Dentistry can be a physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging profession. Years of treating patients can cause a number of physical ailments. Few patients really appreciate the skill and dedication required to work in a dark, wet environment with low visibility and backward through a mouth mirror. Rather than receiving a "thank you," we often hear, "I hope I never have to come to see you again." Adding to this are the challenges of running a business, staying up-to-date with the latest technologies, and continuing education. It's no surprise that many dentists feel burned out well before they plan to retire.
I know this because I started my career as a general dentist after graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1985. I experienced this for five years until I discovered cosmetic dentistry, which became my love and passion for over 25 years. For the next two decades, I became as knowledgeable and proficient as I possibly could and fell back in love with dentistry.
While I loved cosmetic dentistry and having patients very appreciative of the skill required to create beautiful smiles, I began feeling stressed again, trying to manage the business aspect of my practice. When I started working with business consultants, they helped me delegate tasks to trained team members they could legally do. Work smarter, not harder.
Eventually, physical ailments from the long and tedious work of cosmetic dentistry took their toll on my body, and I became burned out again. So I sold my cosmetic practice and discovered a new type of dentistry I became passionate about – treating snoring and sleep apnea and again limiting my practice to only what I loved.
If you feel stressed with your practice for any reason, there are many ways to deal with this before burning out. These are some of the other ways you could protect your physical and mental health and career:
1) TAKE TIME OFF
It is easy to become a workaholic when constant crises occur with your patients or staff. No matter what, you have to develop the habit of not looking at your phone, texts, or email. You will think more clearly when you cannot manage the practice 24/7. Take a vacation at least once a year, have hobbies, pay attention to your family, and socialize with friends. Your practice will actually benefit when you are not micromanaging it.
2) IT'S AN OLD DENTAL CLICHÉ, BUT WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER
Hire consultants, always be learning, and become an expert at what you love.
3) TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Pay attention to ergonomics. Too often, business owners believe they will exercise, improve their diet, stop smoking, meditate, become active in a spiritual program, and get a balanced life sometime in the future when the crises stop. That never happens. Set achievable goals, and you will feel physically and emotionally better.
4) PRACTICE THE TYPE OF DENTISTRY YOU WANT TO PRACTICE AND TREAT ONLY THE PATIENTS YOU WANT TO TREAT.
You cannot be everyone's dentist, and you don't want to be.
5) REENGAGE WITH YOUR PURPOSE AS A DENTIST
Pay more attention to the feedback patients give you about how dentistry has changed their lives for the better. Help those struggling to understand what to do to improve their oral health. Attend more continuing education classes and workshops that will add to your skills.
6) CONSIDER CHANGING CAREERS
A career change could be the decision to sell your practice and become a part-time specialist for other dentists in the area; that is where you excel. Or it might mean moving on to another profession.
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The good news is that burnout is not inevitable as long as you pay attention to how you feel and do something about it.
About the Author
Dr. Mitch Conditt began his career as a general and restorative dentist graduating from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1985. Dr. Conditt now heads the Fort Worth Snoring and Sleep Center and is a former cosmetic dentist who now treats patients suffering from sleep disorders and TMJ Disorder and consults for dentists who would like to specialize in these fields. Dr. Conditt has completed several residency programs in these fields and is board certified in dental sleep medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. He is also a member of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines as well as the Texas Dental Association and the American Dental Association.