Dentistry

Yesterday for the first time ever I saw a news article about dentists feeling under pressure. The current situation as bee the straw on the camels back for many dentists with many considering leaving the profession via early retirement – or just to take a different career path.

This is nothing new. As dentists we have always been subject to pressure from all angles – patient numbers, regulations, staff, business worries and not least, the ever-increasing risk of litigation. I left the dentistry in 2016 after 30 years and would cite stress as the reason. It’s not at the top of the suicide charts for nothing.

I’m still not sure that dentists will ever get the sympathy of the public. Fear of a visit to the dentist and what might happen is a huge barrier for the patient – that fearful patient placing an additional stress on the dental team of course. The image of the cool professional with their fancy car parked outside – the confident professional manner of the dentist greeting patients. Does it hide, far too often, a huge lake of stress?

Not just the high suicide rate but also those dentist who drink too much routinely? Broken marriages? Poor work life balance? Those who have to stop their car on the way to work for a cry before they arrive at work? The list goes on. All hidden from the public view because as professionals dentists are required to always appear in control.

When the pressure gets too much it’s time to take stock and move aside before it all gets too much.