The dental industry has always been a demanding profession prone to high stress levels. However, our recent White Paper – Barriers to Success, shed light on a concerning trend: stress levels among dental experts have risen in 2023 compared to the previous year. This revelation underscores the need for actionable stress management strategies within the dental industry.
Software of Excellence's White Paper – Barriers to Success, looks at the several factors contributing to heightened stress levels among dental professionals in 2023. While the dental industry has always been demanding, several key trends and challenges have exacerbated stress levels:
Staffing Shortages: Many dental practices are experiencing staff shortages, making it challenging to meet patient needs efficiently. Overworked staff members can contribute to increased stress among the entire team.
Financial Pressures: Economic uncertainties have put financial pressure on dental practices, especially smaller ones. Managing overhead costs and maintaining profitability has become more challenging, adding to the stress on practice owners – even more so when considering increased mortgage rates and other financial pressures on the patients. You can read more about how to navigate economic pressure in our recent
blog post.
⏰ Empower your Patients: Minimise the time your reception teams spend on admin tasks and telephone calls by allowing your patients to book appointments online and complete their medical forms digitally using tools such as Online Booking and Patient Portal.
🗓️ Delegate to Technology: Use the technology available to minimise time spent completing low-value manual tasks – this will reduce stress for your team while freeing up their time, allowing them to focus on providing the best experience for each patient.
📖 Invest in Training: Continuous education and training for dental professionals and staff can help them stay updated on industry changes and best practices, reducing stress related to regulatory compliance. Boost your team’s CPD for the year by attending one of our three Practice Growth Workshops or visit our Academy of Excellence. Plus, don’t forget – our Customer Success Team are here to help you and your team navigate challenges, increase capacity, and grow your practice while delivering the best possible care.
💬 Team culture and Communication: Look after your teams, start the day with positive 'Morning Huddles', and utilise reports to provide clear actions and focusses for the day ahead. Support open and honest communication within your team. Discuss challenges and work together to find solutions.
Microminder have been working hard at finding ways to manage IT for dental practices in a way that is less stressful and takes the hard work away from the practice. This includes their Hardware as a Service offering which:
The dental industry has always been demanding, but the stress levels among dental professionals have reached new levels in 2023. The findings from Barriers to Success emphasise the importance of addressing stress management within practices. By implementing time management strategies, delegating responsibilities, investing in training, and prioritising self-care, dental professionals can better manage their stress levels and continue supplying quality care to patients.
Download our full White Paper: Barriers to Success here.