A recent appointment with a particularly happy patient got me thinking about what is it that makes us, as dentists, happy? And when are we happiest?
Is it satisfied patients? Successful treatments? New technology and gadgets? Holidays? Certainly all of these elements contribute to a sense of momentary contentment and satisfaction, but what is it that creates a more long-term feeling of happiness? And what can we do to make our profession happier?
There are many psychological studies that put choice, autonomy and control as major contributors to feelings of happiness. It would appear that we are happiest when we have control of our own destinies, when the decisions that affect us most are the ones that we have the power over. Thus, as dentists, we may be happy in our day-to-day practices and surgeries because this where we are in charge and make the decisions, but, as soon as this control is taken away we can feel uncomfortable, unsure and less content.
In a wider sense, this is something that many dentists are feeling at the moment and there is a growing sensation of unease and unhappiness across the industry. This can be attributed to an increasing sense of a loss of control over a profession that we are all care deeply for and are so passionate about.
The well-documented problems with the GDC certainly don't help the situation and for many the lack of perceived control in this area in particular is a source of anxiety and distress. Many felt that eventually something had to change and the GDC is now firmly in the dock, facing the wrath of a disgruntled profession as LDCs across the country have expressed their disdain and frustration. The latest wave of disapproval from professionals stems from the significant increase in retention fees for practitioners, but also has deeper roots in the way in which the GDC operates as a whole. But the question remains: how do we change all this and what would actually make us happier?
In its response to the LDCs, the GDC released a statement saying that it was anxious to ‘engage constructively with the dental profession’ and has planned discussions that it hopes professionals will participate in. Certainly entering into a two-way discourse is the first step to achieving some sort of mediated appeasement, but will this make us happier as a profession?
Ultimately, what dentists want is to feel like they have some degree of control over their industry and their future. It is therefore time to examine the roadblocks that are getting in the way and begin changing dentistry for the better. By wrestling back some control, perhaps we can all be a little bit happier?
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Dr Michael Sultan BDS MSc DFO FICD is a Specialist in Endodontics and the Clinical Director of EndoCare. Michael qualified at Bristol University in 1986. He worked as a general dental practitioner for 5 years before commencing specialist studies at Guy’s hospital, London. He completed his MSc in Endodontics in 1993 and worked as an in-house Endodontist in various practices before setting up in Harley St, London in 2000. He was admitted onto the specialist register in Endodontics in 1999 and has lectured extensively to postgraduate dental groups as well as lecturing on Endodontic courses at Eastman CPD, University of London. He has been involved with numerous dental groups and has been chairman of the Alpha Omega dental fraternity. In 2008 he became clinical director of EndoCare, a group of specialist practices.