Why Do Dentists Report High Stress, and What Does the Research Say?
Research on dentists consistently describes dentistry as a stressful profession. A 2019 survey of 2,053 dentists in the UK found high levels of stress and burnout and low well-being, and identified regulation and fear of litigation as the most stressful aspects of the job. The evidence I could open this week comes from the UK, so it cannot be assumed to describe dentists everywhere, but it points to causes that many clinicians will recognize.
What the 2019 survey found
The study, “A survey of stress, burnout and well-being in UK dentists,” published in the British Dental Journal by Victoria Collin and colleagues, asked British Dental Association members and non-members to complete validated measures of stress, burnout and well-being. (Collin et al., 2019)
- Valid responses came from 2,053 dentists.
- Dentists working in the UK showed high levels of stress and burnout and low well-being.
- General dental practitioners appeared to be particularly affected.
- Issues relating to regulation and fear of litigation were deemed the most stressful aspects of being a dentist.
- The authors concluded that sources of stress appear to have shifted over the years, and that interventions should focus on making changes to dentists’ working conditions.
What about suicide risk?
You may have seen claims about dentists and suicide. The evidence is mixed. A 2010 review in the International Dental Journal, “Risk of suicide amongst dentists: myth or reality?” by Sancho and Ruiz, found that the literature systematically reports a suicide rate among dentists higher than in other occupations. The authors also said these studies lack sufficient scientific weight, and called for new studies that account for demographic variables, psychiatric history before entering the profession, access to means, and stressors unrelated to work. (Sancho & Ruiz, 2010)
So the honest summary is that there is a concern, a lot of uncertainty, and a need for better research. Neither the strongest claim nor a dismissal is supported.
Limits of what we know
- The survey is a UK sample and may not represent dentists in the United States or elsewhere.
- Surveys capture people who chose to respond. Stressed dentists may be more, or less, likely to participate.
- Self-reported stress is not a diagnosis of any condition.
Stressors that dentists describe
The survey points to regulation and litigation. Other contributors that clinicians commonly name, such as running a small practice, financial pressure, physical strain and time pressure, are things I did not find in the sources I opened, so I will not present them as findings. They are worth looking at in your own life.
Looking at the whole picture
Work is only part of it. The Wellness Wheel looks at eight areas, including Career & Professional, Financial Confidence, Physical Health and Time & Energy, which are often where a dentist’s pressure sits. (The Wellness Wheel)
This article is education, not medical or mental-health advice.
This article is education, not medical or mental-health advice. Talk with your own clinician about your situation.