Between balancing coursework, preparing dental school applications and maintaining a social life, it’s inevitable to not feel overwhelmed or stressed. The pandemic has exacerbated challenges with our physical health, while also amplifying many academic, mental and social challenges.
Whether it be for a routine cleaning or a surgical extraction, many patients face fear and anxiety when visiting the dentist. According to a December 2013 Australian Dental Journal study, it has been estimated that one in seven people exhibit a high level of dental fear.
Smoking causes a variety of health problems, including oral health problems such as oropharyngeal cancers, periodontal disease, gingival recession, caries and tooth staining. Dentists play a critical role in screening for these diseases that stem from tobacco use and are well-trained to help their patients discuss and develop a plan to stop smoking and tobacco use.
A little over a year ago, my dental school switched patient record systems to Epic in an attempt to teach interdisciplinary care for our patients at the dental school. Epic has not historically been used for dentistry, so there was quite a bit of trial-and-error for everyone involved.
The journey to dentistry is associated with high levels of stress due to habits of perfectionism, economic pressures, the constant need for approval, overwhelming situations and patient anxiety. Therefore, our brains often require a decluttering process I like to call “mental floss.”
I believe that most of us were eagerly anticipating the turn of the page leading into 2021. While New Year’s Day is a great benchmark to leave the past behind and reconstitute ourselves as better people with specific goals and drivers, it is important to acknowledge that life is a collection of events, and we remain a product of our past experiences as individuals.
In case you need some inspiration to help get you through the end of the year, check out ASDA Blog’s top wellness blog posts for this year.
