Dr. Laura Chen stared blankly at her reflection in the bathroom mirror of her private practice. It was only 10:15 AM, and she was already fantasizing about canceling the rest of her patients. Her chest felt heavy. Her hands trembled. She had everything she thought she wanted: a thriving practice, a supportive staff, and loyal patients. But she was unraveling inside.

Laura isn’t alone. In fact, according to the American Dental Association, 84% of dentists report feeling burnout at some point in their careers. Dentistry ranks as one of the most stressful professions in the U.S., with suicide rates among dental professionals consistently higher than average (ADA, 2021).

What makes dentistry so tough on mental health? The pressure to be perfect. The loneliness of leadership. The emotional toll of anxious patients. The financial burden of running a practice. For many, it all becomes too much.

But the story doesn’t have to end in despair.

Dr. James Rivera hit rock bottom when he began drinking between patients to manage his anxiety. One night, after a close call with a DUI, he reached out to the state dental well-being program. “That call saved my life,” he says. Today, he runs a fee-for-service practice with a 4-day workweek and hosts peer support groups for dentists.

More organizations are stepping in to support struggling dentists. State dental boards now offer confidential well-being programs. The ADA has launched mental health initiatives like the "Dentist Health and Well-Being" program. There’s also a growing community online where dentists can share their stories without shame.

Recovery often begins with one brave conversation. That’s how Dr. Maya Solis turned her life around. After confiding in a colleague about her panic attacks, she sought therapy and gradually restructured her life. “I learned to say no. I hired an associate. I started running again. And I fell back in love with my work.”

Dentists are healers, but they deserve healing too. Burnout isn’t a weakness—it’s a signal that something needs to change.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to your local dental society or visit www.dentalwellbeing.org.

Laura Chen, by the way, took a sabbatical. She traveled, painted, slept, and cried. She came back with new boundaries, new hours, and a new mission: to make mental health part of the conversation in dentistry. And these days, when she looks in the mirror, she smiles for real.

Benjamin Tuinei

Founder - Veritas Dental Resources, LLC
Phone: 888-808-4513

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