Being a dentist is stressful, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Add that to the life challenges of relationships, family, and just living, and it becomes essential that we pay attention to our wellness. Fortunately, NMDA is there with you and understands how hard being a dentist can be. Whether you just need a colleague to talk to or the services of a professional counselor, we want to help connect you with the resources you need.
Are you OK?
We encourage every dentist and their teams to use the Well-Being Index. It is an online tool developed by the Mayo Clinic to help you identify the things that may be threatening your well-being. You can create a baseline to gauge when there are new challenges, or you can identify specific areas to access resources that can help rebalance your life. Members and their teams have free use of this tool. Access it HERE through the ADA
NMDA Dentists’ Health & Wellness Committee
When you think you could use some help, the Health & Wellness committee is your first point of contact. They can advise you on the resources that are available and help you take the first steps. Sometimes you need help to move forward or just need someone to reassure you that you’re not the only one feeling the stress. They are here to provide discreet confidential advise colleague-to-colleague.
Contact: Dr. Robert Gherardi
Phone: 505.293.6125
Email: rgherardi2@comcast.net
New Mexico Health Professionals Wellness Program
The NM HPWP is a 501(c)3 non-profit that provides CONFIDENTIAL services statewide for health professionals struggling with:
- substance use
- mental health
- physical health impairment
- work-related burnout
- behavioral/professionalism issues
As a member of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) they are tasked with a dual mission:
- advocate for health professionals to receive the care they need while also maintaining their professional licenses, employment contracts, and insurance credentialling
- protecting the public from health professionals who are impaired
NMHPWP staff are specially trained, licensed and qualified professionals providing assessment, referral, follow-up, treatment planning, case management and reporting, as well as community outreach, education, presentation and consultation to a variety of settings.
SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS
The program provides individual treatment planning and case management. Case management provides the participant, as well as any party the needed reports, with documentation of participation, progress or interventions, and status of program compliance and completion.
This provides documentation of participation and progress that can be used to support licensure, credentialing, malpractice insurance, and other areas of personal and professional needs.
SERVICES FOR EMPLOYERS
NM HPWP provides the services to employment/practice settings:
Consultation on referral process
- How to make a referral to NM HPWP
- Difference between formal and informal referrals
- Expectations on assessment process
- Education, presentations and staff training
Tel. (505) 271-0800
Are You in Pain?
Dentists and their teams are subject to many physical ailments resulting from environmental and ergonomic factors. They have long been considered a hazard that goes with the job, but many problems are preventable.
A recent study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, World Trends in Dental Ergonomics Research: A Bibliometric Analysis reported:
“The prevalence of Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (MSDs) in dentists throughout the world varies from 10.8% to 97.9%. In their research, Batham and Yasobant found that 92.7% of dentists had experienced MSDs during the last 12 months, and in the last 7 days, 84.7% of dentists had complaints of MSDs. The most common MSDs in dentists are back pain, followed by neck pain, shoulder pain, high tension of the trapezius muscle, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, pinched nerves, early arthrosis, myopia, and hearing changes. Pain in the muscles is an alarm in the body before the risk of paralysis and injury occurs, which has the potential to end a career early. In their systematic review, Bret and Gorce reported that the highest prevalence of MSDs in dentists was in the lower back (>60%), shoulders, and upper extremities (35–55%). The main cause was an awkward posture repeated over a long time.”
Pyramid of Wellness
The First Layer: Provider Wellness and Mental Health (PERSON)
At the foundation of the pyramid is the wellness and mental health of you, the provider. Dentistry is a deeply rewarding career, but it also comes with unique pressures-physical demands, emotional intensity, and the ever-present pursuit of perfection. If we are to lead, heal, and inspire, we must first care for ourselves. Mental health must no longer be a quiet afterthought in our profession-it should be part of our everyday conversation. We are committed to fostering resources and dialogue that support resilience, reduce stigma, and help providers access the care they need.
The Second Layer: Team Wellness (PEOPLE)
A dental practice is only as strong as the team behind it. Our hygienists, assistants, administrative staff, and support members are essential to our success and to the patient experience. Promoting wellness for the dental team means investing in their growth, supporting work-life balance, and creating environments where every member feels valued and empowered. We will advocate for strategies that help us build more cohesive, healthy teams.
The Third Layer: Operational and Financial Wellness of the Practice (PRACTICE)
A thriving practice is the engine that drives the well-being of both providers and patients. This third level of the pyramid focuses on the operational and financial health of our practices. From implementing efficient systems and embracing innovation, to navigating insurance challenges and economic uncertainties, we must be proactive stewards of our business models. The ADA provides tools and resources for practice health and we will work to foster peer-to-peer learning opportunities that strengthen practice sustainability and success.
The Fourth Layer: Patient Wellness-Orally and Systemically (PATIENTS)
At the heart of everything we do is the patient. But true patient wellness goes beyond cleanings and fillings. It means recognizing the profound connection between oral health and overall health, educating our patients, and collaborating with other healthcare providers. We must continue to be advocates for comprehensive care, helping patients understand that their mouth is not separate from the rest of their body, but integral to their total well-being, including their mental health.
The Pinnacle: Wellness for the Profession (PROFESSION)
Finally, the top of the pyramid represents the wellness of our profession-its strength, its unity, and its future. That is why being an engaged member of the American Dental Association matters. Membership connects us, protects us, and gives us a unified voice at the local, state and national levels. We will encourage every dentist to embrace the power of organized dentistry; not only for the support it provides today but for the legacy we build for future generations.
