Do dentists make poor leaders?

Dentists work, largely, alone (apart from subordinates) with little feedback from colleagues and other health professionals. The author of this article argues that dentists do not lead, they manage. Moreover, dentists face unique challenges in becoming effective leaders because many innate skills that help dentists excel in their profession are in conflict with good leadership. The purpose of this article is to stir debate and raise the awareness that dentists do not, innately, have strong leadership skills and must pursue formal training in leadership to succeed in the modern era of collaborative healthcare.