I was a guest on the the Relentless Dentist podcast where we discussed the very real and emergent topic of stress in dentistry. In the last episode of this three-part series on Dental Stress Reduction, we learn the Top Coping Methods for Stress Listen to Episode 3: Top Coping Methods for Stress [audio-clammr mp3=”https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/podcastmp3/Episode_Jennifer_Butler_3.mp3″]Be sure…
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Words to Help Reduce Stress In the second part of this series on five magic words, stress management expert Jen focuses on the words “more” and “maybe,” and then offers four tips that answer the question “What do I do now?” Here is the last 2 words to help reduce stress: More If you want…
Read MoreWords reduce stress When talking about stress management, I don’t offer magic beans, magic pills, or magic wands. If you follow any of my writings, you know I’m not about the superficial Band-Aids and coping methods that make our lives and situations seem better for the moment. It’s about finding long-term, permanent solutions that build…
Read MoreMyths, widely held yet false beliefs or ideas, are generated throughout dentistry by chronic fear, stress, and by having a negative filter of daily situations. They are perpetuated at study clubs and conferences, in message forums or chat rooms, masked as dentists offering their experiences and advice while dripping with cynicism and jadedness. Some…
Read MoreYour sitting next to the patient waiting for their response. You’ve done it right. Showed them all the x-rays with the bone loss. Described the hygienist’s findings of 5-6 mm pockets, bleeding, the pus. Providing them a pamphlet of periodontal disease and the oral-systemic consequences was the final touch in gaining their buy-in for their…
Read MoreStarting and Stopping Tasks Working with business owners each and every day around the issues of stress I hear a lot of “I’m gonna start” statements. I’m sure you say them yourself: I’m gonna start going to the gym. I’m gonna start going on date nights with my spouse. I’m gonna start connecting with patients more.…
Read MoreHow stressed are dentists, really? The American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Dental Association used the same Likert scaling question* to determine the perceived stress levels of the American population and that of dentists, respectively. On the 10 point scale, Americans claim stress levels equal to a rating of 4.9 (mild-moderate) while dentists report…
Read MoreProgressive Relaxation has been scientifically proven to help with reducing stress. It can be done anywhere and takes just moments to complete. Tips for Dental Pros: The dental chair is the perfect chair to practice progressive relaxation. Get to the office 15 minutes early, take out segments of your lunch hour, and stay late…
Read MoreHow Stressed are Dentists? Short answer: Severely! Long Answer: In completing a thorough literature review of the relevant studies available 86% of dentists experience moderate to severe stress. Considering less than half of the general population claims moderate to severe stress levels (48.1%), dental professionals are definitely the outlier. I also found no statistical difference between…
Read MoreInfluences on Stress In all my work with dental professionals and the massive amount of reading I do around the topic of stress management, I have found consistently four really big factors that influence stress levels and the data to go with it. Feeling of control You can call this control, autonomy or ownership. What…
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