In any profession, it is essential that individuals feel confident in their abilities to perform well in their job. For those in healthcare and dentistry specifically, this is even more important, because the wellbeing of others depends on the skill of their clinician.
Clinical confidence is crucial for practitioners whether they are students or seasoned professionals, as it reduces dependence on trainers or mentors and facilitates independence. Care should be taken to avoid over-confidence, however, as this can cause clinicians to attempt treatment beyond their remit, which may risk patient safety.[i]
The literature also shows confidence to be important for personal development, enabling individuals to enhance their competence in different skills. This also requires trust in the people associated with a particular case, technique, or product that is involved in this care, meaning that who you work with and the solutions you choose matter too.[ii]
Whether you are new to dentistry or advancing your skills as you expand your service offerings, building clinical confidence will be key. This can be safely and effectively achieved in several ways.
Knowledge is power
Continuous education and learning are essential in dentistry, and ensures professionals can discover constantly evolving techniques, emerging technologies, and innovative new ways to elevate outcomes while improving the patient experience. For clinicians, this growth in knowledge is integral to delivering predictable and successful treatment. Hands-on training is particularly important, as only with practical experience will clinicians be fully prepared to execute treatment effectively for their patients.
Mentorship
As these new skills are implemented in practice, it is important that cases are overseen by experts in the field. The mentoring partnership can create a positive culture in which professionals can safely consolidate their knowledge and cultivate new ideas as they develop their skills and further their career.[iii] There is also an opportunity for mentees to learn the nuances of a treatment technique from colleagues, helping them to avoid common pitfalls or misconceptions and accelerating their learning experience with extra confidence. Mentoring is most effective when barriers such as time and financial constraints are overcome at the beginning,[iv] removing hesitancy to utilise the mentor as much as possible during the skill development stage.
Standardise and simplify workflows
Whether using new or long-term refined skills, a simplified workflow will enable clinicians to build familiarity with the process, to reduce the risk of missing steps, and to elevate efficiency. A standard approach also facilitates a streamlined workflow for the team, who will know how to prepare the surgery for treatment, be able to better support the patient, and anticipate the clinician’s needs during treatment. This creates confidence that surpasses the single professional, and instils an assurance within the team structure. In addition, this productivity could help to improve time management, reducing a potential source of stress for dentists.[v]
Evidence-based techniques and materials
The fourth area to consider is the tools implemented in practice as these will have a significant impact on both treatment experiences and outcomes, heavily influencing clinical confidence. Digital technologies, for instance, are shown to improve diagnostics, treatment, and maintenance, transforming the landscape across healthcare.[vi] However, the dental team needs to develop trust in the equipment through training and proven results in practice for them to use it confidently.[vii] Similar can be said of dental procedures and surgical techniques, which will require practise to be delivered successfully.
Of course, the same concept must be extended to products and materials as well. A diverse selection is available on today’s market, emphasising the importance of choosing the right option based on brand reputation, product features, clinical flexibility, and professional support. The Solventum™ Filtek™ Easy Match Flowable Restorative, for instance, facilitates a simplified restorative workflow with three shades designed to meet the needs of various anterior and posterior cases – Bright, Natural and Warm – whilst covering the entire VITA classical shade guide. Its adaptive opacity delivers translucency that closely replicates either the enamel or dentine of natural dentition, and – like all products from Solventum – it is backed by scientific research and development.
Confidence that delivers
Clinical confidence should never be confused with capability, but it remains a vital characteristic for successful practitioners. This self-assurance is often built over time, increased alongside further professional training, expert mentorship, workflow optimisation, and effective product selection. It is also more than a feeling and results from grounded knowledge, experience, and consistent outcomes in the field. Confidence is also not a static or one-time concept – workflows should be reviewed and improved throughout a career in dentistry to ensure that products, protocols, and patient care are elevated at every opportunity.
To learn more about Solventum, please visit https://www.solventum.com/en-gb/home/oral-care/
For more updates on trends, information and events follow us on Instagram at @solventumdentalUK and @solventumorthodonticsemea
©Solventum 2026. Solventum, the S logo and Filtek are trademarks of Solventum and its affiliates. 3M is a trademark of 3M company.
About Solventum
Solventum, enabling better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers’ toughest challenges, we pioneer game-changing innovations at the intersection of health, material and data science that change patients’ lives for the better while enabling healthcare professionals to perform at their best. Because people, and their wellbeing, are at the heart of every scientific advancement we pursue. We partner closely with the brightest minds in healthcare to ensure that every solution we create melds the latest technology with compassion and empathy. Because at Solventum, we never stop solving for you.
[i] Gilmour ASM. Welply A, Cowpe JG, Bullock AD, Jones RJ. The Undergraduate preparation of dentists: Confidence levels of final year dental students at the School of Dentistry in Cardiff. British Dental Journal 221 (6) , pp. 349-354. 10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.686
[ii] Fine P, Leung A, Bentall C, Louca C. The impact of confidence on clinical dental practice. Eur J Dent Educ. 2019 May;23(2):159-167. doi: 10.1111/eje.12415. Epub 2019 Jan 28. PMID: 30585682.
[iii] Nathwani S, Rahman N. GROWing in dentistry: mentoring the dental professional. Br Dent J. 2022 Feb;232(4):261-266. doi: 10.1038/s41415-022-3979-2. Epub 2022 Feb 25. PMID: 35217747; PMCID: PMC8874297.
[iv] Seath RJG, Radford DR, Mudford LPA, Reed DP. Should mentoring be routinely introduced into general dental practice to reduce the risk of occupational stress? Br Dent J. 2019 Jul;227(2):121-125. doi: 10.1038/s41415-019-0484-3. PMID: 31350497.
[v] Collin V, Toon M, O’Selmo E, Reynolds L, Whitehead P. A survey of stress, burnout and well-being in UK dentists. Br Dent J. 2019 Jan 11;226(1):40-49. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2019.6. PMID: 30631165.
[vi] Lam WYH, Ling Z, Mao K, Park JM, Zandinejad A, Carreiro ADFP, Mangano FG, Platt JA, Schwendicke F. Digital Dentistry in Clinical Practice: A Scoping Review of Current Capabilities and Future Directions. Int Dent J. 2026 Feb;76(1):109296. doi: 10.1016/j.identj.2025.109296. Epub 2025 Nov 29. PMID: 41319579; PMCID: PMC12718165.
[vii] Catapan, S.d.C., Sazon, H., Zheng, S. et al. A systematic review of consumers’ and healthcare professionals’ trust in digital healthcare. npj Digit. Med. 8, 115 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-025-01510-8
