Dentist Burnout: Why I Closed My Practice & What Would Have Saved It | Dr. Tiffany Paiva

Dentist burnout is real, and most of us never talk about it. Dr. Tiffany "Tiff" Paiva owned a practice in Austin until burnout, COVID and a string of crises led her to close its doors. She shares how she got through opioid addiction and recovery, why she felt so alone as an owner, and the one thing she believes could have saved her practice: someone who simply showed up. In this episode: - Tiff's story: dental school, recovery, and buying a practice on impulse - Why COVID was the breaking point, and how burnout destroyed her confidence - Being the voice of the "non-perfect dentist" on social media - Why a good dentist isn't always a good business owner - Red flags when buying a practice (if it's a steal, look closer) - Why associates may earn more than owners today - How Dentor Match pairs dentists, hygienists, assistants and office managers with volunteer mentors (now free for everyone) - Why Facebook groups aren't a safe place to be vulnerable - 3 things every young dentist needs to hear 📰 Plus dental news: a global study finds 43.7% of root canal treated teeth still show a periapical lesion, record hygiene graduates but still not enough hygienists, and the AAO forms a new task force on sleep-disordered breathing. Dr. Tiffany Paiva earned her DMD at Tufts University and practiced reconstructive dentistry for 15 years before closing her Austin practice. She founded Dentor Match, a free mentorship platform for the whole dental team, and speaks about recognizing burnout, breaking the silence around it, and finding support before a career reaches a breaking point. Find a mentor (or become one) at https://dentormatch.com If you're struggling, you're not alone. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or call SAMHSA's free, confidential helpline at 1-800-662-4357. 0:32 Intro 4:07 Breeders' Cup and college football 7:23 A diagnostic dilemma: wisdom tooth, cyst and the lingual plate 14:31 News: why root canal teeth still show lesions 16:52 News: record hygiene grads, still not enough 19:18 News: the AAO's new sleep task force 20:38 Coming soon: an implant vs. endo debate 23:09 Meet Dr. Tiffany Paiva 25:02 Dental school, a broken shoulder and recovery 26:48 Buying a practice on impulse 27:15 Theft, a flood, COVID and divorce 28:15 How isolated owners can get 30:21 The voice of the "non-perfect dentist" 33:00 "I had a marriage problem" 34:50 When the world collapses around you 35:55 The identity crisis of losing your practice 37:13 ADHD and "it's all my fault" 38:12 Young dentists are looking for mentors 39:13 What would have saved her practice 40:43 How Dentor Match works 41:41 Burnout and the missing piece: purpose 43:17 Debt, CE costs and new dentists 44:15 Mentors: share your mistakes 45:18 When 600 men showed up 46:48 Why people don't ask for help 47:22 Why live CE and real connections matter 49:43 Making it easier to raise your hand 51:34 Dentor Match is now free 52:06 Buying a practice: red flags 55:54 Ownership shouldn't be the pinnacle 58:09 Better paths for associates 59:44 Why business skills matter more than ever 1:00:41 Free worksheet: should you buy a practice? 1:02:09 Facebook groups aren't safe spaces 1:03:59 Coming soon: live mentorship pods 1:05:11 3 things every young dentist needs to hear 1:08:31 Goodnight and our new website 📺 Make sure you subscribe to catch new episodes live every Wednesday at 8pm ET! https://www.youtube.com/@dentistsintheknow 🌐 Check out our brand new website: https://dentistsintheknow.com 🌟 Stay up to date on all the latest dental trends when you follow the DINKs: https://fanflet.com/dinks/social-2 🎧 Listen to the podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dentists-in-the-know/id1543254763 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Elfj6LX0hCUyp0AgdTsij