The landscape of general dental practice has changed significantly in recent years, and younger colleagues may feel the effects more than most. Clinicians entering the workforce today may now find themselves in a very different world to that of their predecessors.

Historically, practices were generally owned and managed by the same person. They often had a stable patient base and a low turnover of experienced clinical staff, which invited collaboration and interaction. This in turn often led to a friendly, supportive team environment that allowed new staff members to quickly experience a sense of 'belonging'.

Many practices are now owned by large corporates. Some of these corporates' staff may have little or no clinical knowledge due to their particular roles, and might be working off site. Newer associates and DCPs can also find themselves battling to achieve targets, and might feel like there is no one to turn to in the practice for support.

We have also seen a significant increase in undergraduate training numbers, meaning less clinical time with patients and consequently less clinical experience. Compounded by the disruption to programmes during COVID, recently-graduated clinicians may, sometimes, find themselves feeling out of their depth.

Dealing with isolation and loneliness

If faced with a complex clinical scenario, or the management of a difficult patient, a combination of circumstances like those described above may lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness - particularly if peer support is lacking.

It's understandable for clinicians to feel emotional exhaustion after a busy week of treating patients. Many of our members regularly say they feel stressed after difficult patient encounters, and consequently question their own personal efficiency and accomplishments.

These symptoms are commonly referred to as burnout, a term introduced in the early 1970s by psychologist Herman Freudenberger. It's well documented that healthcare workers seem to be at particular risk of burnout, and unfortunately this can have a negative impact on both our professional and personal lives.

Healthcare professionals and dentists in general tend to attract a certain type of mindset centred on perfectionism and fear of failure. But by being aware of this, we can manage unintended struggles and burdens more effectively.

How to support your colleagues - and yourself

Happiness is crucial in our overall well-being. Surrounding ourselves with people who make positive contributions in our lives is important for our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.

The support of a strong group of friends and colleagues can positively impact our self-belief and competence; they can help to increase our sense of belonging and purpose, improve our self-confidence and help us cope with difficult situations.

Being able to cope is important, but we also need to be mindful of our capacity and our emotional and physical reserves. The GDC standards guidance 7.2.3 reminds us to only work within our mental and physical capabilities, but it's important to look for signs of burnout or unhappiness in people we work or socialise with as well.

Here are some things to consider

• Newly qualified colleagues may find it difficult to initially reach out for help and advice; fear of being ridiculed may be a barrier to asking.
• In the first instance, consider spending lunchbreaks with colleagues, and arranging regular meetings with senior, more experienced colleagues.
• If this proves difficult, perhaps reach out to someone like a former educational supervisor or training programme director.

Peer support is crucial to well-being and mental resilience, and having a mentor, supportive colleagues and a trusted network is important.

By having an informal chat with colleagues, clinical concerns can be addressed confidentially. Colleagues may be able to provide sensible suggestions and positive support, which is vital when dealing with patients on a daily basis.

Nurturing friendships at work means we can not only support each other, but can also offer different options and opinions about patient care. By working together, we can nurture and build a collaborative environment where we feel safe and supported.

Dentistry is often a close-knit community, so it may be worthwhile reconnecting with old friends or reaching out to peers and colleagues through organisations or networking platforms. By building strong empathetic connections with people, we enhance our individual and collective emotional wellbeing.

The DDU's advice

At the DDU, we can help with signposting members to health and well-being resources. Our advisers are all dentists with experience of working in challenging professional environments. We've been there too, so we can offer insight and guidance as appropriate.

Through developing and maintaining professional relationships, we create an environment centred on connection, safety and community. This is key to emotional well-being and ensuring that as a team, we work in alignment with each other's ethics and values, and it gives us a platform to manage stress, interact with each other and make sound clinical decisions.

Anxiety related to daily working practices can be reduced when we collectively support each other. It's important to remember that professional relationships are built upon trust, kindness, communication and transparency.

By investing in our professional networks, we can enjoy better health and reduced levels of unhappiness and job dissatisfaction.