Recognising Burnout in Dentistry

There’s this interview of author and business leader Simon Sinek that my best friend and I absolutely adore. He recounts a conversation with one of his closest friends about the little code they have for one another when they need someone to talk to.

“[They] say when somebody's struggling, all they need is eight minutes of help or support from a friend to get them back on track. And so, we came up with a code. We write to each other, ‘Do you have eight minutes?’ It means, ‘I need you.’ And anybody can step out of a meeting for eight minutes to be there for a friend.”

I reach for my phone as I lay in bed. My mind is whirling. I remind myself to breathe. Deep belly breaths — the kind you take to ground yourself and ease your minds. I feel the air expand every space in my lungs but suddenly I'm acutely aware of just how hard it is to breathe. My fingers find the keyboard and tap out a message: “Do you have eight minutes?”

I our final exams of dental school and the relief and elation we all felt to officially begin our careers. We made it! Years of studying finally completed! Little did I know what that actually entailed. As I enter my third year of dental practice, the glitter of being a wide-eyed graduate has faded and the realities of what the dental profession entails has set in.

Burnout among dentists is not an uncommon experience. One in four Australian dental professionals will experience burnout with high rates of psychological distress, mental exhaustion and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety prevalent in the profession. “It gets better” is a phrase we’re told repeatedly. ‘I’ll get used to it, right?’ we think to ourselves. And yet, every time we overcome a hurdle, it seems like another one appears in our path. It feels like the goal post is constantly moving.
 

This entire year I’ve felt like I’m running on fumes – like a sputtering flame trying desperately to stay alight. My sister tried to help. So did my boss. “Is it dentistry? Is it your workplace? Your work environment? Is it the work itself? Can you pinpoint what exactly is stressing you out?” I didn’t really have an answer for them.

I like dentistry. I adore my patients. I enjoy the work and am surrounded by an incredible team. I run a podcast and a community that inspires me. I make time for hobbies and to see my friends and family. On paper, I was doing everything I enjoy, and yet I couldn’t shake this feeling that my heart wasn't in it.

When I decided on a career in dentistry, I knew it would come with its hardships. However, the endless pings from work group chats, emails and voicemails that only ever seem to increase. Patients who don’t show up or the patients who do and are frustrated and in pain. Constant questions, juggling ten different conversations about dental care while jumping from patient to patient, and forcing myself to do it all with a smile.

I was trying to be everything for everyone. Be helpful, dependable, and make sure you don’t let anyone down — even in stressful situations and especially in your personal life. I was becoming frustrated more easily. I was less patient and understanding. I was curt and reactive. I would feel guilty for not being present. I felt like I had this heavy stack of paper - a to-do list that never seemed to end, and no matter how hard I tried to stay on top of it, I was struggling to breathe under its weight.
 

Sooner or later, everything catches up with you, and oftentimes it’s our bodies that crumble.

Earlier this year, within the span of two weeks, I picked up a stomach bug, broke out with acne, developed a nasty cold sore and caught COVID. A doctor visit and blood test later, I discovered I was also iron deficient and anaemic. It was as if my body was waving a white flag, crying out for help and forcing me to slow down.

It was during those days that my practice manager gently pulled me aside, citing concerns from other dentists. Some had said I wasn’t my ‘usual happy and bubbly self’ and others had described how I was micromanaging or helicoptering. And while the conversation was kind and came from a place of support, it hit home. And it hit hard. I’ve never wanted to be a ‘problem’ and I’ve always tried to be helpful and suddenly, I wasn’t.

I was frazzled. Scattered, disorganised, and haphazardly trying to fix things that I couldn’t even name. I was disappointed that I wasn't myself. Disappointed that all my stress was manifesting outwardly and impacting those around me. Disappointed that even though the people around me were concerned, they couldn’t understand where it was all coming from.

Later that same day, my practice manager asked if I was okay and what was a little crack in the shield suddenly split. She didn't offer solutions. Instead, she listened and told me that it was okay to not be okay. That it wasn't a burden. And it was the first time I had permission to feel that way.
 

Burnout doesn’t always announce itself with a dramatic breakdown. Oftentimes it creeps in quietly, oozing and seeping in under our skin. It’s forgetting things you normally wouldn’t and resenting the things you enjoy. It’s feeling guilty for saying no but angry when you say yes. It’s desperately needing time to yourself but profusely apologising for inconveniencing others. It’s a Catch-22. Contradictory. Confusing. Crushing.

The truth is, I didn’t feel burnt out just because of work. I felt burnt out because I kept saying yes because I was afraid of letting people down. I felt burnt out because I was trying to prove my worth through productivity. We live in a world that praises being ‘busy’, and rarely celebrates when someone says “I need a break” or “I’m not okay” or “This is too much.”

I felt burnt out because I was available to everyone but myself. But burnout is not a failure, it’s feedback. It’s a reminder that something isn’t sustainable, and that it’s okay to take a pause
 

Burnout recovery isn’t a single breakthrough moment. Whether you're dental student or years into your dental career, it’s a series of small, gentle decisions and practical tips to help bring you back to centre.

Pause before you say yes: As a chronic people pleaser, I find it hard to say no. However, I’m learning that saying no to one thing is saying yes to another. Yes to peace and yes to ourselves. Setting boundaries is not about being difficult, it’s about being honest.

Breathe — consciously: You know those deep belly breaths? They really do help. Feel the breath through your nose and fill your chest. Grow with it and let the tension release. It’s incredible how much capacity our lungs can take.

Talk it out: Send that text. Call a friend. You don’t need to make sense. You just need to let it out.

Reclaim the basics: Project Erica is a mission I gave myself last year when I wanted to take better care of myself. I focused on eating proper meals, enjoying the sun, drinking more water, sleeping earlier, and exploring new hobbies. And while these things may seem trivial, they make a world of difference. We can get so caught up on patient cases and life admin that we forget to work on our most important project: ourselves.

Trust your decisions: You don’t need to justify or defend your choices. Over-explaining devalues your voice and invites doubt. Stand firm in what you decide — your confidence reflects your self-worth.

Protect your peace: Honour your time, energy and peace. Find your sanctuary, your happy place, the thing that recharges you, and protect it no matter what.

I’m still working my way through it, and I always will be. I'm reminded that burnout, emotional exhaustion, and mental health is an ongoing journey and there will be highs and lows. There will be moments of progression and moments of regression. Push and pull. But a low moment will always just be a low moment, and it isn't a representation of our entire life. What’s important is that we are actively working on ourselves, acknowledging and accepting who we are and making little improvements bit by bit with intent and purpose.

I share all this not because I’ve figured it out, but because I know many of us do or will feel this way at some point. We just don’t always talk about it, and burnout thrives in silence. Healing begins in community — in connection. That starts by simply saying, “I’m struggling,” and letting yourself be supported. So let this be your reminder, that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to have an off day, or week, or month. And it’s okay to ask for help — even if it’s just eight minutes of someone’s time. That can make all the difference.

Erica Hwin is a dental practitioner based in Brisbane and founder of The Graduate Dentist Podcast, a platform for open and honest conversations about the challenges and triumphs young dentists face. She hopes to build a community where young dentists can feel supported, empowered, and ready to tackle the many hurdles that come with the profession.

Dental Practitioner Support is a 24/7 national and confidential support service for dental practitioners and students across Australia. If you’d like to chat to someone or are seeking professional help, you can call our support line on 1800 377 700.