Dentists work hard to create perfect smiles for their patients. But are they also taking care of their smiles? Dentistry can be a rewarding career, but it also presents challenges that make it difficult for dentists to pursue and sustain themselves in the field. Long working hours, the need for precise procedures, and various patient care responsibilities can create a stressful work environment. These factors can impact a dentist’s mental health, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout.
This article examines the challenges dental professionals encounter in their careers and the cumulative impact it has on their lives.
According to the FMC's Dentistry Census 2024, more than half of dental practitioners admitted that they struggle to unwind after work, which impacts their mental health. This makes them feel stressed, anxious, and low.
Key findings regarding the issue: In a study conducted among dentists in Canada, it was found that approximately 44% of participating dentists experienced mental health issues, which include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). [1]
FMC's Dentistry Census 2024 reveals that more than half of dental professionals surveyed have sought help for mental health issues, marking an increase of 21% compared to 2021. [2]
A survey conducted among 2000 UK dentists reported suicidal tendencies in approximately 17.6% of the participating dentists.
Given the severity of the issue, it is essential to discuss and explore the silent struggle endured by dental professionals.
Let’s examine the various challenges dentists encounter throughout their journey, beginning with the rigorous demands of dental college and extending into their professional practice. Each stage of their journey presents unique challenges that shape their careers and the quality of care they provide.
Challenges faced during dental college
In the dental curriculum, undergraduates often find the transition from preclinical to clinical years to be stressful. This transition leads to anxiety, depression, stress, and burnout among students during this phase.
A recent study found that 75.7% of students evaluated faced difficulties transitioning from the preclinical to the clinical phase of their programme. Approximately 81.1% reported an increase in stress during this transition. [3]
The key issues faced by students that contribute to mental health problems include:
- Lack of clinical skills for clinics, which contributes to feelings of underconfidence.
- Challenges in meeting patients' expectations.
- Increased workload due to long clinical work hours.
- Balancing clinical responsibilities with study hours and completing work quotas.
- Adaptation to ergonomics and biosafety in the clinic.
These challenges continue to increase with the passing years. After dental college, dentists face new challenges in the real world.
Challenges faced by a dentist after dental college
1. Huge disparity in the demand-supply curve: Securing a job is challenging for fresh graduates due to the high disparity between the demand and supply curves. For instance, India has 315 dental institutions producing nearly 31,000 graduates annually, making it the largest producer of dentists globally. The available dental manpower exceeds the required amount to meet the demand for oral care.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a dentist-to-population ratio of 1:7,500. However, due to the uneven distribution of dental colleges across different states, it has been reported that Tamil Nadu has a dentist-to-population ratio of 1:3,667. [4] This ratio means that the available dental workforce exceeds the demand. This imbalance can create anxiety for newly graduated dentists regarding their career prospects.
2. Student loan debt: The financial cost of becoming a dentist can be daunting. The high dental fees at dental colleges leave students burdened with debt until they complete their degrees. Student loans and the significant disparity in the demand-supply curve for dental graduates can affect new dentists, causing them stress about their future in dentistry.
3. Pressure of setting up a private practice and associated responsibilities: Starting a dental practice without prior experience in small business management can be highly challenging for new dentists. The stress of signing loans to finance the build-out of a new office, purchasing expensive equipment, and marketing the business can impact the mental health of dentists.
A study reveals that dentists spend 50-60 per cent of their total earnings on keeping the practice running. The participating dentists identified several roles and responsibilities within their private practices that contribute to their stress, including:
- Competition within the profession.
- Managing staff and team members to ensure the clinic runs smoothly.
- Addressing emerging technical issues with computer work.
- Ordering equipment and materials, managing inventory.
- Challenges in finding and retaining trained and qualified dental staff, including receptionists, assistants, and hygienists, especially in rural and remote areas.
4. Patient care responsibilities: Managing patients and dealing with their unrealistic expectations can be tough for dentists. A study found that many dentists face challenges in providing patient care.
Practising dentistry in rural areas with limited resources can be challenging. Selecting the best treatment for patients in settings with limited resources and equipment often presents dentists with ethical dilemmas.
In the early years of her practice at a primary health centre, Dr Swatti, a dental practitioner in Punjab, says she faced many challenges while performing root canal procedures. One major issue was the lack of equipment for taking radiographs. Situations like these made her struggle while striving to provide the best possible treatment.
5. Gender prejudice: In addition to the everyday challenges encountered in the dental profession, female dentists often confront a unique set of obstacles stemming from prevailing gender biases. These biases can manifest in various ways, impacting their professional relationships, patient interactions, and opportunities for advancement within the field.
A study reveals that staff members perceive female practice owners as less assertive, more dramatic, and less productive. Participating female practitioners reported that they often needed to suppress their emotions, as they “don’t want to seem emotional, want to be strong, and have to be tough like men.” Such perceptions affect women's willingness to own a dental practice.
Dr Anuradha Gupta, a dental practitioner in Hyderabad, says, "Patients often perceive female dentists as less capable of performing oral surgery procedures, such as tooth extractions and impactions. They tend to reassure themselves by asking questions and confirming whether I will perform the procedure or if a male surgeon will come instead.”
6. Loneliness and isolation: As sole proprietors, dentists are responsible for everything in their small businesses. This can lead to a lonely work environment for dental practitioners, who often lack support. Working in a solo, rural, or remote dental office can exacerbate feelings of isolation.
When patient flow is low for about 2 to 3 months each year, it can feel quite depressing and lonely, says Dr Anmol, a dental practitioner from Punjab. Working in an isolated environment where you can't easily share your daily challenges with colleagues can sometimes exacerbate the situation.
7. Family relations and responsibilities: A survey revealed that 29.9% of female dentists and 11.9% of male dentists experienced stress related to caring for children.
Caregiving responsibilities impact the mental health and well-being of dentists. Female dentists find it challenging to balance their traditional responsibilities, including running a household, childbearing, and childcare, with the responsibilities of owning a dental practice. This burdens them and ultimately results in a work-life imbalance, leading to feelings of guilt toward their children and family members, and a sense of being overwhelmed and stressed.
8. Fear of litigation: No healthcare professional would ever start a procedure to harm a patient. Despite their best efforts, sometimes cases can spiral out of control.
Over the past few years, people's growing awareness of their rights and increased expectations regarding care outcomes have led to a rise in complaints against medical and dental practitioners.
Doctors are being sued more frequently for negligence and malpractice worldwide. India is also experiencing this trend, with about 5.2 million cases filed each year. This represents a fourfold increase over the past decade. Dentists are facing increased scrutiny, and their claims can add up to several lakhs.
This is a situation that any dentist might encounter. Dentists face unfavourable verdicts in 40% of cases. Even claims that are later proven to be baseless can result in significant loss for dentists in terms of emotional distress, lost time, and financial costs.
How do these challenges impact a dentist's personal and professional life?
Day-to-day challenges faced by dentists can impact both the personal and professional aspects of their lives in different ways:
- These challenges can impact the mental health of dentists, leading to a rise in stress, anxiety, and depression. Ultimately, these feelings lead to demotivation, job dissatisfaction, and reduced productivity.
- Poor mental health negatively affects dental surgeons' performance. It results in reduced clinical skills, impaired decision-making, and poor patient outcomes.
- Dentists under constant stress may find it difficult to empathise with patients, leading to compromised quality of care. This can erode patients' confidence in the dentist, potentially harming their professional reputation.
- Financial struggles in dental practices can affect family relationships and make it difficult for dentists to fulfil household responsibilities.
- Long working hours and extended periods of sitting can lead to various physical issues, including neck, back, and wrist fatigue or pain.
Takeaway
Dentistry is a demanding profession that requires knowledge and skill. Dental professionals often face challenges leading to mental stress. This stress can negatively affect their physical and mental well-being, job satisfaction, and the quality of care they provide. Understanding the causes of this stress is the first step to overcoming it.
Finding ways to reduce its impact is the need of the hour. Watch out for the following article on how dentists can overcome these challenges while enjoying the profession.
References
- Maragha T, Atanackovic J, Adams T, Brondani M, Bourgeault I. Dentists’ mental health: challenges, supports, and promising practices. JDR Clinical & Translational Research [Internet]. 2025 Apr [cited 2025 Jul 23]; 10(2):100–11. Available from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/23800844241271664
- Durkin J, Mumford C. Burnout, stress, and well-being: the rising mental health crisis in UK dentistry in dental care professionals. A quantitative perspective. Int J Dental Hygiene [Internet]. 2025 Feb 15 [cited 2025 Jul 23]; idh.12906. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/idh.12906
- Imam SH. Mental stress among dental surgeons in clinical practice: causes, effects, and coping mechanisms. EDJ [Internet]. 2023 Jun 15 [cited 2025 Jul 23]; 5(01):14–8. Available from: https://dentaljournal.org/volVolumeno1/mental-stress-among-dental-surgeons-in-clinical-practice--causes--effects--and-coping-mechanisms/
- Bommireddy VS, Chandu VC, Kommineni HC, Vijaykumar A, Ravoori S, Neeli GS. Is the profession of dentistry losing its yesteryear’s glory? An exploratory study from dental students’ perspective. Indian Journal of Dental Research [Internet]. 2021 Jan [cited 2025 Jul 23];32(1):35–8. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ijdr.IJDR_111_20
- Hopcraft MS, Stormon N, McGrath R, Parker G. Factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts by Australian dental practitioners. Comm Dent Oral Epid [Internet]. 2023 Dec [cited 2025 Jul 23]; 51(6):1159–68. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdoe.12849
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