Mental Health and Well-being in Dentistry
Several aspects of dentistry mean that oral health professionals (OHPs) are exposed to anxiety, worry, and stress, which can result in serious mental health issues and an increase in addictive behaviours. These situations can affect the quality of care provided, impacting negatively patients’ well-being.
Studies have shown that up to 87% of dental practitioners suffer symptoms of burnout in the United Kingdom¹ and according to a study published in 2020, 32% of physicians and dentists working mainly in middle-income countries experienced professional burnout².
Continued efforts towards mental health awareness
The first phase of FDI’s mental health and wellbeing project ran from September 2021 to September 2022. Given the increasing concerns about mental health challenges faced by the oral health workforce, this project remains a priority for FDI.
This next phase of the project will build on the Digital Toolkit for Mental Health and Well-being for Dental Teams, developed in phase I, and will aim to expand our reach to dental students exposed to high levels of stress and burnout.
The project will run for two years, until 2025.
Related content
Digital Toolkit
This toolkit aims to improve mental health and well-being by providing guidance on actions that can be taken to improve the well-being of dental team members.
Dental Check-up : Mental Health Series
This three-part series, focuses on mental health in the dental workplace, and is hosted by renowned expert Prof. Tim Newton who has worked as a psychologist in dentistry for over 30…
FDI launches a digital toolkit for mental health and well-being in the dental workplace
FDI launches a digital toolkit for mental health and well-being in the dental workplace.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing in Dentistry project is supported by:
The MPS Foundation
Dental Protection
Dental Protection in partnership with the MPS Foundation