Avoid Burnout as a Dental Assistant

Having a career as a Dental Assistant can be very rewarding. It can

also be stressful and overwhelming at times. Working with people can
get the best of us from time to time. Being a Dental Assistant requires
ongoing dedication and energy. If you find yourself becoming
physically and emotionally drained due to your work responsibilities as
a Dental Assistant, you may be on your way to experiencing a
burnout.

Often, stress and burnout are confused. Stress is also the result of the
work environment. However, it is the result of periodic issues and
complications in the work place. It might be having a bad day now and
then. Burnout is a constant, ongoing feeling of not being adequate in
your job on a daily basis. You may not longer take pride or interest in
your position as a Dental Assistant.

Burnout results in feelings of hopelessness and resentment. If left

untreated, it can escalate to depression. Dental Assistants who
experience burnout often feel unappreciated, overworked, feel they
have too much to accomplish in limited time, and begin to resent their
level of responsibility. Placing unrealistic expectations on yourself is
also a factor in burnout.

Burnout generally runs in stages. You go from feeling excited about

your job as a Dental Assistant to forcing yourself to go to work each
morning. Most people aren’t even sure what is wrong at this point.
However, you will begin to experience exhaustion that leads to
irritability. Burnout often has symptoms including headaches, changes
in appetite, and high blood pressure. During phases of burnout, your
relationships both outside of work and at work are going to suffer.

If you feel you may be suffering from burnout, talk with your
supervisor. You can find support in your co-workers. You might
consider attending a few counseling sessions to help you develop an
action plan.

To avoid and eliminate burnout in the Dental Assistant field, you must
meet your physical and emotional needs. Too often we spread
ourselves too thin. We focus on the needs of out patients, our
employer, and our family. While this is great, it is important to
remember your own needs. Eventually not taking care of them will
result in your inability to care for the needs of anyone else.
Meet your physical needs by having regular checkups, getting enough
sleep, and eating right. Exercise is a very important part of feeling
good physically. To keep yourself feeling good mentally, use your
coping skills. Know what triggers your negative feelings and keep them
in check. Keep realistic goals and demands on your body and your
time. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t accomplish everything you
set out to do that day. Instead, focus on what you did accomplish.
Learn to manage your time. It is OK to say know if you already feel
over extended.

Focusing on your social needs is also important. Nurture your

relationships with your spouse, children, and close friends. Stay
involved in Church and community organizations that are of interest to
you. If you are unhappy with your job as a Dental Assistant, talk to
your employer about help to remedy the situation. Improving your
communication skills with others will also improve your over all health.

Dental Assistants generally enjoy their career choice and put forth
their best effort everyday. However, burnout is very common in the
dental field. Knowing what causes burnout, they signs and symptoms,
and effective ways to manage it will make you be able to focus on your
job again. Improving your physical, mental, and social health will soon
having you going to work with enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge
in the dental field soon. If your feelings don’t change, you will want to
discuss the situation further. It may be depression that needs to be
treated instead of burnout. Realistically, some Dental Assistants realize
at this time they need a career change.

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