Two weeks ago I suffered a spontaneous pneumothorax and it shook me. This episode came at the PERFECT time as such health scares remind us that our health and wellbeing are the highest form of Wealth.

Should Dentists have a therapist to manage stress and anxiety?

Did you know that a BDA survey found 1 in 5 practitioners have seriously considered taking their own lives?

Is it the intense work environment, the pressure from patients, the fear of litigation, or the added burden of business ownership?

More importantly, how can we address this issue and support dental professionals?

Dr. Simon Chard, a cosmetic and implant dentist and co-founder/CEO of Parla (as seen on Dragon's Den!), joins Jaz to discuss the often-overlooked realities of the dental profession. 

https://youtu.be/rH7PtjFTOpk

Watch IC055 on Youtube

Here are the two books Jaz recommended during the intro:

The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom

Hold on to your Kids by Gabor Mate

Check out The Dental Growth Retreat by Dr Simon Chard

Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!

Key Takeaways:

Simon emphasizes the importance of balancing personal and professional life.

Mental health issues in dentistry are alarmingly high, with many professionals considering leaving the field.

Therapy can be beneficial for everyone, including dentists, to manage stress and emotional challenges.

Building mental resilience is crucial for handling the pressures of dental practice.

Sleep quality and routine significantly impact overall health and productivity.

Mindfulness and meditation can reduce stress and improve mental health.

A structured approach to self-care can enhance resilience in the dental profession.

Exercise is a key component of maintaining mental and physical health.

Creating a supportive community among dental professionals is essential for mental well-being.

Proactive self-care strategies can prevent burnout and improve job satisfaction. You can't mess up meditation; awareness is key.

Diet significantly impacts mental health and well-being.

Interpersonal relationships are crucial for mental resilience.

Exercise is a powerful tool for physical and mental health.

Purposeful living leads to greater fulfillment.

Hydration and nutrition are foundational to health.

Loneliness can have severe health implications.

Creating time for relationships is essential.

A value-based calendar helps prioritize what matters.

Retreats can provide tools for personal growth and accountability.

This episode is not eligible for CPD/CE points, but never fear, there are hundreds of hours of CPD waiting for you on the Ultimate Education Plan, including Premium clinical workthroughs and Masterclasses.

Highlights of this Episode:00:00 Intro04:25 Introduction to Dr Simon Chard10:10 Why is Dentistry so Stressful?14:00 Therapy for Dentists19:20 Strategies for Mental Resilience25:20 Mindfulness31:57 Intake40:32 Love45:12 Value Based Calendar48:32 Exercise51:57 Managing Everything54:34 The Retreat 

If you enjoyed this episode, check out: Mental Health in Dentistry - PDP185

Click below for full episode transcript:

Jaz: The BDA, which is the British Dental Association, it had like something like it was 18% or nearly 1 in 5, right, had thoughts about and we'll just say it taking their own life, right? And I'm sorry to everyone to go in this direction, but it's important that we address it head on.

Teaser:Incredible the number of individuals who are vitamin D deficient in this country. So I vitamin D test all of my surgical patients. We have a finger prick, point of care blood tests that we do ahead of the surgical appointment. I would probably say in my patient cohort, 75% are vitamin D deficient. The digital connection that we have with people is like a junk connection, like junk food and the real interpresonal relationship that we have with people is like whole food and whole c...