Do you suffer from Constant Dentistry? Not to be confused with re-laxative treatable Constipated Dentistry. Still never a good thing when plugged up like that.
Yes Constant Dentistry (CD). It’s a real thing. When dentistry consumes every aspect of your life. You’re not just only starting and ending your day brushing and flossing teeth, but you’re touching, talking and thinking teeth throughout. It’s incessant, critiquing the margins on a #19 you did weeks ago. Telling your significant other how they never seem to understand you when you’ve explained to your lab that the shade isn’t A3 or A3.5, but more A3.25.
CD has a higher prevalence in younger dentists. Especially high aptitude, perfectionistic tendencies lend themselves to acquiring this condition. The repetitive nature, black and white teachings that demand a high level of functioning in academia and in practice seem to reinforce the idea ‘you’re not good enough’.
Sometimes this condition can waver in severity. Often it reveals itself in our most vulnerable times. When we tackle patients with higher attention to detail or demands the condition seems to worsen.
Self medicating with alcohol, drugs and patient bashing with colleagues provide temporary relief. But never do they treat the underlying condition of CD.
If you have been affected by CD, or any of the descriptors above resonated with you, we need to seriously talk.
First ask if your passion for dentistry has led you past obsession. It’s a fine line to walk, because if you love teeth, and think there’s a certain sexiness to what happens during mastication power to you. But if we let every detail constantly consume us, the debilitating thoughts push us into imbalance like an unequilibrated occlusion.
Don’t let CD dictate the terms and push your rheostat. It first requires you to self-diagnose your CD. Choose when you’re thinking about dentistry, and when you’re off of it. To not let the finer details, the minor tremors in your diamond or an air bubble pop your self esteem.
It won’t just change overnight either. Even when you know you have CD. It takes time. Brick by brick, mm by mm, you remove the amalgamated layers you’ve condensed over years and even decades. It’s time for you to retire the thought of always being perfect. Accept the thought that you were always good enough.
Thrive my friend,
Lam