The desires and challenges facing new graduate dentists in their transition into the workforce have been the subject of several research studies. 1-3 A common goal is to be successful, such as to achieve favourable outcomes and have a sense of accomplishment. This research study aims to explore what being successful as a new dentist means. Three bodies of literature can be drawn upon when thinking about what it means to be a successful dentist-literature about financial and business success, job satisfaction and professional identity formation. Levin implores dentists, particularly new graduates to have a greater knowledge of the business of dentistry and implies that ignoring this aspect will lead to failure. 4 Others suggest that success stems from patient experience, equating a more positive experience with more referrals and more patients. 5 Neither of these examples explores the concept of success beyond business goals. Another body of work to consider explores dentists' job satisfaction. These studies predominately use surveys and satisfaction