Mental Health and Well-being in Dentistry

Several aspects of dentistry mean that oral health professionals (OHPs) are exposed to anxiety, worry, and stress, which can result in serious mental health issues and an increase in addictive behaviours. These situations can affect the quality of care provided, impacting negatively patients’ well-being.

Studies have shown that up to 87% of dental practitioners suffer symptoms of burnout in the United Kingdom¹ and according to a study published in 2020, 32% of physicians and dentists working mainly in middle-income countries experienced professional burnout². 

Continued efforts towards mental health awareness

The first phase of FDI’s mental health and wellbeing project ran from September 2021 to September 2022. Given the increasing concerns about mental health challenges faced by the oral health workforce, this project remains a priority for FDI. 

This next phase of the project will build on the Digital Toolkit for Mental Health and Well-being for Dental Teams, developed in phase I, and will aim to expand our reach to dental students exposed to high levels of stress and burnout. 

Sign the Pledge

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OHWB
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e-Learning Course - Mental Health

New e-Learning Course on Mental Health in Dentistry

Register to be contacted when the FDI World Dental Federation launches its upcoming e-Learning course on "Managing mental health from dental school to dental practice" - a free, interactive course aiming to provide dental students and professionals with the skills to understand the mental health crisis in dentistry and protect themselves, their peers, and the wider dental community.

Sign up now

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The Mental Health and Wellbeing in Dentistry project is supported by:

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Dental Protection in partnership with the MPS Foundation