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Navigating Mental Health Challenges in Dentistry: Finding Balance
17 Plays2 days ago
About the Hosts:
Dr. Savanah Craig is a dedicated professional navigating the multifaceted world of dentistry. With a focus on balancing mental health and dental practice, Savannah co-hosts "Beyond Graduation," delving into real-life challenges and sharing her insights to assist those in the early stages of their dental careers.
Dr. Ronnetta Sartor is a dynamic force in the dental profession, bringing keen insights into managing mental health within the industry. Co-hosting the "Beyond Graduation" podcast, Reneta shares her journey from dental school to practice ownership, empowering peers to find balance and purpose in their careers.
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode of "Beyond Graduation," co-hosts Dr. Savanah Craig and Dr. Ronnetta Sartor address the vital yet challenging topic of mental health in dentistry. They candidly share personal and professional experiences, emphasizing the significance of finding the right balance between career aspirations and mental well-being. With increasing conversations on burnout within the dental community, the podcast serves as a source of support for practitioners navigating post-graduate life.
Drs. Craig and Sartor reflect on the systemic challenges faced by dentists, such as competitive pressures in dental school and the unique burdens of managing a practice. They explore generational differences in how mental health is approached within the profession, highlighting the role of digital reviews and the constant demand for perfection. Both hosts emphasize the importance of mental health as part of a daily practice, akin to honing one's skills in dentistry, and put forth strategies for maintaining emotional resilience and professional satisfaction.
Key Takeaways:
- Dentists face unique mental health challenges, including high levels of burnout and perfectionism cultivated during training and practice.
- Balancing the roles of healthcare provider and business owner adds layers of stress unique to the dental profession.
- Building connections and support networks with other dentists can alleviate feelings of isolation and provide emotional backing.
- Mental health in dentistry requires ongoing attention and practice, much like clinical skills, to ensure personal and professional well-being.
- Exploring the profession's historical stigma around mental health and advocating for open conversations can lead to healthier practice environments.
Connect with Us:
- Savanah Craig, DDS: @savanahcraigdds
- Ronnetta Sartor, DMD: @dr_sartor
- FutureDentists Beyond Graduation: @futuredentistsbeyondgraduation
- FutureDentists: @futuredentists
- IgniteDDS: @ignitedds and @ignitedds_coaching
- A-dec: @adecdental and https://www.a-dec.com/find-a-dealer
To gain further insights from this episode, delve into the conversations between Dr. Craig and Dr. Sartor as they discuss real-life scenarios and how to tackle mental health in dentistry. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions that support your journey beyond graduation.
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Transcript
Introduction to ADEC Smart Start Program
00:00:00
Speaker
ADEC's Smart Start program offers first-time practice owners their deepest discounts on equipment and furniture for two years, plus other savings and complimentary services. Ask your ADEC rep for details and start smart with ADEC.
Podcast Introduction: Navigating Early Career Challenges
00:00:13
Speaker
Join Drs. Savannah Craig and Renetta Sartor as we navigate life beyond graduation. Real conversations about forging our own paths in our early years in our careers.
00:00:24
Speaker
There's a reason it's called practicing dentistry. All right.
Understanding Mental Health in Dentistry
00:00:27
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Beyond Graduation. I'm Savannah Craig and with me as always... I'm Renetta Sartor. Welcome back, everybody. so today we're going to start with a very you know light and easy topic of mental health. Renetta, what comes to your mind when you think of mental health or inside of dentistry, outside of dentistry? What what does that bring up for you?
00:00:50
Speaker
It's a loaded topic. yeah On the spot. Yeah, it's definitely a loaded topic. I think the first thing that comes to mind and everyone's talking about it lately in dentistry is burnout. yeah and what that means. And i think it's all encompassing because we have our life as it pertains to our career, but our everyday life too, you know, both go hand in hand. And so making sure that we find balance, if there's a such thing, you know, is very important.
00:01:25
Speaker
Yeah. What does it bring up for you? Yeah, I think...
Generational Perspectives on Mental Health
00:01:30
Speaker
It's definitely a journey. And it right now in my life, I think of it more as like a practice, like a yoga practice, dental practice. Like this theme keeps coming up about, you know, it's never going to be perfect and just trying to meet yourself where you are at this moment. But yeah, yeah that's where I'm at for me. But I think...
00:01:56
Speaker
Stepping away from like our personal experience, dentistry as a whole has, whether people know it or not, if you're if you're in dentistry, I think you definitely know it. But dentistry has a i don't want to say a bad reputation with mental health, but we as a profession seemingly with a lot with mental health. We have statistically one of the worst, one of the worst mental health. What are your thoughts on on why that is in, in dentistry? And, and do you think, I think the, the struggle with mental health is different generationally in dentistry. I think so. Yeah. I think the newer generations where it's less stigma around and like getting help. And I mean,
00:02:47
Speaker
You hear online all the time people talking about going to therapy or like yeah groups of people that they talk to. And that maybe was not such a cool thing to do with some of the older generations or more seasoned dentists. Yep.
Digital Age Pressures on Dentists
00:03:07
Speaker
As things change and we become a world where, you know, reviews are really important and what people yeah say and think about us can really, really impact our reputation.
00:03:20
Speaker
And so it's harder living in this digital age to like get away from some of the noise sometimes. That's a really profound point.
00:03:33
Speaker
Cause I mean, yeah I don't know. I maybe would have loved to do dentistry like before the.com era and before, you know, we had to worry about reviews and people just wrote their appointments down in there, you know, their planners and, We didn't have to worry about software to text and remind patients
Evolution of Dentistry Practices
00:03:56
Speaker
about their appointments. We were just having this talk with one of my colleagues about like...
00:04:02
Speaker
There wasn't Google. So people just believed you when you were like, this hurts. This is the solution. And they were like, cool. Great. Do it Right. And I mean, even think about the way that we process radiographs and stuff. Yeah. It was, you know, it you came in, you got the radiograph taken. It wasn't like digital. It didn't just pop up as soon. You had to go and process it.
00:04:26
Speaker
why you processed it. You know, the patient and the dentist talked about, you know, how they're doing, what's going on in their life and that sort of thing. So you didn't have to have AI to prove that it's a cavity. That's true.
00:04:41
Speaker
Yeah. that are Very different things. I do think at least in my experience, which maybe it's not everyone's experience, but I feel like i have made a point to be connected to my colleagues and friends like you. And so that makes sense. Just like why we started this podcast, that makes me feel less alone.
00:04:59
Speaker
and that might be different than the older generation who was more likely a solar solo practitioner kind of on an island. and so I think for sure now no there there are a lot more group practices in dentistry, which is before, like like you said, it was just solo practitioners mainly. Yeah.
00:05:16
Speaker
Yeah. So my theory, which we kind of got into in the beginning of why, well, one piece of I think why dentists' mental health is difficult. I don't know. I mean, I'm like, obviously everyone has their things, different things.
00:05:34
Speaker
you know, jobs have different things,
Competitive Training and Mental Health Impact
00:05:36
Speaker
right? I'm not saying like yeah ER physicians don't have it worse than we do, but I do think there's some nuances with like us balancing this like small business mentality and also being a healthcare care provider and all of these different hats we wear. But my experience is that ah like part of the dental mental health issue is we're like bred to be very competitive with each other. and I think part of that is from general school where the only people understanding the experience you're going through are your classmates.
00:06:12
Speaker
And yet you're ranked against them for tests and exams and all of these things. And I saw like my my friend group and I were very intentionable intentional,
00:06:24
Speaker
about separating us as students and classmates from our friendship. And I don't know that many people did that. And so then when you get out, people are still like, what do you produce? What's your collections? How many CE hours have you taken? And you're like...
00:06:43
Speaker
I don't know, man, I'm just going to work to pay my bills. like And so I think if you don't make an intentional point to not build this scarcity mindset and this competition, like it will destroy you. But I know that you have a different thought on why dentists are how we are.
00:07:00
Speaker
so I think it's different, but similar, right? So I'm in 100% agreement with you in terms of We have to be the CEO, the COO, the CFO, all of the C's. And due to the industry hands. The dentistry. So that takes a toll on anybody, For sure.
00:07:22
Speaker
But just kind of going back to how most dentist personalities are... And we've always had to strive for something. So there's yeah always that, okay, what's next? You know, totally you graduate dental school, then you're like, okay, I have to go to college. I have to make all A's or have a really competitive GPA.
00:07:43
Speaker
Yeah. And I have to take the DAT and I had to be competitive in that too. I got to get into dental school, have to get, you know, if I want to do a residency, I have to do really well.
00:07:53
Speaker
yeahp I think the system is kind of designed for us to compare ourselves to other. And for me, it's not so much that it's a competitive, like me against someone else type thing.
00:08:08
Speaker
I think the comparison creates a me versus me mindset that sometimes is the worst thing for me.
00:08:19
Speaker
Like I don't, I'm not the type that will compare myself like, Or compete with like other dentists, if that makes sense. No, 100%. But I think the worst version of myself is when I get in this mindset that I've got to be better than I was yesterday. yeah When sometimes, you know, all I have today is all I have today to give. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:08:43
Speaker
And that's it so Progress isn't linear. Right. It's ups and downs and ebbs and flows. And I think more than than anything like... I think it's more so we're set up for comparison because you you you know you learn how to do the dentistry with everyone. So you're looking at their crown preps and everything. And then yeah sometimes it creates a, am I worthy? Am I enough mindset within ourselves? yeah nice So that's my perspective. Not so much like competition, but like the comparison and then how it can take a toll on us.
00:09:21
Speaker
No, i think I think we're talking about two sides of the same coin. And we're we're taught to focus on millimeters and microns. 12 degree taper versus 8 degree taper. And like, your brain is not meant to do that. so And then you get out in the real world and you're like, there's a big old hole in this tooth. I don't know. like Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:48
Speaker
It's funny. So right now in our office has a college student that's shadowing that is actually applying to dental school. And it was so funny. I know it was so funny. So she come in and it's it was like so polar opposites in terms of patients that were in each room.
00:10:06
Speaker
Nice. And so in in hygiene, we had a patient that's like, you're telling me you want to rip all my teeth out and I don't trust Dennis and you guys are crooks. And this isn't that. He's just like reading us from top to bottom. And then we're in a next room and it's this sweet old lady that's like, okay, whatever you say, doc.
00:10:30
Speaker
you know, and then we went in the next room and this patient is terrified of the dentist because of past experiences that she's, she had. So with the ebbs and flows of like the business side of dentistry, you also have the ebbs and flows that you have to make sure that when you come in a room, you're everything that patient needs for you in that moment.
Emotional Regulation and Patient Interaction
00:10:54
Speaker
In real time. In real time. And I was, you know jokingly, talking to her I'm like, dental school does an a magnificent job of teaching you how to do the clinical stuff, I said, but it's the patient management stuff that sometimes can take a toll, too.
00:11:14
Speaker
And it's like, because you're kind of on that emotional roller coaster, too. Yes. You're having to calm the the patient down that's saying that you're a crook, and you know and they just don't trust dentists in general. Yeah. Yes. and but and And the calm you need to give that patient versus the anxious, scared patient is so different. At least in in my world, like there's a different calm confidence you need to have. But it's this it's similar, but like the way you have to write like the disc thing. Yeah. Yeah. So do you ever feel like you're playing a character in different rooms? Sort of, but not exactly. It's almost like I've read like so many books that about dentistry that say things like, you know, from from the start of the day, it's showtime. Right. Yes. Yes. And what I think is pretty much, you know, when we were kids, we're like, you know, treat people how you want to be treated. But we learned that we need to treat people how they, you know, want to be treated.
00:12:21
Speaker
And in that pretty much is ebb and flow of navigating it and being able to give the patient what they need because every patient is different, you know, in terms of their needs. And so, yeah, it's just, it's a journey of,
00:12:38
Speaker
From the time you walk in a room, just navigating it. i don't necessarily think that it's a character. i think it builds character. and Yeah, I think it builds a character to to be able to navigate, you know, what do you what do you think? What's your take on it?
00:12:57
Speaker
Some days I do feel like I'm playing i'm playing a role. i mean, I think it it's me on obviously, but different versions of me for who they need me to be But I think obviously the more you do this, the more you realize like, okay, this patient isn't mean they're actually really scared and the way that they are approaching it is different versus like we just said the like terrified and like being in that patient needs me to come in as calm and like understanding and and reach them where they are versus not combative isn't the right word but like more they're more like
00:13:41
Speaker
The patient that pretty much said that we're crooks stuff. Yes. They're also terrified of us and they don't trust us. Right. But i we have to come into that room with a steady confidence. Because if you, and again, like babying them isn't the right word, but like if you come in and you're like, I know that you're scared, blah, blah, blah. Like they're going to eat you alive. So yeah, that's a big piece I think of dental mental health and like.
00:14:09
Speaker
I'm very empathic. And so I take that energy into myself. And so I almost have to like shuck it when I leave the room of like, okay, whatever was in there, I got up there and I got to go to the next place. And I think if you don't have a good outlet to get that out of your mind and out of your body, you'll, it's really going to
Building Supportive Communities for Mental Health
00:14:31
Speaker
tear you up. Yeah.
00:14:32
Speaker
So what what advice would you have for dentist or anybody that's struggling to try to separate the two? Yeah. I think the biggest thing is it's absolutely okay to ask for help. um A mental health professional, a therapist, medication, like really truly ah finding what is right for you and knowing that it's okay.
00:15:01
Speaker
And a a lot of us are are in therapy and doing things we need to to take care of ourselves so we can take care of other people. And then like find an awesome group of friends and mentors like who aren't going to compete with you, who aren't going to judge you that you can be like, listen to this day I just had Like, i don't know. Sometimes I, and again, like you said, every day I'm, I'm a different person. And, and some days things like that can roll off my back and some days they can't and giving myself some grace with that. But also like,
00:15:38
Speaker
I know that I can call you and be like, listen to this situation. And like, i don't know, sometimes I let my patients gaslight me a little bit of like, am I the problem? Like, especially sometimes... Dentistry comes in waves. And I feel like you'll have a week where like everyone is chill and everything goes great. And then you'll have a week where like everyone is mad at you and everything goes bad. And you're like, am I the problem? Like I'm the only common denominator here.
00:16:03
Speaker
Do you know what i mean? 100%. Find your people. And i don't know. I think Renetta and I are totally down to be your people. If you, we were... We've been interviewing some potential new associates for the office and they've been so shocked at like how well we all get along in a group practice, which can be hard. Dentists, people in general are strange. Dentists were weird. Yeah. And so finding like you know a bunch of dentists that get along and don't belittle each other or steal each other's cases and things like that is really, really special. And so it's been really cool to see these people be like, you guys are really like nice to each other and have each other's backs. And so find find that group. And if you don't have that, like please reach out to us. DM us on Instagram. I'm happy to be your sounding board. And trust me, I've... In my very short career, I've had i've had the experience. I don't know why, but it's me. They find me. Maybe so that you could be a mentor to other people. Yeah, that's so we'll go with. Yeah.
00:17:09
Speaker
What about you? How do you handle this? And and has it changed over your journey is from associate to practice owner? Because you've got obviously way more hats now. I think I've definitely developed a tougher skin experience.
00:17:27
Speaker
But it also doesn't mean that like I come off like really crazy to like the patient that like say, you guys are crooks and this, this, and that. In that case, pretty much, I know him well enough to know that i can like press him back on certain things. And some people like that. Yeah, and he liked it. So I was like, okay, well, when have I ever told you anything that wasn't true? Yeah.
00:17:52
Speaker
I love that. look at these x-rays together, if we look at the intro photos together, we've been talking about these things. All I'm doing is telling you the consequences of not moving forward with treatment. Your mouth, your choice.
00:18:06
Speaker
And then you know what he said next? And he said, well, I'll come and get it done if if you could do it Monday or Tuesday morning. And I said, okay, we'll make that work.
00:18:17
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I think you just kind of learn, you know, like just from talking to patients and communicating what their communication style is and, you know, how you have to present things.
Importance of Self-Care and Decompression
00:18:32
Speaker
and I'm not saying that to say that every patient interaction is easy because some of them aren't. And sometimes you have to you know, dismiss patients who don't align or don't trust you so that they can find someone that they they do trust. yeah But I think over time, that helps kind of getting back to what we were saying about what things that I i do for myself is I give myself a 10 minute maximum after work.
00:19:00
Speaker
If it's something I need to talk about that happened at work, 10 minutes is all I have. And then I have to let it go decompress for the day. And then, you know, having an outlet, like you said, whether it be working out, whether it be, you know, getting in your massage chair that you have or getting in sauna or you know, talking to someone, even if it's like your significant other or best friend or whatever.
00:19:27
Speaker
you know, someone that knows you or watching TV, whatever it is you need to do to feed you is important. thing And always going back to why you became a dentist and what your why is that helps me out all the time on my my toughest days.
00:19:45
Speaker
Yeah. I think that's such a good point about you. You gotta just let it go. and that's so much easier said than done. But you did your best in that. Like even the thing that I'm...
00:19:57
Speaker
trying to get through to myself even is like, even if it wasn't the best I have ever done, it truly was the best I could do in that moment, in that situation and letting that be enough. And if it, and also just like not, not taking it on yourself. Like I didn't put the cavity there.
00:20:17
Speaker
I did my best I could to your problem. And that has to be enough. And if it's if it's not, I'll get you in the hands of somebody who can do it or let let let it be good enough. Yeah.
Practicing Self-Compassion in Dentistry
00:20:30
Speaker
Yeah. I think the the biggest thing is know that you're you're not doing this alone and finding your people to support you through it on your good days and on your bad days. Yeah.
00:20:41
Speaker
Because I also think we don't celebrate the good things enough either. yeah And I think I want to piggyback on something you said earlier about giving yourself grace.
00:20:52
Speaker
Yeah. I think I was telling you about a month ago, I was like, man, I have these goals and the year has been weird and I don't know if I'm going to make the goal. you know i was talking to a friend and pretty much they were like, well, who said...
00:21:07
Speaker
that you Like who created that goal? Yeah. You know, I did. Okay. yeah So yeah like, and then they started, of they brought up valid points, right? Like, what are the things you could do that will get you to that goal?
00:21:21
Speaker
And I started naming stuff and then I'm like, okay. And they're like, well, why don't you do one? And I'm like, well, like, I don't want to because i want to do it. You know, like, no no yeah want I want to reach that goal, but on these terms that I have set for myself. so if And not compromising your values for other areas. And so if that means that the goal happens a little bit later, but you're able to do it to where you can sleep at night,
00:21:50
Speaker
And you stay true to who you are and your values, then sometimes that's enough. Yeah, that's huge. And also like calendar years are fake too. You know what I mean? like what's What's three or six more months? like yeah That's true. I was reading, not reading, but I was listening to Mariah Carey.
00:22:12
Speaker
Talk about how time doesn't exist. And I was like, man, I wish I could get be to that place. Yeah. Yeah. I wish I could. I wish I could get there mentally. But I imagine it's a it's a great place to be. It's like, yeah, it doesn't matter. I say that all the time. It truly doesn't matter. Like in in the best ways, not in a like not in like an apathy way, but in like a it'll get there when it gets there. But I think that's a huge point of when you have these these things that you want to do and you could do it, but it would compromise your values.
00:22:46
Speaker
Maybe you need to like pivot that plan and be a little more flexible. Go back to your why. That's what I had to do. Like, yeah, I had to go back to it and say, OK, I'm not willing to do The things that would go against my why to get to a goal, you know? Yeah. Wow. That is that is a place of growth to to be able to think that way. Yeah. and And I think flexibility is huge in mental health in general of just like you are a human.
00:23:14
Speaker
And some of these like time as a construct, production goals as a construct, like life is just going to life. And you sometimes just have to like let it go and let it be what it's going to be. Easier said than done. This was a big one. i am so interested to hear what people what people's perspective is on mental health.
00:23:34
Speaker
Obviously, this is a huge topic that we could talk about forever and it will probably circle back to it. But please reach out if we could be of any help or support you well.
00:23:46
Speaker
You do the tough, tough thing of being a dentist. All right, we'll catch you next time. you for joining us for this episode of Beyond Graduation. If you enjoyed this week's episode, be sure to share it with a friend.
00:23:57
Speaker
Connect with us on social media at Savannah Craig DBS and at Dr. Sartor. And remember, you are not alone on this journey. ADEC certified pre-owned equipment is a sustainable, affordable choice that makes genuine ADEC equipment available to every doctor. Each package is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. So if you see one you like, contact your dealer. For more information, go to www.adec.com backslash findadealer. Thank you for listening to Beyond Graduation brought to you by Ignite DDS and future dentists. This episode was sponsored by Ignite DDS coaching.
00:24:36
Speaker
We build self-determined futures. For more information, please reach out to the Ignite DDS team.