A dentist’s job can take a real toll on their mental health, and experts estimate that around 50% of dentists suffer from some sort of depression at some point in their careers. This isn’t necessarily the profession’s fault, running a dental clinic or working as a dentist in a hospital can take its toll – and if you’re not careful, it could end up breaking you down over time and pushing you out of the career altogether. To protect your mental health as a dentist, try these 5 tips to keep your mind healthy on the job.

 1. Recognize stress factors

Being a dentist can be a very stressful job. There are many factors that can contribute to stress, such as working with patients who have a fear of dental procedures, working long hours, and having a high level of responsibility. Recognizing these stress factors is the first step in protecting your mental health. You can also take actions during the day to improve your ability to manage. For example, delegate tasks. You should never feel like you need to do everything yourself. You should take the time to delegate tasks if you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious about them. You should also take breaks regularly. Taking breaks during work hours helps keep you focused on work for longer periods of time and will allow you more time for relaxation when work is done. It also lets your mind rest so it doesn’t suffer from burnout. Most importantly, be sure to schedule vacations. Scheduling vacations helps give you balance between relaxation and work. Scheduling an annual vacation also reminds you of why you wanted this career in the first place-to make people’s lives better! Also, going on vacation may help decrease feelings of isolation caused by spending most days alone at work.

2. Practice self-care

One of the best ways to protect your mental health is to practice self-care. This means taking care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and take breaks when you need them. Also be sure to schedule time for activities that you enjoy outside of work. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to someone about what’s bothering you. Doing so can help prevent stress from building up and becoming unmanageable.

3. Know when you need support

Being a dentist can be tough on your mental health. There are a lot of demands placed on you and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s important to know when you need support and to reach out for help when you’re struggling. Seek professional help if needed. Seeking professional help from a counselor or therapist in order to get back on track with your emotional well-being is an essential aspect of getting better if you see your mental health deteriorating.

4. Stay connected with others

Being a dentist can be lonely because you have stretch hours working directly and individually with clients. This is why it’s so important to stay connected with others. Be sure you talk to other dentists, this will also help you understand that what you are feeling is okay. You can also learn from them. Moreover, stay in touch with your loved ones, if you are always working you may feel isolated, so take measures to stay connected.

5. Speak up if things aren’t going well

As a dentist, you are constantly putting yourself in other people’s mouths. It’s easy to become desensitized to the germs and the blood. But it’s important to remember that your patients are people, too. If you start to feel burnt out, speak up to your boss or take a break.