Essential Attributes of a Successful Dentist: A Quantitative Study of Chinese Dental Students

Background: The pursuit of a successful dental career extends beyond clinical skills to encompass various personal and professional attributes. Understanding the qualities that define a successful dentist from the perspective of dental students is essential. Objective: This study aims to explore the perspectives of dental students at a university in mainland China regarding the attributes that define a good or successful dentist. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to dental students at Fujian Medical University (FJMU) from March to August 2025 using an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire included four self-administered questions: (1) qualities associated with "a successful dentist," (2) qualities of "a good dentist," (3) qualities students expect from their own dentists, and (4) qualities dental education should emphasize. For each question, participants selected the three most important attributes from a list of 23 predefined options or provided their own responses. Results: All 651 dental students at FJMU School of Stomatology were invited to participate, with 645 (99%) completing the survey. Their ages ranged from 18 to 24 years, and 281 (44%) were male. Clinical competence, experience, knowledge, good communication skills, and a sense of responsibility or accountability were consistently ranked as the top five attributes by dental students across all four survey questions. Attributes such as punctuality and altruism received the lowest ratings. Bivariate analysis revealed that senior students (Years 4-5) considered good communication skills a more important quality than junior students (Years 1-3) across all four questions. Conclusions: Dental students in mainland China perceive clinical competence, experience, and knowledge as essential attributes for dental practice, alongside communication skills and responsibility.