Dental coaches tackle mental health taboo in oral care
Mental health crisis in dentistry: two coaches explain why your profession's silence is harmful and how to seek help.
A dental hygienist and dentist have launched coaching practices focused on mental health and career development for oral care professionals. Samora Wijsman and Carolien Schut, who each experienced burnout despite successful practices, now work to break the silence around mental strain in dentistry.
The burden of dental work
Burnout rates among dentists range around 13 percent according to various studies, with some research showing 17 percent have experienced suicidal thoughts. Wijsman and Schut identify multiple sources of pressure: constant alertness, busy schedules, administrative burden, team responsibility, physical fatigue, and patients' growing expectations. Both emphasize that patients often approach dental visits reluctantly, making it difficult to feel the work is valued. Combined with fear of negative reviews and complaints, these factors erode job satisfaction over time.
Breaking the silence on struggles
What both coaches identify as a major problem is the absence of conversation about these difficulties. Schut calls this the 'white coat taboo': many dentists work in isolation, solving all problems alone, and view admitting dissatisfaction as a loss of face. Young dentists and students feel pressure to appear competent and rarely discuss mistakes or uncertainty. Wijsman and Schut encourage colleagues to speak openly about doubts and mental health. For those unable to find peer support, coaching offers an alternative. Wijsman emphasizes that coaching is not meant to push professionals out of dentistry but rather to help them recognize they have choices: scaling back practice size, focusing on preferred patient groups, working part-time in other areas, or sometimes leaving dentistry entirely.
How coaching works
Wijsman, who completed formal coach training in 2018 and founded Medshift in 2024, works from personal values and maps where energy drains and flows. She addresses the fear that accompanies change. Schut, who draws on 35 years as a dentist and works with approximately five sessions per client, focuses on mirroring and identifying the core issue. Both believe dental professionals benefit from coaches who understand the profession: its hierarchies, processes, language, and specific pressures. This familiarity builds safety and recognition that cannot be matched by general career coaches.
Frequently asked questions
How common is burnout among dentists in Europe?
Burnout rates among dentists range around 13 percent according to various studies, though definitions and measurement methods differ by country. Some research shows that 17 percent of dentists have experienced suicidal thoughts at some point.
Why do dental professionals hesitate to discuss mental health problems?
Dentists often work in isolation and solve problems alone, viewing admission of struggle as a loss of professional face. There is also pressure, especially among young dentists and students, to appear fully competent and never make mistakes. This creates what coaches call the 'white coat taboo', where mental strain remains hidden.
What options exist if a dentist or hygienist is unhappy with their work?
Options include scaling back to a smaller practice, focusing on preferred patient groups, working part-time while pursuing other interests, or leaving dentistry entirely. Wijsman and Schut emphasize that professionals have choices and are not locked into their original career path.
Why should dental professionals work with a coach who understands dentistry?
A coach with dental experience understands the profession's hierarchies, processes, language, and specific pressures. This familiarity builds safety, reduces explanation time, and allows the coach to suggest solutions grounded in realistic knowledge of dental practice.
What do dental coaches actually do in a coaching session?
Approaches vary but typically include mapping where energy drains and flows, identifying personal values, addressing fear of change, and setting small goals. Coaches may use different methodologies; some focus on mirroring and distilling the core issue to help professionals gain clarity.
