Guarding Against Burnout: Essential Strategies for Dental Hygienists

Burnout has become a significant concern in various professions, and dental hygiene is no exception. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as “a syndrome caused by unmanaged, chronic stress.” Burnout is a state of complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Symptoms can range from headaches and fatigue to helplessness, detachment, cynicism, reduced performance, withdrawal, and procrastination.¹ This condition is particularly prevalent in dentistry, where high patient loads, repetitive tasks, ergonomic challenges, and toxic work environments are standard.

Studies indicate that a significant percentage of dental hygienists experience symptoms of burnout, such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. These symptoms can lead to decreased job satisfaction, increased absenteeism, and even early retirement from the profession.²⁻⁴ According to one study, 36% of dental hygienists meet the criteria for burnout, meaning that one in three hygienists experience burnout.⁴

Many dental professionals recognize the symptoms of burnout, but understanding the root cause may be more challenging. Burnout can be work-related or arise from chronic, unmanaged stress from life. Understanding the root cause makes it easier to find solutions. Addressing burnout is essential for maintaining the well-being of dental hygienists and ensuring the highest quality of patient care. Regardless of the root cause, it is crucial to implement effective strategies to prevent and/or overcome burnout. The three main strategies we’ll discuss are reducing stressors, building resilience, and optimizing the stress response. Let's explore these in detail, with practical examples tailored for dental hygienists.

Strategy 1: Reducing Stressors

Dental hygienists face numerous stressors daily. High patient loads can lead to time pressures and feelings of being overwhelmed. Repetitive tasks and awkward positioning contribute to physical strain. At the same time, ergonomic challenges can result in chronic pain and an MSD. Work environments without support or with challenging co-workers or patients can cause emotional stress. Once we understand the stressors, we can work on reducing one stressor at a time. Journaling can be an effective way to learn what’s causing the stress and help get to the root of it. While everyone is different, everyone's needs vary, here are some practical tips for reducing stressors at work.

Implement Efficient Scheduling and Communication: Work with your team to create a schedule that allows adequate time for each patient and avoids overbooking. Review patient protocols and systems so your team is on the same page. Foster a culture of open communication, where you and your team can voice concerns about work and suggest improvements. This can lead to a more effective, supportive, and collaborative work environment.

Improve Ergonomics in the Workspace: Prioritize ergonomic education, tools, and support to minimize physical strain and optimize physical health. Adjust your workstation to support your body, maintain a neutral posture, and reduce bad habits leading to musculoskeletal issues. Investing in ergonomic loupes, properly fitted saddle stools and ergonomic support can make a big difference.⁵

Set Boundaries and Rest: Clearly define work and personal time to avoid taking work-related stress home and create a better work-life balance. Use personal time for relaxation and rejuvenation to fill your cup versus watching Netflix and scrolling on social media. Remember that you cannot give from an empty cup, so prioritize yourself.

Strategy 2: Building Stress Resilience

Preparing for stressful moments can make navigating and recovering from them more manageable. Stress resilience is the ability to cope with and recover from stress. Once we stop or slow the inundated flow of stressors, we can build resilience to stress, which can help dental hygienists manage stressful situations more effectively. Here are some ideas for ways you can support your ability to manage stress and build resilience.

Incorporate Chairside Yoga and Mindfulness Breaks: Take short breaks to slow your breathing or perform a quick body scan. Studies show that performing breathing exercises, stretches, or a few minutes of meditation can significantly reduce stress. Additionally, yoga has been proven to build mental resilience, positively affecting our nervous system, helping to calm the mind, and improving focus and emotional stability.⁶⁻⁷ Dental hygienists can practice yoga and mindfulness chairside.

Ensure Adequate Exercise, Nutrition, and Sleep: Regularly exercise, maintain a healthy diet, and stay hydrated! Exercise releases endorphins, which help combat stress, while a balanced diet ensures better energy, focus, and overall well-being.⁸ Adequate sleep is more crucial for mental and physical health than most realize.⁹ We function optimally when we get a good night's rest, so prioritize proper rest and sleep to support your body's resilience.

Engage in Hobbies and Activities: Pursue hobbies and activities that bring joy and relaxation outside work. Whether reading, gardening, painting, or spending quality time with your family, these activities can help reduce stress and support a well-balanced nervous system.

Strategy 3: Optimizing the Stress Response

Early recognition of burnout symptoms is critical to effectively addressing them. It’s pivotal for hygienists to adopt a healthy lifestyle with habits and coping strategies that support our ability to manage and bounce back from stress while also maintaining our ability to find peace, joy, and positivity. Like building strength in muscles to support posture, building stress resilience takes time and consistency. Here are a few interventions to optimize the stress response.

Use Stress Management Techniques: Practice stress management techniques regularly, such as breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness, visualization, training, and progressive relaxation. These can be done quickly during breaks to help calm the mind. Studies show that breathing exercises can reduce anxiety and stress and support mental well-being.⁶⁻⁷ Deep breathing helps to calm the nervous system and support a well-regulated system.

Get Support: Connect with friends, family, or colleagues. A strong support network of meaningful relationships and regular social interactions is one of the top indicators of overall health for all populations. Isolation and loneliness increase the risk of cognitive decline, emotional dysregulation, and overall mental health issues.¹⁰

Foster Team Collaboration and Support: Foster a work culture that values and appreciates the entire team. Regular recognition and appreciation can boost morale and reduce stress. Find offices that promote mutual respect, teamwork, and collaboration among staff. A supportive team environment can significantly improve work-related stress management.

To combat burnout, dental hygienists should take a multi-pronged approach, finding ways to reduce stressors, build resilience, and optimize the stress response. Implementing these strategies can lead to healthier, more fulfilling lives and careers. As dental hygienists, we should encourage ourselves and our colleagues to take steps actively toward stress and burnout prevention. Prioritizing mental health and well-being is crucial for high-quality patient care and long-term success and fulfillment in the dental hygiene profession. By guarding against burnout, dental hygienists can ensure their well-being while positively impacting their patients' lives.

References:

1. World Health Organization. Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. World Health Organization. Published May 28, 2019. Accessed May 10, 2024. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
2. Knutt A, Boyd LD, Adams JL, Vineyard J. Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout among Dental Hygienists in the United States. American Dental Hygienists’ Association. 2022;96(1):34-42. https://jdh.adha.org/content/96/1/34
3. Bercasio L, Rowe D, Yansane AI. Factors Associated with Burnout among Dental Hygienists in California. The Journal of Dental Hygiene. 2020;40(6). https://jdh.adha.org/content/jdenthyg/94/6/40.full.pdf
4. Haslam SK, Wade A, Macdonald LK, Johnson J, Rock LD. Burnout syndrome in Nova Scotia dental hygienists during the COVID-19 pandemic: Maslach Burnout Inventory. Can J Dent Hyg. 2022;56(2):63-71. Published 2022 Jun 1.
5. Lietz J, Ulusoy N, Nienhaus A. Prevention of Musculoskeletal Diseases and Pain among Dental Professionals through Ergonomic Interventions: A Systematic Literature Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(10):3482. Published 2020 May 16. doi:10.3390/ijerph17103482
6. Shohani M, Badfar G, Nasirkandy MP, et al. The Effect of Yoga on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Women. Int J Prev Med. 2018;9:21. Published 2018 Feb 21. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_242_16
7. Woodyard C. Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(2):49-54. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.85485
8. Childs E, de Wit H. Regular exercise is associated with emotional resilience to acute stress in healthy adults. Front Physiol. 2014;5:161. Published 2014 May 1. doi:10.3389/fphys.2014.00161
9. Alotaibi AD, Alosaimi FM, Alajlan AA, Bin Abdulrahman KA. The relationship between sleep quality, stress, and academic performance among medical students. J Family Community Med. 2020;27(1):23-28. doi:10.4103/jfcm.JFCM_132_19
10. Finley AJ, Schaefer SM. Affective Neuroscience of Loneliness: Potential Mechanisms underlying the Association between Perceived Social Isolation, Health, and Well-Being. J Psychiatr Brain Sci. 2022;7(6):e220011. doi:10.20900/jpbs.20220011