Managing Dental Hygiene Stress: 5 Tips to Improve Work-Life Balance

By Suzanne L. Vila, RDH, PHDHP, B.A.

A healthy work-life balance is a key predictor of happiness according to a World Happiness Report in 2017.  Sadly, surveys show that over half of American workers are not satisfied at work because of the imbalance.1

Dental hygiene has seen an 8% decline in clinical hygienists since 2020.2

Considering that practices are seeing hygiene shortages, now is an important time to consider work-life balance for dental hygienists. 

“Do Dental Hygienists Have a Good Work-Life Balance?”

I Googled that question to prepare for this article. The interesting thing is that that question offered varying answers, which is fitting, I think. Although dental hygiene offers us work-life balance opportunities, we may often lose sight of it in the day-to-day clinical practice.  

If you are feeling stress, fatigue, frustration, lack of motivation, or just a lack of basic happiness, you may just need to regain your focus on balance in some aspects of your life.  Although starting that process may seem daunting, with some simple tips, you can be on the road to more daily happiness!

What is Work-Life Balance?

While definitions vary, work-life consultants say that balance requires both Achievement and Enjoyment within one’s professional and personal life. This means that we should be experiencing meaningful achievement and enjoyment within all of the components of our lives such as work, relationships, family, and self-care. 4

What comprises your personal and professional life components may vary and change over time, which is why it is essential to continually strive to recognize them and continually discover new tips to keep a healthy Achievement/Enjoyment Balance.

Work-Life Balance Factors in Dental Hygiene 

For hygienists, professional influences to the work-life balance may include factors such as:

• Clinical Hours Per Week & Commute Time 

• Daily Stress Levels

• Scheduling/Work Flexibility

• Work Environment & Communication

The professional factors coupled with personal components such as family, friends, and ‘me time” must be considered in order to find that Achievement/Enjoyment Balance.

Stress from Wearing Many “Hygiene Hats

While dental hygiene can offer a great work-life balance, stress barriers do exist that must be addressed.  Juggling many different duties and identities throughout the day can leave little time for your own needs, which is a must for balance!

You already know that as hygienists, we wear many ‘hygiene hats’ such as a clinician, patient educator & motivator, hygiene scheduling manager, supply orderer, team player, mentor, and end of day room cleaner.  After wearing those hats, we take them off, head home, and put on more hats of a parent, spouse/partner, friend, cook, cleaning person, and even chauffeur.  

5 Tips for Improving Work-Life Balance

• Prioritize Self-Care - In a previous article, we discussed the benefits of self-care for dental hygienists.  Remember that without taking care of yourself, everything else suffers. 

• Make Time for Socialization - studies show that our social interactions influence our daily feelings of happiness.1  Basically, the more you socialize, the better you feel.  This can be as simple as laughing with colleagues at lunch or spending fun time with family/friends after work.

• Find Flexibility - Flexibility comes in different forms.  Maybe you need flexibility in your work hours, for example, so that you can balance your time. Whatever your definition of flexibility, it is a key component for balance. Studies show that employees with flexibility in their schedules are more satisfied with their jobs.1                     

• Value Your Own Needs - What you need for a work-life balance may differ from your friends and colleagues.  Maybe you need more time at home.  For that, you might want to reduce your work hours or find a job that is closer to home to reduce your commute time.  Or maybe, you want more autonomy whether personally or professionally.  Having more freedom within your work-life schedule can lead to more satisfaction. Whatever your needs, make sure to not only recognize them but communicate them clearly and respectfully. 

• Get Creative! - Finding something that takes your mind off of work or home responsibilities can be a great way to reduce stress and reduce burnout.  Studies show that creative arts and therapies such as painting, photography, dance, and music can also be a great stress management tool.3 

Here, we have discussed just a few tips to center your achievement & enjoyment.  But whether you use these tips or find your own, the point of it is that you need that balance to feel happier and more content as a whole.  Basically, that can all start by working on ways to create a work-life balance that aligns with your own needs, values, and priorities.

Join Us for the Hygiene Summit

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About the Author: Suzanne L. Vila, RDH, PHDHP, B.A.

Suzanne is a Registered Dental Hygienist in private periodontal practice and adjunct faculty at a local college in Central Pennsylvania. After a thirty-year career in dental hygiene, Suzanne is now creating non-clinical projects involving professional enhancement, public health, and patient education. In addition to being a passionate dental practitioner, Suzanne enjoys teaching fitness classes such as Pilates, yoga, and indoor cycling, volunteering with the local dog rescue Pitties.Love.Peace, and spending time with her family and their two rescued pit bulls, Rudy & Freya.

Resources:

1. Ferreira, Stacey. “The Happiness Value of Work-Life Balance.” Inc.com, Inc., 16 Feb. 2018, https://www.inc.com/stacey-ferreira/the-happiness-value-of-work-life-balance.html

2. Gurenlian JR, Morrissey R, Estrich C, et al. Employment patterns of dental hygienists in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Dent Hyg. 2021;95(1):17-24. Accessed June 10, 2021. https://jdh.adha.org/content/jdenthyg/95/1/17.full.pdf

3. Martin, Lily et al. “Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention-A Systematic Review.” Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 8,2 28. 22 Feb. 2018, doi:10.3390/bs8020028

4. “Work-Life Balance Defined.” Work Life Balance - Life and Work Balance Education, Jim Bird, Publisher, 2018, https://worklifebalance.com/work-life-balance-defined/