Why Mental Health in Dentistry Deserves Attention

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we need to talk about mental health in dentistry. The mental health of dental professionals is increasingly recognized as a critical issue, yet it remains under-discussed and under-addressed. From stress and anxiety to depression and burnout, mental health in dentistry is a growing concern — one that requires systemic support, early intervention, and a cultural shift within the profession.

A growing crisis

One study found that approximately 44% of Canadian dentists surveyed reported experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Among these, female dentists reported disproportionately higher levels of stress, often due to the added pressures of caregiving responsibilities.

This gender-specific stress highlights a key takeaway from the study: mental health support in dentistry needs to be tailored. Broad solutions aren’t enough. Targeted strategies that account for different experiences — such as gender, career stage, and practice type — are essential for creating a sustainable, supportive environment.

Covid-19’s impact

The COVID-19 pandemic added a layer of complexity to an already stressed profession. While early lockdowns briefly reduced stress by pausing clinical work, the return to practice came with a surge of new pressures. Dentists in Wales reported elevated anxiety fueled by:

• Financial instability
• Patient backlogs
• Ongoing uncertainty about the future of dental care
  

The pandemic illuminated how fragile the system is, and how unprepared many dental practices were to support their teams through a mental health crisis.

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The missing link? Evidence-based interventions

Despite increasing awareness, there’s a surprising gap in concrete solutions. One review revealed that there’s still a lack of robust research on effective mental health interventions tailored to the dental profession. Most existing strategies are reactive, rather than preventive.

The review calls for more psychoeducational and organizational interventions — programs that not only help professionals recognize early warning signs, but also foster resilience, self-care, and healthy workplace cultures from the very beginning of a dentist’s training.

A call for change

It’s clear that addressing mental health in dentistry requires a multi-layered approach. Here’s what the research points to as essential steps forward:

• Incorporate mental health education into dental school curricula
• Develop gender-specific supports to reflect different lived experiences
• Expand access to mental health resources, including counseling and peer support
• Encourage open dialogue and reduce stigma around mental health issues in professional settings
• Promote professional organization involvement to foster community and reduce isolation

Mental health in dentistry isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a professional one. When dentists suffer in silence, patient care, practice sustainability, and long-term career satisfaction all suffer too. To truly support dental professionals, we must normalize conversations about mental health and invest in meaningful, proactive solutions. 

Intiveo offers resources to dental and oral surgery practices

At Intiveo, we offer a number of free resources speaking on the issues that matter most to dental and oral surgery practice staff. You can also check out our podcast, The Patient Experience Blueprint, for interviews with industry leaders.

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