As a dentist you have a pretty full on job. It’s not just about looking after people’s teeth, but you are working a role which makes you on your feet all day long. Not only are you constantly bending over patients, but you are moving around the room, and you are spending a lot of time working standing up which is not always great for your back or for your legs.
Not only this, but dentists tend to work long hours, so not only are you on your feet, but you are also seeing new people, dealing with the public and you are on those feet for hours on end. You may be aware of the best shoes for dentists out there that will mean that you are at least comfortable, but are you considering all aspects of Wellness? If you are not looking after your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing as a dentist, you’re going to struggle and you’re going to find going to work hard. With this in mind we have some tips that you need to improve your Wellness and make you feel better when you are working.
- Don’t forget your own physical. You may be a medical professional, and you may see lots of other people about their medical issues with their teeth all day, but what about you? As a dentist you are a valuable asset in the dental practice you work in. Scheduling a physical with your own physician every single year is a smart decision to make because you need to look after your own health as well.
- Make sure you get enough rest. If you are working long shifts in the clinic, then you need to have your wits about you. The best way to do this is to ensure that you are getting enough rest. Trying to go to bed and waking up at the same time every morning, including on the weekends, is a good place to start. Creating a bedtime ritual that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed before bed will help and setting an alarm to wake up at the same time every day will help you to feel more comfortable as a dentist.
- Investing in good ergonomics. We talked about shoes for dentists, and that’s because you need ergonomic shoes that make you feel supported and comfortable without pinching your feet all day. But it’s not just that. When you are standing over patience and looking after their teeth you can’t be bent forward and hurting your back or straining your legs. Investing in good machinery and chairs in your office that will raise up to you rather than going down to the patient will keep you comfortable.
- Get a hobby of your own. What do you do when you are not looking after people’s teeth? Whatever that is, you need to get out there and do it! Having some free time away from a clinic and away from dentistry tools and even away from thinking about teeth will really help you to help your mental health.
- See a professional. There are many dentists out there who deal with burnout. instead of burning out comma see a professional and get some therapy if you need it full stop you shouldn’t have to feel so stressed that you want to collapse at the end of the day and do nothing full stop if you spent all that time in dentistry school then you deserve to make sure that you are comfortable and happy afterwards.
Leave a Reply