Staying motivated

  Posted by: Dental Design      24th March 2021

Dentistry has certainly experienced its fair share of challenges in the past year, with many more yet to come as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the UK government’s vaccination programme has renewed hope that we will, indeed, win the war against the virus, the road to recovery remains a long one for many businesses, including dental practices. The uncertainty of these times can only make it more difficult to stay positive and motivated as a dental professional. Yet doing so is extremely important if we are to continue delivering the high quality dentistry that many patients so desperately need.

The many rewards that can be gained from being a dentist are what make this an incredibly appealing career pathway. The ability to relieve patients from pain and improve the health and/or appearance of their smile can be hugely gratifying indeed, enabling you to achieve high job satisfaction and productivity. However, the nature of dentistry means that it can be all too easy for practice life to become repetitive and isolating, especially when there are time constraints and targets to meet. This can make an already high-pressure working environment even more stressful, which may impede your ability to remain engaged with your work.

Indeed, a recent survey of UK dentists carried out by Dental Protection revealed increasing levels of burnout amongst respondents, with half indicating that they had considered leaving the profession for reasons of personal wellbeing.[1] These results underscore how important it is to maintain motivation in order to achieve a fulfilling career in dentistry, where you are able to continuously progress and, therefore, improve the standard of care provided. Given the current health climate, exercising regularly, following a nutritious diet and making time to connect with loved ones – restrictions permitting, of course – is more important than ever, and can ensure a much-needed boost in motivational energy.

Motivation can also come from moving beyond your comfort zone. This can involve learning and experimenting with new techniques that you could apply to everyday practice, or broadening your offerings with access to sought-after procedures such as orthodontics, professional tooth whitening and composite bonding. You may also find renewed enthusiasm for dentistry by advancing into a particular field. Implant dentistry, for instance, has been gaining momentum in recent years, especially as implants can offer superior function and aesthetics to that of traditional restorations such as dentures, making them highly popular among patients. 

This is not to say that you must invest in new facilities, equipment and comprehensive surgical training in order to provide dental implants. On the contrary, you can choose to simply restore the implant following a referral to a trusted clinician for the surgical aspect of treatment. Of course, completing implant restorations to an exceptional standard still requires an investment in further training in order to gain the necessary skills, knowledge and experience. Most implant restoration courses typically combine theory with practice, and ensure delegates benefit from on-going professional support, even after course completion.

Moreover, the right implant restoration course will introduce you to experienced dentists in the field, who you can refer to for implant surgery, a second opinion or even mentorship as you grow your implant services. With a reliable referral partner at your disposal, you will be better prepared to navigate the ever-evolving world of implant dentistry, and stay abreast of the latest industry insights and developments. Your chosen referral partner can also act as a sounding board for you to share ideas, which can facilitate improved collaboration for an even more enhanced result with each case referred.

Nevertheless, choosing the most suitable implant restoration course is vital in order to maximise your time and investment. Ten Dental+Facial’s dedicated Implant Restoration Course (IRC) is ideal for dentists with little to no experience in the field. It teaches the theory and practice of restoring dental implants through an exciting, module-based programme taught over one year. Upon completion, delegates will be able to effectively diagnose, treatment plan and restore implants competently and confidently in their own practice, with additional support provided by Ten Dental+Facial through its award-winning referral service. The IRC also provides the foundation learning for delegates to build on their expertise with further training.

Dentistry is and has always been an incredibly rewarding but demanding profession. Under the current circumstances, it is understandable that you may be finding it difficult to stay positive and motivated in day-to-day practice. Rest assured that you are not alone and that there are various ways to reignite your passion for dentistry. Getting involved in other dental disciplines could be the new challenge you need for inspiration to strike and ensure you remain driven in fulfilling your professional aspirations. Consequently, you are more likely to enjoy and appreciate your work to the fullest, which will be reflected by patients’ overall satisfaction with the treatment you provide them.

For more information visit www.tendental.com, email referrals@tendental.com or call on 020 8675 1798

[1] Dental Protection. (2020) Half of dentists in the UK have considered leaving dentistry for reasons of personal wellbeing. Available at: https://www.dentalprotection.org/uk/articles/half-of-dentists-in-the-uk-have-considered-leaving-dentistry-for-reasons-of-personal-wellbeing. [Last accessed: 04.01.20].