Occupational stress and suicide among dentists

The focus of this research is to better understand occupational stress within the dental profession and how this may contribute to why dentists as an occupational group may have such a high incidence of suicide. Attention is given to the socially related working conditions that dentists encounter and the occupational role demands they face. Data are based upon 25 in-depth, unstructured interviews with dentists from a large mid-western city. The findings of this research include that the occupational role of dentists facilitates social tension and stress and that dentists experience a status dilemma, especially when compared to physicians. We suggest that these conditions may contribute to a dentist's choice to commit suicide.