After interviewing over 200 surgeons on the Everyday Oral Surgery podcast, there’s one sentiment I’ve heard repeated time and again: “I love what I do. Oral surgery is the best profession in the world.”
And to be honest… sometimes I’ve wanted to disagree.
There have been stretches in my career where I felt far removed from that feeling. The monotony crept in. The spark faded. My focus shifted from the meaningful to the maddening.
I found myself zeroing in on things that never used to faze me:
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“Why does my assistant never hand me the suture needle the right way?”
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“Why do some older patients talk so much? Are they here for surgery or social hour?”
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“Why am I constantly calculating how much I’m producing every hour—and why does it never feel like enough?”
The daily pressures, the repetition, the financial focus… all of it began to drain the joy from what used to be my passion. I missed the residency days, when every case felt like an exciting challenge and I was learning something new every day.
And then it got worse.
On one podcast episode, I shared my journey through chronic back pain. That struggle turned the daily routine into something that felt more like a jail sentence than a career. Regret and self-criticism took over:
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“Why did I choose a profession so hard on my body?”
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“Why didn’t I choose something easier on the spine—like finance?”
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“What kind of fool ignores a family history of spine degeneration and still chooses oral surgery?”
Eventually, through significant changes to my diet and how I physically practiced, I was able to get out of pain. But even after the physical healing, I realized it would take much more to rediscover joy in the work itself.
Here are a few things that helped me get there:
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Morning gratitude meditations. I’d focus on the parts of my job I do love—like helping people get out of pain or anxiety.
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Staying curious. I started reading more journal articles and asking podcast guests how they’ve evolved and found success. It helped me see my craft with fresh eyes.
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Setting boundaries. I intentionally cut back my hours and limited how many patients I saw per hour. This gave me the time I needed to breathe, connect, and avoid burnout.
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Talking to patients—really talking. When I stopped rushing, I started listening. And surprisingly, I began learning from my patients again.
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Creating fun for the team. Whether it was planning special events or just injecting more positivity into the day, making work fun again boosted morale for everyone—including me.
These changes didn’t just make my days more manageable—they brought the joy back.
I know I’m not alone in this struggle. Whether you’re an oral surgeon, a general dentist, or work in a completely different field, I’d love to hear from you:
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How do you stay grounded in the joy of your work?
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What helps you avoid focusing on the daily frustrations?
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What strategies have helped you sidestep burnout and reignite your passion?
Leave a comment or drop me a message. We’re all in this together—and sometimes, sharing our strategies is the best way to keep each other going.