I got married two weeks before I became a dentist. While I never thought about divorcing my husband, I have thought about divorcing dentistry. How about you? Have you ever daydreamed about having a different career? Ever looked at your accountant or sales rep and wished you were them? Just like not all marriages work out, not all careers work out either. Read what my friends told me and see if you relate.
Friend 1: “I am not passionate about dentistry. I am selling my office and taking time off to figure out what to do next.”
Friend 2: “I worked so hard to get licensed in Canada. I was so excited to start working, but I find it so stressful. I don’t want to do it anymore. I am quitting and not going back. Do you want my loupes?”
Friend 3: “I am burnt out again. This time worse than before. I am taking a break from dentistry.”
A break? Sounds more like a breakup. All three of these dentists are under 35 years old and they divorced dentistry.
What did I say to them? I told them, “I felt the same way. I was going to quit, but instead I found different ways to enjoy dentistry—education, public health, advocacy, volunteerism, and now, practice ownership. Doing those other things made me like clinical dentistry because it wasn’t the only thing that fulfilled me.”
I encouraged them to explore different paths in dentistry like I did. They followed my advice, and they found the path out.
At first, I was disappointed; I thought they gave up too easily. I thought I failed them as a mentor. Then, I thought, I support my friends when they break up with their partners, and I should support my friends who are breaking up with dentistry.
It’s not an easy decision to leave dentistry after working hard to get into dental school, paying off debt, and feeling society’s pressure to stay in the profession. If you feel in your heart that you’ll be happier doing something else, then leave, even if you don’t know what that something else is.
How about the rest of us? Some of us love dentistry, while some of us put up with dentistry. We love it just enough not to leave because there isn’t anything else we love. Sounds like some marriages. What should we do if we lost that loving feeling with dentistry?
Talk about it. Write about it. Get help. Talk to other dentists and feel better knowing you are not alone. Learn how they reignited their passion with dentistry. Write down what you would like your perfect day to look like and figure out how to make that happen. Call the Members’ Assistance Program at 1-844-578-4040. It’s free counseling for dentists through your provincial dental association. If you continue to be a dentist from this day forward, make it for better, not worse. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.
About the author:
Dr. Sanjukta Mohanta is a general dentist practicing in Toronto. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 1999 and received their Alumni of Influence Award. She volunteers with the Ontario Dental Association, Filling the Gap Dental Outreach, and Great Shape’s- 1000 Smiles dental outreach program in the Caribbean. Interested in volunteering? Contact Sanj at sanjuktamohanta@hotmail.com