Navigating Burnout in the Dental Profession

Although the concept of burnout has been widely discussed, its definition continues to evolve. Designating it a three-dimensional model, burnout includes a) chronic emotional exhaustion, b) feelings of pessimism and detachment from one’s job (depersonalization), and c) feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment resulting from the chronic stress of assisting others in distress (e.g., clients or patients). Although burnout differs from common mental health conditions, burnout is solely related to stressors in one’s professional life, specifically seen in frontline healthcare workers and dental professionals. Moreover, it does not include suicidal ideation or feelings of hopelessness.^22,23

Stress burnout, depression, and other conditions can have similar symptoms, including exhaustion, sleep problems, and changes in appetite. Signs of burnout²⁴ generally appear in key symptom areas:

• Extreme Exhaustion: People affected feel drained and emotionally exhausted, unable to cope, tired and down, and lacking energy. Physical symptoms include gastrointestinal (stomach or bowel) problems.

• Alienation from (work-related) activities: People who have burnout find their jobs increasingly stressful and frustrating. They may start being cynical about their working conditions and their colleagues. At the same time, they may increasingly distance themselves emotionally and start feeling numb about their work.

• Reduced performance: Burnout mainly affects everyday tasks at work, at home, or when caring for family members. People with burnout are very negative about their tasks, find it hard to concentrate, are listless, and lack creativity.

• Sleep problems: Insomnia or frequent nighttime awakenings.

• Changes in appetite: Loss of appetite or overeating