Although the NHS mostly ignores the issue of stress, the “stressors” that medical personnel must deal with can have a detrimental effect on their own psychological and physical health; working in the healthcare sector has long been considered high-stress employment due to the combination of demanding working circumstances, exposure to potentially deadly diseases, human suffering, and the power to transform human existence as well.
General Dentistry is not an exception; every profession has advantages and disadvantages, whether or not it is related to medicine. Most often, the only negative thing people have to say about dentistry is the debt from dental school. However, no matter how important that one item is, it always manages to overshadow the several additional challenges dentists deal with on a regular basis.
As you can probably guess from the outset, the answer to the headline of this article is that, yes, working as a dentist can sometimes be quite stressful. However, it has become one of the most satisfying.
What Does Being a Dentist Mean?
Dentistry requires a doctorate in dental medicine, dental surgery, or both. The identification, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity are the main medical specialties of a dentist, sometimes known as a “dental surgeon.” Offering oral health services is aided by the dental office’s support team. The dental team is composed of dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental technicians, and, in some cases, dental therapists.
Graduates can still operate as general dentists in a variety of dental specialties if they choose not to pursue more specialized dental training. For instance, a graduate could start their own general practice, join a group practice, join the military as a dentist, work in a public health center or hospital, etc. The bottom line is that people who graduate from dentistry school have several possibilities for either immediate or future employment.
Why Is Dental Work So Stressful?
Dental work can be stressful for an ordinary dentist and a cosmetic dentist due to several variables. Following are some of the main pressures that cosmetic dentistry and dentistry experience.
Management of time
Time management is a major factor of stress for dentists. Working long hours as a dentist can be extremely stressful and demanding, which requires great time management. Every patient needs the dentist’s undivided attention, but as time passes and one grows weary, it can be challenging to offer the greatest care.
Because of this, several dentists frequently put in extra hours on the weekends. It’s impossible to predict if a patient will experience an emergency or have a bad reaction to surgery. It implies that the dentist must always be accessible to the patients. Imagine waking up on a Sunday night with a terrible toothache. Who else is going to assist you besides your dentist?
Impacts on Mental and Physical Health
According to studies, one of the medical specialties with the highest physical demands is dentistry. Although we picture, our dentist treating our teeth while relaxing in a chair, the position whereby the dentist works can be quite taxing.
The dentist must be set up to operate carefully and laboriously while keeping their hands stationary in the air for an extended amount of time. They need to maintain adequate back support, leg placement, and overall body stability during all of that in order to avoid making any rash hand motions that could harm the patient. The back, arms, and shoulders suffer as a result of all of this.
Costs of Dental Practice
Owning a dental office is expensive. Dentists frequently bring their student loan debt from dental school and the cost of operating an expensive dental practice with them to work. Of course, we won’t pretend dentists don’t earn well or have steady jobs, but even the highest-paid dentists may occasionally find that the expenses of maintaining a dental office are too high.
Conclusion
Dentistry has perks and downsides, just like any other job, including dentist Somerville. Unfortunately, prospective dentists frequently focus their attention on the negative aspects. We want to wrap up this piece on a happier note. With all this in mind, you can now decide whether or not you are interested in studying dentistry. Call us at (617) 623-8489 or (781) 395-0300 or contact us at First Dental to schedule an appointment.