Let’s be really, really, REAL. Working in orthodontics is amazing. The transformations, the smiles, the relationships we build. But it can also be a lot. Whether you’re chairside, at the front desk, managing the team, or running the whole show, the mental load we carry each day is real.

And in 2025, it’s time we stop brushing it aside.

You're Not Just Tired, You're Carrying Too Much

Back-to-back patients. High-stakes treatment plans. Kids crying in the chair. Parents with questions (lots of them). A team member calls out. Lunch? What lunch?

Sound familiar?

It’s easy to fall into the cycle of “just push through,” especially in a field where helping others is part of who we are. But that mindset catches up with us. The truth? Orthodontic teams are burning out. Quietly. And often invisibly.

Why Mental Wellness Matters More Than Ever

This isn’t just a Gen Z thing. Or a millennial thing. It’s an every generation thing.

Whether you’re in your 20s, your 50s, or anywhere in between, we all need:

• To feel appreciated and heard

• Space to pause and breathe

• Support when we’re overwhelmed

• A culture where it’s safe to say, “I’m not okay today.”

And when we don’t get that? Our work suffers. Our patients feel it. Our teams fall apart. And we, the people behind the magic, start to lose the spark that brought us here.

May Is Mental Health Awareness Month, So Let’s Actually Talk About It

This month is the perfect time to check in with ourselves, with our teams, and with our workplace culture. It’s a reminder that mental wellness isn’t optional; it’s essential.

What if we all took one step this month to prioritize mental health in our practices? Whether that’s a team check-in, an open conversation, or just encouraging each other to take a real lunch break, it all adds up.

What Mental Wellness Looks Like in a Practice

It’s not always yoga mats and therapy dogs (though your team wouldn’t complain).

Sometimes it’s:

• A five-minute pause before the morning huddle

• Normalizing mental health days, just like sick days

• Managers who ask, “How are you really doing?”

• Creating workflows that actually give people breathing room

• Celebrating wins, big and small

You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup

Mental wellness isn’t a luxury, it’s a foundation. Practices that prioritize it are seeing stronger teams, better communication, and a whole lot more joy.

Because when the team is okay, the patients feel it. And when the people behind the smiles feel supported, everybody wins.

So this May and every month after, let’s say it out loud:

“Mental health matters here.”

Lead with heart, support one another like family, and build a culture that not only survives but thrives.