CADS Annual Meeting: Our Chamfered Psyche: The Mental Dental Connection

Anxiety, pain, depression, burnout. Dentistry can be difficult and take a toll. Studies show us that dental professionals experience a high incidence of mental illness. Additionally, many dental professionals don’t clearly understand the mental health conditions that our patients present with, which red flags to watch for or what to do/how to intervene. Presented in Dr. Joshua Austin’s trademark comedic style, this course explores strategies for working together to improve mental health so we can be our best. Learn how to recognize triggers and warning signs. Identify essential tools and resources. Discover how and when to refer to a mental health professional. Explore and understand mental health terms, common treatments and therapy options. Gain coping mechanisms and learn how to manage expectations – both our own and those of our patients. Dental professionals often examine the physical aspects of wellness yet we rarely explore or discuss the mental aspects. It is time to remove the taboo and face the facts.

Learning Objectives:
• Define mental health terms and analyze mental health statistics
• Discover mechanisms for coping with our personal and professional challenges
• Illuminate common DSM-5 diagnoses and characteristics
• Learn how to choose the professionals for our own personal wellness team
• Identify and examine our psychologic triggers and their importance
• Explore the benefits of psychotherapy
• Consider today to be Dental Mental Health Day!

Joshua Austin, DDS:

On mainstages at major conferences across the industry, Dr. Joshua Austin’s presentations deliver practical, applicable education that inspires and
entertains attendees while also offering sound fundamentals that make a difference in dental practice success. His keynote performances, from Dentsply
Sirona World to Seattle Study Club Symposiums, are met with rave reviews from audiences and conference organizers alike. Joshua incorporates his
trademark comedic style in his lectures across the country on topics such as mental wellness, new products/materials review, and online reputation
management. As editorial director and columnist for Dental Economics focusing on dental products and technology (Pearls for Your Practice), he offers a fresh approach in today’s commercial driven dental journalism. When you read a ‘Pearl’, you are getting an honest evaluation of a product which was used by Joshua in clinical practice on a patient. A graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School, Joshua served five years post-graduation as faculty in the Department of Restorative Dentistry. Today he maintains a full-time restorative dentistry private practice in San Antonio, Texas. Joshua has been honored with several awards during his dental career. In 2009, the Texas Dental Association names him Young Dentist of the Year. In 2010, the Texas Academy of General Dentistry named him New Dentist of the Year. Joshua has earned a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. In 2014, Joshua was awarded with a Fellowship in the American College of Dentists for his outstanding commitment to ethics in patient care.

Schedule:

6:00pm to 8:00pm