Four of Five Dentists Suffer from Dental Burnout
Dentistry Demands a Lot from Dental Practitioners
When we asked dentists if they’ve ever suffered from professional burnout in their dental careers, a whopping 81% said yes. Only 19% reported that they had never felt burnt out in dentistry.
“If dentists dropped managed care and got better fees for their hard work, it would reduce burnout significantly,” said one dentist wistfully. “Get rid of people in the office who drag you down,” offered another. “Sometimes the very best first step is to sell the practice, take a year off, relax, think, and plan new strategies,” advised an implantologist.
Tips to ease your life
- “Work 4 days a week. Have a good staff. Take long lunch breaks. Use fewer rooms.” (Vermont dentist)
- “Deal with dentistry, not finances.” (Illinois dentist)
- “Take quarterly vacations.” (Illinois dentist)
- “Taking dental continuing education classes rejuvenates my practice and keeps me fresh.” (Illinois dentist)
- “Have a life outside of dentistry.” (New York dentist)
- “Don’t get overwhelmed by a schedule that is not commensurate with your ebbing strength as you hit retirement age.” (California dentist)
What dentists think about burnout
- “I’m a relatively new dentist, and no one warned me about the dangers of high stress, high debt, low reimbursements and staffing issues.” (Illinois dentist)
- “If you view each patient as unique, each with their own set of physical and mental aspects to their mouths, how can dentistry get boring?” (Maryland dentist)
- “The over-40 crowd needs time away to counter burnout.” (Texas pediatric dentist)
- “Burnout to me is mainly the result of the negative light in which most people view the dental office experience.” (Massachusetts dentist)
- “It’s having a great, loyal, professional and mature staff along with a great flow of new patients who want what I have to sell and where money is no object. So, how do I find that? LOL.” (Texas dentist)
Read the complete dental burnout survey results or post your own comments
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May 1st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I remember that your male dentists seemed to be smug and feel superior that they allegedly ‘worked more hours’ than their female counterparts. So I gues this is the outcome, 81% feel burnout!
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
My ‘Mantra s’: In case you are talking about’burnt out’ :
1. Play soft spiritual music in office for effective efficient ‘rituals of dentistry’ !
2. Keep ‘young’s Modulus’ in mind. It takes too long to become ‘young’[ Y=stress/strain] !
3. I am a lion, so why talk of ‘Rat Race ‘ !
4.Tired, Retired who and how: ‘Work is worship’ !
5. ‘Pulp Chamber’ is for meditation : All curved canals are pleasure.Pulp stones are no hurdles. They are building blocks. I am in love with dentist wife and dentistry for+36yrs!
6. ‘Handle with care’ sign be put on designs of life and lovely teeth.
7. Above all : Remain ‘HIS FAITHFULY’ !
So, wish you all no bunt outs ! Best Wishes & Greetings from INDIA - the Land of Love, Peace & Sacrifice and Devotion
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
The only reason for burnout is that the doctor has not developed a solid mission/philosophy for how he/she wants to practice dentitstry. Additionally, the dentist needs to share this with their staff and be sure that each member believes/follows this philosophy from the beginning. The old cliche, “your either working on your agenda, or on someone elses” is what drives burnout because the doctor and the staff have no idea why they are going to work.