Louis Malcmacher DDS MAGD Printer Friendly Version

Do Dentists Have Low Self Esteem?

The answer is yes, dentists do have low self-esteem. I will say it unequivocally and I will tell you that it is time that we do something about it. In addition to my general and cosmetic dental practice, my other full-time job is presenting, teaching and educating dental professionals. I speak to thousands of dentists every single year so I feel that I have a fairly unique insight into the mindset of general dentists. Here are a few of the reasons that I think dentists have a low professional self-esteem.

First of all, we need to make dental continuing education more engaging, more enlightening, and certainly more interesting and fun. I gave a lecture a few months ago at a fantastic dental meeting, The New Mexico Dental Meeting in Albuquerque. I was walking from the hotel, which was a couple of blocks from the convention center, with a group of dentists, hygienists, assistants, and office managers.  They didn’t know who I was, and I certainly didn’t know who they were either.  As we were walking into the convention center and being joined by a few other dental professionals, I overheard one hygienist say to another, “I hate going to these dental continuing education classes, they are so boring.  I would really rather be working.” To me that was certainly a challenge and I used that in my opening remarks in that meeting, which sparked a good bit of laughter.  Why do some dental lecturers insist on talking down to dentists, maligning other schools of thought, and have a brusque attitude with their audiences?

Thankfully, we are blessed to have many motivating and engaging speakers who really help raise the dental industry’s self-esteem.  People like Sally McKenzie, Dr. Harold Crossley, Dr. Joe Blaes, Dr. Lorne Lavine, Dr. Michael Silverman, Dr. Tony Feck, and others who know that people learn better when they are engaged and entertained. Whenever I personally give or take a continuing education class, I want to walk out of that meeting room not only educated but also inspired about what I can provide to my patients. 

Another reason that dentists have low self-esteem is because we really don’t think of ourselves as “real doctors.” It’s time to take a good look in the mirror and realize what we know and how that knowledge can benefit our patients, especially when we work in conjunction with other healthcare professionals. I will point to two areas specifically – one is the oral-systemic connection and the other is the total facial esthetics connection.  I have been heavily involved in both of these areas for the past few years. Many dentists do not take the time to connect with physicians when the patient has systemic diseases that can be improved with proper oral care. I have had many physicians and nurses thank our office for the ability to work together with them so that the patient has better health outcomes. The area of total facial esthetics is an area where dentists really shine in comparison to other healthcare providers. Now that I have been heavily involved in providing and teaching Botox and dermal filler therapy (www.commonsensedentistry.com) , I work with many esthetic dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and physicians who treat dentists as peers. Indeed, they are surprised when they learn dentists have only recently been able to provide Botox and dermal fillers in many states. There is much that dentists can teach esthetic physicians in terms of smile lines, lip and cheek support, lip lines, esthetic dentistry and how esthetic dentistry fits into the facial esthetic world. Unfortunately, it’s dentists who try to prevent us from interacting in these areas. 

It is high time to look ourselves in the mirror and finally understand that we are not only teeth mechanics, but have a lot to offer to the overall health and well-being of our patients, as well as giving them a great looking and healthy smile. Let’s start working with other healthcare providers, who often treat us more professionally than we sometimes treat each other. We are highly trained healthcare, clinical and esthetic professionals who specialize in the oral and maxillofacial areas.  Let’s take ourselves more seriously as a profession.

Dr. Louis Malcmacher is a practicing general dentist in Bay Village, Ohio, an internationally known lecturer, dental consultant and author, and consultant to the Council on Dental Practice of the ADA. Interested in knowing more about how to truly enjoy dentistry? Click here.

Interested in having Dr. Malcmacher speak to your dental society or study club? Click here. To reach Dr. Malcmacher, email him at DrMalcmacher@thedentistsnetwork.net or call 1.800.952.0521.

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