--- title: "Wellness resources for dentists: where to start" description: "A sourced list of wellness resources for dentists: the ADA Well-Being Index, the 988 line, state well-being programs and the Missouri Dental Board program." url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/wellness-resources-for-dentists publisher: Copeland Consulting Services email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact --- # Wellness resources for dentists: where to start The ADA lists a confidential Well-Being Index, a directory of state well-being programs, CE courses on resilience and a 988 crisis line. The Missouri Dental Board runs its own Well Being Program for licensees. Peer-reviewed reviews suggest that workplace relationships also matter for burnout prevention. Team and leadershipPublished October 26, 20264 min read This page collects wellness resources that dental organizations and the Missouri Dental Board publish. All pages were opened on October 26, 2026. It is a directory, not medical or mental health advice. If you or someone you know is in crisis, text or dial 988. For a medical emergency, call 911. ## What does the ADA offer for dentist wellness? The American Dental Association (ADA) runs a wellness hub with tools for mental and physical health. Its mental health page says more than 80% of dentists report “major” stress in their careers. It lists the following resources. Resource What the ADA says it is Well-Being Index A confidential self-assessment invented by the Mayo Clinic, with a personalized dashboard of resources Dentist Well-Being Programs Directory Peer support and wellness resources for dentists across the U.S. Suicide Postvention Toolkit An ADA and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention tool to cope with the loss of a colleague Preventing Unfair Discrimination An advocacy toolkit to reduce barriers to care for mental health and substance use disorders CE courses Emotional Resilience (1 credit) and Your Wellness Plan (1 credit) Workplace Mental Health Toolkit A resource made with NAMI Chicago to support an entire team Dental Sound Bites on mental health Episodes about well-being and mental health The ADA wellness page also links to physical health and ergonomics resources for the aches that come with dentistry. ## What does Missouri offer? The Missouri Dental Board runs a Well Being Program. The Board says it encourages dental professionals who may be impaired by illness, substance use, or a physical or mental condition to contact the program. The Board page names the program administrator, a licensed clinical social worker, and lists a phone number and email address. Read the [Missouri Dental Board](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/missouri-dental-board) page for current contact details. Dentists who want peer programs in other states can use the ADA directory above. ## How do you choose a resource? Different needs point to different sources. The table maps common needs to the resources named above. Need Where the sources point A private self-check ADA Well-Being Index Peer support in your state ADA state well-being programs directory Help for illness, substance use or a mental condition in Missouri Missouri Dental Board Well Being Program Support for a whole team ADA and NAMI Chicago workplace toolkit Aches and strain from clinical work ADA physical health and ergonomics page Immediate danger 988 or 911 ## What advocacy work does the ADA describe? The ADA wellness page says the ADA works to advance the profession’s health and wellness at personal, local, state and national levels. It lists a peer-support program for wellness that offers resources for dental professionals and their family members. It also says the ADA helped develop the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being with the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being. This post did not open that plan. ## What if someone is in crisis? Text or dial 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline. The ADA describes it as free and confidential. For a medical emergency, dial 911. These numbers are open to anyone, whether or not they belong to a dental group. ## What does the research say about prevention? Research on [dental burnout](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-burnout) cannot tell any one person what to do. It does point to themes. A 2024 systematic review of dental professionals concluded that emphasizing professional relationships and workplace dynamics could play a crucial role in preventing and managing burnout. That review pooled studies across many countries. See the post on [dentist burnout research](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dentist-burnout-research) for the numbers and the limits. For hygienists, one Canadian survey reported coping methods named by respondents: work-life balance, social support, a positive work environment and physical activity. The post on [dental team burnout](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-team-burnout) covers that survey. ## What should a leader check before sharing a resource? A short check protects trust. Run through this list for each link. Check Reason Open the page yourself Links and phone numbers change Note who runs it A state board, an association and a vendor differ Note cost The ADA lists some CE courses with credit, which may have fees Note privacy terms Read how a self-check tool handles your answers ## How can practice leaders use this list? Owners and managers can share the list with the team and review it at a staff meeting. A few neutral steps: 1. Read each linked page yourself first. 2. Share the 988 and Board program details in a place staff can find them. 3. Ask the team what support would be useful, and listen. 4. Review workload, scheduling and communication as part of normal [practice culture](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-culture) work. None of these steps replace care from a licensed professional. The guide on [dental leadership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dental-leadership) covers leading a team through busy periods, and the guide on [hiring and keeping a dental team](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/hire-and-keep-a-dental-team) covers retention. ## Next step To read more on team climate and leadership, see the guide on [dental leadership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dental-leadership). Contact Dr. Copeland about [consulting questions](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting). Dr. Jon Copeland, DDS, is a general dentist in Wildwood, Missouri, and a past president of the Missouri Dental Association. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the ADA Well-Being Index? The ADA describes it as a confidential self-check invented by the Mayo Clinic. A dentist answers a few questions and gets a personalized dashboard with resources. The ADA page also offers an anonymous version described as validated. Read the ADA page for the current terms. ### Is there a Missouri program for dentists? Yes. The Missouri Dental Board lists a Well Being Program for dental professionals who may be impaired by illness, substance use or a physical or mental condition. The Board page names the program administrator and a phone number. ### What should someone do in a crisis? Text or dial 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which the ADA says is free and confidential. For a medical emergency, call 911. These services are available now and do not depend on a dental association. ## Terms on this page - [American Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/american-dental-association) - [Missouri Dental Association](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/missouri-dental-association) - [Missouri Dental Board](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/missouri-dental-board) - [Dental leadership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-leadership) - [Practice culture](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-culture) - [Dental burnout](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-burnout) - [Dental team](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-team) - [ADA](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/ada) ## Sources 1. [American Dental Association: Wellness Resources](https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/wellness) 2. [American Dental Association: Protect your mental health](https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/wellness/mental-health) 3. [Missouri Dental Board: Well Being Program](https://pr.mo.gov/dental-wellbeing.asp) 4. [PMC: Prevalence and Management of Burnout Among Dental Professionals Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review (Healthcare, 2024)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11641790/) Written by Copeland Consulting Services and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. Rules, data and guidance change, so check the linked page before you act on it. ## Keep reading - [Dentist burnout: what the research shows so farOne systematic review pooled 37 studies and put dentist burnout prevalence at 13%, with wide variation between studies. Emotional exhaustion was the most common dimension. The review's authors warn that the studies differ a lot and that none met every quality criterion. The ADA reports that more than 80% of dentists feel major stress.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dentist-burnout-research) - [Dental leadership: team skills, training programs and where to learn themDental leadership is the work of guiding a dental team, a practice or a part of the profession. Core skills include clear communication, delegation, feedback and hiring. Learn them through team routines, mentors, organized dentistry such as the ADA and state societies, and formal programs like the ADEA Leadership Institute.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dental-leadership) - [How to hire and keep a dental teamDental team hiring is hard because the supply of assistants and hygienists is tight. ADA Health Policy Institute research links retention to workplace culture, work-life balance and fair pay. Write job ads and interview questions around the job's duties, and ask an employment attorney before you finalize hiring and pay policies.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/hire-and-keep-a-dental-team) - [Dental team burnout: assistants and hygienistsResearch on dental team burnout is thinner than research on dentists. A 2022 survey of Nova Scotia hygienists found 36.2% met burnout criteria during the first COVID-19 wave. A 2024 review reports that dentist and assistant relationships, workload and pay predicted exhaustion in one assistant study.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/dental-team-burnout) - [Dental associate contracts: terms, pay models and red flags to ask aboutA dental associate contract sets pay, status, duties, term, termination, insurance and limits on work after you leave. The ADA publishes a guide to key provisions and a compensation explainer. Pay models differ in what they count, so read the formula. Have an attorney in your state review any contract before you sign.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dental-associate-contracts) - [DSOs and private practice: models, data and questions to askA dental support organization (DSO) manages some or all of a practice's nonclinical work, such as billing, marketing and human resources. ADA data show 16.1% of U.S. dentists were DSO-affiliated in 2024, and 27% of those under 10 years out of school. Each model has trade-offs.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dso-vs-private-practice-guide) ## Talk with Dr. Copeland [Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)