When Pain Becomes the Norm: A Wake-Up Call for Dental Professionals

By Caitlin Parsons, RDH, C-IAYT, CEAS
FDC 2026 Speaker

Within one year of practicing as a dental hygienist, I began experiencing both acute and chronic pain. What started as tension and a dull ache in my left shoulder spiraled into severe neck and shoulder pain, chronic lower back discomfort, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. As a new graduate, I had no idea what to do. I tried making adjustments but nothing seemed to help. Not only was I in physical pain, but my stress levels increased, I had less energy, focus and drive. I felt alone and scared. I considered cutting back on my days, going on disability, or even having surgery. I almost quit dental hygiene altogether. I hit a low.

Did you know that 97% of dental professionals report experiencing work-related pain? My experience wasn’t unique, it’s quite common. Here’s the thing: pain doesn’t appear overnight (unless you sleep funny and wake up with a stiff neck). It starts slowly and subtly — as tension, a dull ache or occasional twinges. Our bodies give us these signs, but when we don’t know what to do or ignore them, the pain worsens over time.

Unaddressed tension and discomfort can lead to numbness, tingling, sharp pain or injury. Pain often creates a ripple effect: increased stress, missed days at work, more doctors’ appointments, surgeries, mood changes, even relationship strain.

About a year in I got serious about addressing my pain. I stumbled into yoga, and after just a few classes, I noticed I felt a little better. I didn’t know why at the time, but that was the spark. I realized I needed to understand my body in order to heal it and to help other dental professionals do the same.

My pain became my purpose.

During my thousands of hours of training to become a Certified Yoga Therapist, not only did I heal my body, but I also began to understand it. I realized it wasn’t just one thing. It was a combination of destructive posture and movement patterns, poor ergonomics, minimal strength and stability and significant muscular tightness. Add stress on top like a cherry, and I had created the perfect storm.

Throughout the years of working with many dental professionals and students, I noticed a common thread: overcoming pain requires a holistic approach. Sometimes, one slight shift can create a big impact. For example, adjusting patient positioning, using a saddle stool or incorporating more stretching. But more often, it’s the synergy of multiple small changes that leads to fundamental transformation.

Think about a patient with a high caries risk. For some, simply flossing and using fluoridated toothpaste is enough to reduce that risk. For others, it takes those interventions plus in-office fluoride, salivary diagnostics and SDF. Just like we take a multifaceted approach with our patients, we need to do the same for ourselves as practitioners.

There are many things we can do, both in and out of the office, to protect our bodies and improve our overall well-being. Workspace setup, operator and patient positioning, and using updated instruments and tools can all reduce pain and fatigue. Beyond that, incorporating chairside stretches and wellness practices, such as yoga, Pilates, foam rolling and strength training can help counteract the strain of prolonged sitting and repetitive movement. These routines also promote longevity in your clinical career.

Here’s the truth: when we feel better, we do better. When we’re not caught in a cycle of pain and stress, we have more energy, more clarity and more capacity to care for our patients, our teams and ourselves.

If you’re feeling the physical or mental strain of dentistry, know that you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to question whether you can keep going. But I also know this: pain is not inevitable in dentistry. Wellness is possible. Healing is possible. And prioritizing your health is not just a luxury. It’s a necessity.

At FDC2026, I’ll be diving deeper into the tools and strategies that helped me and can help you feel better in and out of the operatory.