Work-Life Balance Examples for Dentists and Oral Surgeons

Finding work-life balance can feel like an elusive goal for dentists and oral surgeons. Between managing a busy practice, caring for patients, and maintaining personal relationships, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In a recent article in Dental Times, Dr. Jeremy Ueno provided this insight on finding work-life balance: “I had to be more strategic with my greatest asset, my time.”

Achieving balance is not only possible but necessary for long-term success and well-being. By focusing on a few key areas — time management, planning, team building, and patient experience — dentists and oral surgeons can take meaningful steps toward a more fulfilling life, both for themselves and the staff at their practices. Let’s talk about how!

Recognize time as your greatest asset

Time is the one resource you can’t get back. Unlike money, you can’t earn more of it; once it’s spent, it’s gone. As a dentist or oral surgeon, your time is incredibly valuable. You face a constant trade-off: spending time at work versus spending time with the people who matter most, like friends and family.

Imagine this scenario: You’ve spent the entire week working long hours, meticulously handling patient cases and managing your practice. Not only that, but you also chose to go to a trade  show this weekend, to be followed by another week of working overtime. After this two-week period, the next weekend arrives — but instead of feeling excited to relax, you’re exhausted and still catching up on work-related tasks. Now imagine if you could reclaim that time to attend your child’s soccer game, enjoy a meal with friends, or simply unwind.

The key is recognizing that time spent with loved ones or recharging your energy is as important — if not more important —than the hours spent at work. Balance doesn’t just happen; it requires conscious choices.

A story about Dr. Lisa

Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario about Dr. Lisa. As an oral surgeon, she noticed she was missing family dinners three times a week. By reassessing her schedule, she decided to block one evening each week as family time only. Over time, she expanded this to three evenings, and her work did not suffer because she used the remaining time at work more efficiently. Dr. Lisa’s choice demonstrates the power of valuing time and consciously allocating it.

Creating a plan to reclaim time

Time management starts with a plan. Dentists and oral surgeons often juggle multiple responsibilities, from patient care to administrative duties. Without a strategy, inefficiencies can eat away at valuable hours.

Ask the right questions

To create a time-saving plan, start by asking:

• Where are inefficiencies happening at work?
• What tasks can be delegated or automated?
• What are we saying “yes” to that we could say “no” to?
  

Effective time management isn’t just a solo effort. Include your team in the conversation. Regular meetings to discuss workflow and pain points can uncover surprising areas for improvement.

Let’s meet two more hypotheticals. Dr. Raj, a dentist, noticed his front desk team was spending too much time on phone calls to schedule appointments. By leveraging an online booking system, he eliminated this bottleneck and saved hours each week. Patients appreciated the convenience, and his team had more time for other tasks.

Another dentist, Dr. Emma, realized she was spending 10 hours a month reviewing inventory. She trained a trusted staff member to handle the task instead, and introduced a digital database so that the review could be easier every month. This simple shift freed up Dr. Emma’s time for strategic planning and personal activities.

By identifying inefficiencies and creating a plan, dentists can reclaim valuable hours!

Strengthen the team for sustainable work-life balance

A strong, empowered team is critical for maintaining balance in a dental practice. When the team functions well, it alleviates pressure on the dentist or oral surgeon, making it easier to manage both work and life.

Making solutions together

Engage your team in solving challenges. Ask questions such as:

• Are we adequately staffed, or do we need to hire?
• Who is overloaded with tasks?
• How can we redistribute responsibilities more effectively?

Once again, let’s meet some hypotheticals. Dr. Mark, an oral surgeon, discovered that his hygienists were spending time on administrative tasks instead of patient care. After discussing the issue with his team, he hired a part-time administrative assistant. This move not only improved efficiency but also boosted team morale.

In another practice, Dr. Angela implemented cross-training for her team members. By teaching the front desk staff to assist with sterilization processes, she created flexibility in the schedule. This allowed her clinical team to focus solely on patient care, leading to a more balanced workload for everyone.

However, it’s important to note that staffing shortages have been a recurring trend in the dental industry for some years (in fact, we discussed it in our recent trends guide!). Staffing shortages can be challenging, but this challenge offers opportunities to get creative about finding solutions!

Enhance the patient experience to boost efficiency

Nothing replaces the human element in dental care. However, many other aspects of patient management can be optimized to save time and improve profitability. For example:

• • Focus on efficiency: Investing in tools and strategies that enhance the patient experience can also free up your time. Simple improvements can make a big difference.
  • Digital patient forms: Transition to digital patient forms. Instead of patients filling out paperwork at the office, they complete forms online before their appointments. This change reduces wait times, allows staff to prepare in advance, and creates a smoother experience for everyone.
  • Create returning patients: Happy patients are more likely to return and refer others, creating a cycle of growth that allows you to invest in further improvements.

• And more!

What Intiveo offers

Intiveo is proud to offer a number of resources to support dental and oral surgery practices across Canada and the United States. These resources include guides, templates packages, self-assessments, and more, including our podcast, The Patient Experience Blueprint. 

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