Addressing Stress
Dentistry is a high-stress profession. In fact, as cited in the Journal of Dental Education, “dentists have been singled out as among the most likely [health professionals] to experience severe stress, depression, and substance abuse.” Dentistry is also physically demanding, with long hours spent bent over patients and focused on minute movements.
Meditation and yoga can help. Meditation, or mindfulness, helps calm the mind and process complex emotions, providing clarity of focus, heightening productivity, and fostering greater empathy. Yoga can counteract on-the-job wear and tear by building strength, flexibility, and balance. These benefits are well documented in many evidence-based research studies.