Yana Subocheva – Certified Dental Assistant with over 13 years of experience in Greenwich, a suburb of New York City.

Stress always has a negative impact on health and productivity. Sometimes it can be transformed into motivation and directed in the right way. However, it tends to accumulate and eventually turn into more serious problems.

Today we will talk about stress in the work of a dental assistant. This is not a scientific article, but rather personal observations. And also – methods of coping with it that may help you.

Main Sources of Stress

There is no room for relaxation in dentistry. It is constant activity, even during breaks, when you barely have time to eat lunch or rest for at least a minute. Most of the day is spent on your feet: preparing the workplace and instruments between patient visits, and during treatment – constant assistance.

So overall, I would highlight the following causes of stress:

• Working under high responsibility and limited time.
• Communicating with anxious or aggressive patients.
• Teamwork with the dentist: expectations, pressure, risk of mistakes.
• Physical strain: prolonged standing, repetitive movements.

These are not all triggers, but some of the most frequent and influential ones. Let us take a closer look.

Working Under High Responsibility and Limited Time

In the dental office, the assistant bears the same responsibility as the dentist. In some cases, even greater. Imagine – a poorly sterilized instrument becomes the cause of a patient’s infectious disease. Improper anesthesia or an incorrect scan report also have serious consequences. And this is constant mental pressure, even when actions are performed automatically.

Communicating with Anxious or Aggressive Patients

Most come for treatment hoping for help, but are guided by the principle “the client is always right.” It is good if the patient can simply be calmed because they fear dental procedures. But sometimes there are cases of aggressive behavior, rudeness. Time is lost, and the staff receives a portion of stress. Meanwhile, other patients are waiting in line.

Teamwork with the Dentist: Expectations, Pressure, Risk of Mistakes

Here everything depends on the situation. Over time, coordination and synchronization become absolute. But at the beginning of working with a new specialist, it is always difficult. Even experience does not help, since you have to adapt anew and “adjust” to each other. Again, after some time the tension decreases or disappears completely, but the first months are a real challenge.

Physical Strain: Prolonged Standing, Repetitive Movements

The last on the list, but not in significance. Simple human fatigue. During 8 hours of work, only a few minutes of rest between patients is the usual routine. Sometimes strength leaves much earlier, but the dentist needs support – meaning an energetic assistant. And so it goes every day, except weekends and holidays. Sometimes you just want to take a day off, but then you immediately remember the first point on this list.

It is difficult, even habit does not save you. Therefore, you have to work on yourself and “unload” at least from time to time.

Practical Strategies for Overcoming Stress

In more than 13 years of working as a dental assistant, I have had different experiences. There were periods when the stress level broke all records. But I quickly found solutions. More precisely, four methods that help minimize stress at the workplace (leisure is a separate topic):

• Using music during work (with the patient’s consent).
• Establishing a “stop” signal for patients who feel anxiety.
• Clear planning of the workday and breaks.
• Workplace ergonomics.

And they really work. Not always perfectly, but in most cases they significantly affect the emotional state. So, let us take a closer look at these methods further.

Using Music During Work (with the Patient’s Consent)

Musical background reduces stress. Even the radio in the office distracts the client from focusing on the invisible instruments that are constantly inside their oral cavity. Therefore, audio, especially simple and calm compositions, is an appropriate practice that equally helps both patients and dentists with assistants cope with stress.

Establishing a “Stop” Signal for Patients Who Feel Anxiety

Patients’ stress is transmitted to the staff. Especially when the patient begins to behave inadequately, trembling, waving their hands. And you do not understand whether it hurts or they are simply scared. To avoid such situations, it is better to agree in advance on a gesture with which the patient will indicate that a pause is needed. Of course, it is not always possible to stop the procedure, but such a signal helps track tense moments and prevent problems.

Clear Planning of the Workday and Breaks

Again, it is difficult to plan something, especially when new clients come to the clinic. You do not know their reactions, behavior, and so on. But still. It is absolutely necessary to take a break between patients. This is not only the preparation of the workplace and instruments, but also an opportunity to rest, have coffee, or visit the restroom.

Workplace Ergonomics

The dental office is a working space, not a relaxation room. However, even in such conditions, it is possible to arrange some “comfort.” For example, install additional chairs so that the assistant and the dentist can rest for a few minutes, taking turns during procedures. And also conveniently arrange instruments and equipment. Fewer actions – less fatigue and stress.

No Work After the Shift

As I said earlier – leisure is also important. We simply forget about the work of a dental assistant and rest. It does not matter how, what matters is that as a result you feel happy. This is the balance between stress and relaxation that recharges you with energy for the next shifts.