You’ve heard the old saw about dentists committing suicide at a higher rate than any other profession. While recent research does question whether this is true, there is no doubt that between the rigors of caring for patients coupled with (for many, anyway) the pressures of running a small business, being a dentist is not an easy job.
Small wonder that dentists suffer from high rates of depression. Per the ADA, up to 54 percent of practicing dentists report living with medium to high depression — or more than five times the national average.
But does earning a DDS mean resigning yourself to an inevitable lifetime of stress? We say no. In fact, we’re bullish that dentists really can find a satisfying sense of work-life harmony.
We’re not just pulling optimism out of thin air, either. Dr. Alan Stern, a practice owner, coach, and founder of Better Richer Stronger, teaches other dentists how to feel happy with their work. He recently told us that he sees many doctors suffering from heavy pressure to do the impossible — achieve perfection.
“What happens in dental school is we are subliminally taught that if our work is not perfect, it’s unacceptable,” he said. “And if your work’s unacceptable, you’re unacceptable.”
Dr. Alan describes that attitude as engrained even among practicing dentists, including those long out of school. “Dentists brutally criticize their peers. You’ve always got that looking over your shoulder thing going on, and you’re always comparing.”
Holding yourself to an unachievable standard while waiting for your fellow doctors to tear you down is hardly a recipe for feeling good in your own skin. But if you can see this pattern in your own dental career, then you can start to move in a different direction.
This might begin with something as simple (although not easy) as making a decision to stop comparing yourself to others. You’re never going to live up to your idealized image of someone else, so why keep trying to?
From there, Dr. Alan suggests taking time to think about what parts of dentistry actually make you happy. Figure out what you like to do — and what you hate doing — and then build your career around the former. Even if it’s less lucrative.
Or, as he puts it, “make it so Monday morning doesn’t suck.”
Finally, make an ongoing effort to build real relationships with the people around you — including and especially at your practice. If you’re the practice owner, make those relationships the foundation of your business.
For Dr. Alan, it all comes down to love. “Focus on building appropriate relationships of love and caring, a loving culture in the office,” he told us. “Surround yourself with those people.”
That rings true for us. It may not fix all of your problems, but loving those around you (and being open to their love) sure will make them easier to bear.
Even in scrubs.
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