WELL BEING Hiring Stress in Dentistry Dear Missouri Dental Well Being Foundation,


I am trying to hire at my dental office, and I am not having any luck at all. My stress level at work is at an all- time high, and I feel like there is no hope in the near future. My work/home life feels so out of balance. I love my job, but are there any resources in the DWBF to help me with my job stress?


Sincerely, Stressed Out Missouri Dentist Dear Stressed Out Dentist,


We feel you! And, you are not alone: the stress is real. Work- force issues are straining members across the state. And while the MDA is working on many fronts to make inroads, let’s consider your request and provide some resources that might help.


First let’s look at two quick data points that validate the issue. Con- sider this from Dentistry IQ posted September 18, 2023: “Although the ‘Great Resignation’ has slowed in other industries, staffing remains very challenging for dental practices. It is now understood that while the coronavirus pandemic did affect dental staffing, enrollments in dental hygiene and assisting programs have been declining for years.” And, in his article “How shrinking teams are pushing workers to the brink” author Alex Christian believes stress related to understaffing is becoming more common and thinks it will be here for the significant future. He states, “While the work may still get done in the short term, understaffing ultimately takes a toll: creating stress, anxiety and burnout for employees, and other insidious consequences long-term.”


So, with that reality in mind, here are three suggestions for managing stress at both work and at home.


3 WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS AT WORK


The way you have always practiced dentistry is changing, so maybe it’s time to change the way you do things. So, let’s talk about flexibility and consider short-term changes to help see your patients.


1. If you are not able to see all of your patients, consider opening an hour earlier 1-2 days a week, or work through lunch one day a week. This solution may feel overwhelming or may feel rewarding, so evaluate how this option feels to you.


2. If you are booking out months ahead, consider if you would want to stop seeing new patients, short term, so you can focus on your current patients.


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3. Be transparent with employees and give them time to share their concerns. Acknowledgement, validation and transparency will help your team stay on track to achieve the overall goal.


3 WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS AT HOME


With work stress so high, the best thing you can do at home is self- care to help you arrive at work refreshed and ready to go during this stressful time. Here are a few ideas:


1. Sleep! Yes, sleep is essential and even more important when in a period of high stress. Consider an earlier bedtime or use a safe sleep aid to help you get needed rest.


2. Identify and pursue healthy coping mechanisms. Examples may include mindfulness and meditation, exercise, listening to music, art and daily gratitude.


3. Ask for help. Ditch the superhero persona. It’s ok to ask for help; we all need a little support. It does not mean you are weak or broken. It means that you care enough to take care of yourself!


RESOURCES


Use the MDA’s Voluntary Wellness Program (part of the Dental Well Being Foundation) by placing a free, confidential call to our expe- rienced coordinator, Rebecca Mowen, LCSW at 314-435-1101 to assess what resources you might need. You also can check into online resources like talkspace.com and betterhelp.com, or at least find a col- league you can safely share concerns with. Regardless, avoid isolation. Additionally, the ADA has a variety of resources at ada. org/wellness.


This article was contributed by Dr. Christy Hager, who pracitces in St. Louis and is a member of the Dental Well Being Foundation Board.


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