Busting a myth that's been bugging me.

Maybe you've heard this before, maybe not, but the myth I'm addressing is this: Dentists have the highest rate of suicide.



This has been brought to my attention a few times since becoming a dental student. It's usually somebody trying to make smalltalk, but many who've brought it up have done so in a way that led me to believe that they really think it's true.

So, I set out to do some investigating today. I had intentions of writing this post with well-referenced credible links but didn't actually find any official list. Upon typing dentists and suicide in the good old google, I found no references to support this claim, although I did learn quite a bit. Here's the summary of today's web surfing:

• The topic is somewhat unclear because suicides usually aren't classified by profession. There is a plethora of data regarding race, age, and gender because those things show up on death certificates and can easily be compiled. Occupation, not so much.
• Also, cause of death for a suicide usually isn't categorized as "suicide" but rather a gunshot wound or a drug overdose (even if they are intentionally self-inflicted).
  
• Consensus is that the rate for health care professionals as a whole is elevated. A possible explanation of this is that health care professionals generally live healthier lifestyles and are less likely to die from other causes. Think about it, if you are a health professional, you are most likely "healthy" and less likely to die of a heart attack or motorcycle accident, thus elevating the relative rate of suicide in your group. Another explanation could be the stress that comes with being a "professional".
  
• Medical Doctors (MD's) have a higher rate of suicide than their Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) counterparts. Most sources credit white male physicians as having the highest suicide rate, although the females in the profession aren't far behind - which is unusual. In most occupations females do themselves in at a much lower rate than the males.
  
• Psychiatrists also have a higher rate of suicide than dentists, although they have their own urban legend to deal with regarding their "highest suicide rate".
• One study had sheepherders and wool workers topping the list.
• Other sources believe that the highest rate is by far among military personal and law enforcement.
  

So there you have it. Don't believe this when you hear it unless they have a source more credible than Benji's Blog©. If they do, please send it my way.

Incidentally, performing dentistry has actually been much more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Before beginning school I had the same thoughts that most people have when they picture themselves putting their fingers in a stranger's mouth - something along the lines of "what about people who have really nasty teeth and bad breath - would I really want to spend all day looking in those mouths? Is that really what I want to do all day every day for the rest of my working life?"

Like I said, it's really not that bad and most days is somewhat enjoyable. (note- I'm referring to the "dentistry" part of dental school and not necessarily the "school" part). Earlier this week I was working and it occurred to me that what I was doing was very similar to pottery, except that people will pay me for it. And sometimes it hurts.

Rather than constantly thinking "Ew gross, I'm working in this old guy's mouth", once I start working my focus is (literally) on a single tooth and I can forget about the rest of the person. Individual teeth rarely have the capacity to gross someone out.

I guess this concludes my suicide note. Ha!