About & funding
The Making of a Dentist is an independent publication in which practising, licensed dentists are the authors. It started in 2015 as a private email newsletter written by nine dentists who were tired of being described by their own marketing companies. It went public in 2018. In 2026 it was rebuilt under this name, and every contributor got their own newsroom.
What we publish
First-person accounts of clinical work, written by the person who did it or by a named member of their team. Equipment that was actually bought and actually used. Decisions that turned out badly. The parts of dental care people find frightening or expensive, explained by someone who has to answer for the explanation the next time that patient is in the chair.
We do not publish listicles, treatment ads dressed as articles, or anything a manufacturer had approval over.
How this pays for itself
Contributors pay an annual membership for their seat, which covers hosting, editing and the vetting process. That is the entire revenue model, and it is worth being precise about what it does and does not buy.
- It buys a subdomain, an assigned editor, and a place on the roster.
- It does not buy placement, position, or a better spot on the arch. Seats are assigned by cohort and by metro, not by payment.
- It does not buy editorial approval. Editors cut claims that are not sourced, including from contributors who have paid.
- It is refunded pro rata if we suspend a seat, including for a lapsed licence.
We take no advertising, no manufacturer sponsorship, and no affiliate revenue on equipment mentioned in articles. If that ever changes it will be disclosed here first, in this section, with a date.
Who runs it
A small editorial team, none of whom practise dentistry. That is deliberate: the editors are there to ask the question a patient would ask, and to keep asking it until the answer stops sounding like a brochure.
Contact
editors@makingofadentist.com for anything editorial, including corrections. Applications go through the apply page.