Career guide · Career and growth
Changing dental clinics: when and how
Changing clinics is normal in a career; doing it at the right time and in the right way makes all the difference. Here is the method, from the first doubt to the first day elsewhere.
What are good reasons to change clinics?
Pay durably below the market despite your requests, schedules incompatible with your life, no growth, toxic culture, outdated equipment, pain linked to poor ergonomics, or a specific project elsewhere (new clinic, coordination, partnership). Boredom after a year is not one; boredom after five years is.
Should you first try to fix the problem?
Yes, if the problem is fixable: a clear request to management, with examples and a follow-up date. If nothing changes in two or three months, you will know the problem is structural. You will then leave without regret and with an honest answer to give at interviews.
How do you job-hunt discreetly?
Apply directly to the clinics that interest you rather than through public postings, ask for confidentiality at the interview, avoid listing your current employer as a reference and schedule interviews outside working hours. The dental world is small; discretion protects everyone.
When should I announce my departure?
After signing the new employer’s written offer, never before. Give reasonable notice (two weeks is customary, more for a key position), in writing, and offer to ensure the transition. Do not leave on a whim: your reputation follows you.
What about the non-competition clause?
Reread your contract: to be valid, a clause must be written and limited in time, territory and type of activity (article 2089 of the Civil Code), and the employer cannot invoke it if it dismissed you without a serious reason. An overly broad clause is often unenforceable; consult the CNESST or a lawyer if needed.
Can I take patients with me?
No: the clientele belongs to the clinic and a non-solicitation clause generally prohibits it. Patients who follow you on their own initiative are different, but you must not solicit them. For dentists, the ethical rules on record transfer apply.
How do you negotiate with the new employer?
With your quantified experience, market data and your priorities (schedule, growth, benefits). Have your seniority recognized for vacation and ask for a review after probation. See Negotiating your salary.
What should you do with a counter-offer?
Think about what motivated your departure: if it was not pay, the counter-offer will fix nothing; if your employer only raises you when you leave, trust is already damaged. Accepted counter-offers often end in a departure within the year.
How do you leave on good terms?
Written, courteous notice, an organized transition (records in order, sterilization up to date, training your replacement), sincere thanks to the team and a request for a reference letter. A clinic you leave well remains an ally.
How do you succeed in your first weeks at the new clinic?
Arrive as a learner: observe the protocols before proposing changes, ask questions, take notes, and build ties with the team. Your experience will be valuable after a few weeks; in the first month, it mainly serves to learn fast. See open positions at Go Dentiste.
Go further
- Non-competition and non-solicitation clauses
- End of employment, notice and probation
- Dental career guide: the 1,000 questions
- All positions at Go Dentiste
Sources and references
- Civil Code of Québec, article 2089 (non-competition clause)
- CNESST — Labour standards in Quebec (brochure)
- Canadian Dental Association — Career options: key questions on associateships
Content prepared by the Go Dentiste team (Dr Dominic Morel-Maynard, general dentist and owner). Last updated: September 25, 2026. General information for guidance only: only an in-clinic exam can establish a diagnosis and a treatment plan suited to your situation.