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The mental and physical toll of being a dentistry student

Dentistry

Training to become a dentist can include a significant degree of stress and physical pain, which takes a toll on those affected.

In an American study, more than 70% of dental students reported body pain by their third year.

A 2005 article published by the Journal of the American Dental Association revealed that 46 to 715 of dental students reported body pain, with the percentage generally increasing toward the latter years of dental school. The most common pain reported was in the neck and shoulders in women, and in the mid to lower back in men. The perception on how performance of dental procedures affects pain increased significantly with the number of years in dental school.

Stress in dental students
A paper published in the Journal of Dental Education in February 2014 systematically reviewed 124 studies on the levels, causes and impact of stress among dental students. It showed that dental students experience a considerable amount of stress during their training, mainly due to the demanding nature of the course. The possibility of stress impacting the student’s health and wellbeing was raised, as was the suggestion of exploring and testing stress management interventions.

The take-home message
If you are considering becoming a dentist, keep in mind that you may need to employ techniques to manage the physical and mental rigours of the training.

Support is available for those who are overwhelmed. Or, if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or if you know someone who is, please contact:

Lifeline

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