, we’re natural artists and creators. I found myself pouring that creativity into MedComms. Would I call this a success story of a career change? Definitely. Without a doubt. Turning your side hustle into a full-time role isn’t a straight shot—it’s more like navigating a dance between “what ifs” and “why nots”.

For me, the leap from implant drills to impactful decks took time, courage, and plenty of internal dialogue. That’s why I get your BRAND STORY as a healthcare clinician far better than a typical marketer would. Let's discuss!