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Jayde Balderston
Henry Schein Content Strategist
Jayde Balderston
Henry Schein Content Strategist

This article examines the growing focus on mental health and self-care in the dental profession with insights from Chief Dental Officer, Jason Wong, and BREATHE dental wellbeing platform founders, Jackie Cooper and Rana Al-Falaki, and explores how improved wellbeing can strengthen teams, enhance patient care, and support long-term practice success.

Jackie notes that stigma around mental health and wellbeing can stop dental professionals from asking for help, seeing it as a sign of “weakness” – a notion that she strongly contests.

“I think that asking for help and allowing yourself to be vulnerable is a sign of strength,” she explains. “It’s so important to speak up and ask for support.”

Rethinking How The Dental Industry Supports Wellbeing

When it comes to wellbeing in dentistry, one thing is clear: the time for change is now. Only by prioritising wellbeing can we truly improve industry culture, support entire teams, and provide the best care for patients. And creating an environment that feels safe for dental professionals is the first step.

“If you can make sure that your environment feels safe, and that people feel like their wellbeing is looked after, you can achieve a far more productive workforce with a team that are more comfortable within it,” says Jason.

“It’s vital to regulate your energy so you can show up as your best,” adds Rana. “To measure this, I use what I call the IMERSE model.” The IMERSE model, Rana explains, stands for Identity, Mental, Emotional, Real, Social, and Environmental, and highlights key areas to consider when tackling challenges or potentially stressful situations. “When you take all these areas on board, you can start that ripple effect towards positive change, which is what we're on a mission to do at BREATHE.”

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FAQs

Wellbeing is essential in dentistry because it directly impacts both clinical performance and patient care. When dental professionals are stressed or experiencing burnout, decision-making, communication, and overall care quality can suffer. Supporting wellbeing helps create safer, more effective practices, and better outcomes for patients.
Dentist wellbeing and patient care are closely linked. When clinicians feel supported and able to manage stress effectively, they are more focused, make fewer mistakes, and communicate more clearly with patients. Poor wellbeing, on the other hand, can lead to errors and reduced patient satisfaction.
Improving wellbeing in dentistry starts with recognising stress and seeking support early. This can include prioritising rest and recovery, speaking openly with colleagues, accessing professional support, and using dedicated resources such as wellbeing platforms like BREATHE. Creating a supportive practice culture also plays a key role.