Progressive 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 MoreYour ability to manage stress is equal to the number of tools, resources, and coping methods you can tap into to navigate your stressors. This is easily done when stressors happen one at a time or when a trigger is perceived as a minor threat. Utilizing common coping methods such as deep breathing or relaxation…
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…
Read MoreTop 5 Stressors Each dentist has their own stress triggers depending on their ability to resolve a situation and the number of tools and resources they can mobilize to create solutions. Keeping that in mind, there are the Top 5 stress triggers that are common. Just read through any message board or eavesdrop on a…
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…
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How big do you dream? How vast do you let your dreams inspire you? Honestly, as I watched the MLK “I Have a Dream” speech video (you can find it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs) and I’m humbled by the bold truth in which MLK dreamed. He saw colors, heights…details. He saw the end results and how it would…
Read MoreRead the whole series by going to the start: Working with Patients You Want to Punch in the Face. Difficult Patient #8: The Guardian Problem: Parents, grandparents or guardians bring kids into the office with a predetermined list of Doctor-Dos-and-Don’ts. They demand exceptional care for the beloved child while refusing to complete all office forms, rejecting…
Read MoreWant more? Read from the beginning of the series at Working with Patients You Want to Punch in the Face. Difficult patients come in all personality styles. Some difficult patients are easy to spot while some are stealthy and quiet. Understanding the different social (communication) styles will help you identify and connect with all patients.…
Read MoreStart here first: Working with Patients You Want to Punch in the Face. Difficult Patient Final: The Rejecter Problem: New patient arrives and is handed the stack of in-office forms they refused to complete online. When the paperwork is returned, all that is completed is name and rank. They decide which x-rays are necessary and…
Read MoreYou don’t like to work with patients that don’t pay bills. You tell your front desk not to schedule patients that are shopping around. Patients with piss-poor attitudes stress you out completely and when someone doubts or corrects your recommended treatment, you totally lose faith in what you do. Here’s the reality behind the above…
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