How to Prevent Burnout as a Dental Assistant

Having a career as a Dental Assistant can be very rewarding. It can as well be demanding and overpowering at times. Working with individuals can get the best of us once in a while. Being a Dental Assistant requires constant commitment and energy. If you find yourself becoming physically and emotionally debilitated because of your work obligations as a Dental Assistant, you might be on your way to going through burnout.

Often, stress and burnout are confounded. Stress is also the result of the work environment. But, it is the result of periodic issues and problems in the place of work. It may be having a bad day once in a while. Burnout is a continuing, ongoing feeling of not being good in your job on a daily basis. You might not longer take pride or interest in your position as a Dental Assistant. 

Burnout results in feelings of hopelessness and bitterness. If left not treated, it can advance to clinical depression. Dental Assistants who experience burnout frequently feel not appreciated, over-worked, feel they have too much to accomplish in limited time, and start to resent their level of responsibility. Placing unrealistic anticipations on yourself is as well a factor in burnout. 

Burnout typically runs in phases. You go from feeling enthusiastic about your job as a Dental Assistant to forcing yourself to go to work each morning. The majority of people aren’t even sure what is wrong at this point. But, you will start to feel fatigue that leads to irritability. Burnout frequently has symptoms such as head aches, changes in appetite, and high blood pressure. Throughout stages of burnout, your relationships both outside of work and at work are going to suffer. 

If you are feeling you might be suffering from burnout, talk with your supervisor. You can find support in your co-workers. You may consider attending a few counseling sessions to help you develop an action plan. 

To avoid and eliminate burnout in the Dental Assistant field, you must meet your emotional and physical needs. Too frequently we spread ourselves too thin. We concentrate on the needs of our patients, our boss, and our family. While this is great, it is necessary to keep in mind your own needs. Eventually not taking care of your family will cause your inability to care for the requirements of anyone else. 

Meet your physical needs by having regular check-ups, sleeping enough, and eating healthily. Exercise is a very important part of feeling good physically. To keep yourself feeling good mentally, use your contending talents. Know what activates your negative feelings and keep them in check. Keep practical aims and demands on your body and your time. Do not whip yourself up if you didn’t accomplish every thing you started do that day. Instead, concentrate on what you did accomplish. Learn to manage your time. It is OK to say know if you already feel over extended. 

Focusing on your social needs is as well important. Take care of your relationships with your spouse, children, and close friends. Stay concerned in Church and community organizations that are of interest to you. If you're unhappy with your job as a Dental Assistant, talk to your boss about help to rectify the situation. Improving your communication abilties with others will as well improve your over all health.

Dental Assistants usually like their career choice and put forth their best effort everyday. But, burnout is quite common in the dental area. Knowing what causes burnout, the signs or symptoms, and effective ways to manage it will make you to concentrate on your job again. Improving your physical, mental, and social health will soon having you going to work with enthusiasm and a desire for wisdom in the dental area. If your feelings don’t change, you will prefer to discuss the situation further. It might be depression that needs to be treated instead of burnout. Logically, a few Dental Assistants realize at this time they need a career change.