DentaltownUK August 2017 - 83

STRESS-FIGHTING
STRATEGIES
Find the right work/life balance
Taking a well-deserved break from dentistry and achieving an important work/life
balance can be useful. Refreshing your
thoughts and widening your perspective
with activities such as continuing with a
regular hobby, playing a sport or involving
yourself in something different to your daily
routine can be extremely valuable. Holidays
and spending time with friends and family
outside of dentistry are also great.
Taking time to recharge will help in
refocusing and concentrating on whatever
lies ahead, so consider exploring something
you may have not otherwise.

Include exercise and nutrition
Ten percent of dentists smoke cigarettes,
and over one-third of them are overweight
or obese.3 Coupled with a likely sedentary
lifestyle and alcohol intake to combat high
work stress, it's easy for a dentist's body to
suffer. The benefits of good hydration, eating
foods rich in micronutrients and vitamins
and regularly undertaking some form of
exercise cannot be overemphasised-and
can also prevent musculoskeletal problems
and pain.6 Finding a colleague or friend to
engage with is a great way to stay accountable
and motivated.

Schedule sleep and recovery
Continued education, case preparation
and family commitments can all be demanding. It's easy to end up on our computer
screens until late in the night sending emails,
sorting practice management issues or even
scrolling through Facebook! While these

can be tasks that need to be completed, you
can still incorporate small measures such as
adjusting screen display settings to colours
that reduce eye strain and help increase
melatonin secretion to reduce potential sleep
disruption. Completely shutting down all
visible light sources one to two hours before
sleep is ideal.

Value personal development
The workweek routine can become
repetitive, draining and mundane. Attending
clinical workshops and conferences can be
valuable in encouraging learning. It's great for
developing new skills, finding new interests
and also helping to reinvigorate inspiration
and passion. Personal development courses
beyond direct dentistry can also have strong
merit here.
Overall, it's important to pay attention
to potential signs of stress and burnout as
they creep in, to prevent them from having

more substantial effects. It may be impossible
to completely change every aspect of your
lifestyle, try to pick one or two elements you
personally enjoy, and to which you can stay
committed. ■

References
1.
Gorter, R.C., Eijkman, M.A.J., and Hoogstraten, J. (2000).
'Burnout and Health Among Dutch Dentists',
European Journal of Oral Sciences, 108:4; 261-267.
2.
Singh, P., Aulak, D.S., Mangat, S.S., & Aulak, M.S. (2016).
'Systematic Review: Factors Contributing to Burnout in
Dentistry', Occupational Medicine (Oxford), 66:1; 27-31.
3.
Myers, H.L., & Myers, L.B. (2004). ' "It's Difficult Being
a Dentist": Stress and Health in the General Dental
Practitioner', British Dental Journal, 197:2; 89-93
(discussion, 83; quiz, 100-101).
4.
Denton, D.A., Newton, J.T., & Bower, E.J. (2008).
'Occupational Burnout and Work Engagement: A National
Survey of Dentists in the United Kingdom', British Dental
Journal, 205:7; E13-3.
5.
Arnetz, B.B., Horte, L.G., Hedberg, A., & Malker, H. (1987).
'Suicide Among Swedish Dentists. A Ten-Year Follow-Up
Study', Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine, 15:4;
243-246.
6.
Vijay, S. and Ide, M. (2016). 'Musculoskeletal Neck and Back
Pain in Undergraduate Dental Students at a UK Dental
School-A Cross-Sectional study', British Dental Journal,
221:7; 241-245.

dentaltownuk.com \\ AUGUST 2017

83
http://www.dentaltownuk.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DentaltownUK August 2017
