The dental profession is rewarding, but it’s no secret that it can also be incredibly demanding. Long hours, administrative burdens, financial pressures, and the constant pursuit of perfection often leave dentists, orthodontists, and dental specialists facing burnout. In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, host Dan Brian sits down with Dr. Camden Brown, a practicing orthodontist, mom, and coach for high-achieving professionals experiencing career or purpose crises.
Dr. Brown’s journey is not just about practicing dentistry—it’s about rediscovering herself, navigating burnout, and finding a new path forward. Her story shines a light on the importance of addressing mental health in dentistry, listening to your inner voice, and embracing change as an opportunity for growth.
From Dental School to Private Practice
Like many in the profession, Dr. Brown’s path to dentistry wasn’t a lifelong dream. She discovered her interest in orthodontics during college, entered dental school, and eventually completed her residency. Shortly after graduation, she purchased a private practice in Virginia.
For eight years, she managed both clinical work and the often-overwhelming responsibilities of ownership. From staffing and billing to the pressures of high-volume care, the weight of running a practice began to take its toll. “For so long, I just thought, I need a break—not just a one-week vacation, but a real break,” she shares.
The Unexpected Pause: How COVID Created Space
When the pandemic forced dental practices across the country to shut down, Dr. Brown experienced something surprising: relief. While COVID-19 was stressful for everyone, she describes that season of stillness as a moment of clarity. “I just remember being at home for a little while, gardening, being with my kids, and just being so happy to have that time.”
Instead of feeling anxious about stepping away from the business, she realized the break confirmed what she had long suspected—she was burned out and needed to reorient her professional life.
Walking Away and Starting Fresh
Eventually, Dr. Brown made the difficult decision to sell her practice. To reset, she took an unconventional path: working on a flower farm. That time away gave her perspective, balance, and a chance to reconnect with her creativity—something she felt had been stifled during the grind of practice ownership.
It was a leap of faith, but one that paid off. Today, she balances part-time orthodontics with her coaching practice, focusing on guiding other dentists, orthodontists, and healthcare professionals who are navigating career and purpose crises.
The Mental Health Crisis in Dentistry
Dr. Brown emphasizes that the mental health challenges she faced are far from unique. In fact, many of her peers from dental school and private practice have quietly admitted similar struggles. Dentistry is often described as one of the most stressful healthcare professions, with high rates of burnout, anxiety, and even depression.
The challenge, she says, is that dentists can feel pressure to maintain a façade of perfection. “There’s this feeling that in order to be respected, we can’t admit we’re struggling,” she explains. But keeping quiet only compounds the problem.
Encouragingly, awareness around mental health in dentistry is growing. Dental schools and professional organizations are beginning to prioritize wellness and resilience, creating space for conversations that were once considered taboo.
Coaching High Achievers in Career or Purpose Crisis
In her coaching practice, Dr. Brown specializes in working with high achievers—dentists, doctors, lawyers, educators, and other professionals—who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or misaligned with their work.
The key, she says, is creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can open up, be vulnerable, and explore what’s really driving their dissatisfaction. “When people are willing to talk and be curious, we can begin experimenting with small changes that lead to bigger breakthroughs,” she notes.
Her coaching often emphasizes values-based decision-making, drawing inspiration from thought leaders like Brené Brown. She encourages clients to identify their core values—such as creativity, variety, freedom, or time—and use them as a compass when making professional or personal choices.
Lessons from the “Five Regrets of the Dying”
Dr. Brown references the work of Bonnie Ware, who studied the most common regrets of people at the end of their lives. One that resonated deeply with her was the regret of not having the courage to be authentic.
For years, Dr. Brown felt like she was only living a “professional version” of herself, leaving little room for creativity or personal passions. By listening to her inner voice, she realized she wanted a life that felt more authentic and aligned with who she truly was. That realization not only transformed her career but also brought her a sense of fulfillment and balance.
Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Perhaps the most powerful message Dr. Brown shares is this: your crisis could be your breakthrough. Burnout, anxiety, or professional dissatisfaction doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve taken the wrong path. Instead, it can be a signal—a call to reflect, reorient, and create a life that feels more meaningful.
She encourages dental professionals to get quiet, tune into their intuition, and ask themselves: If I only had five years left to live, what would I want to be doing? That question, she says, often brings clarity to what truly matters.
TLDR: Episode Recap
In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, Dr. Camden Brown shares her journey from orthodontic practice ownership to burnout, renewal, and coaching high-achieving professionals. She and Dan Brian discuss the importance of mental health in dentistry, the hidden prevalence of burnout, and the power of aligning career decisions with personal values.
Key Takeaways:
- Dentist burnout is real and pervasive. Many practitioners struggle with stress, anxiety, and overwhelm but feel pressure to hide it
- COVID created a pause that revealed hidden struggles. For Dr. Brown, the shutdown provided clarity that she needed a break from ownership
- Authenticity matters. Ignoring your true self and passions can lead to long-term regret
- Values are a compass. Identifying your core values can help you make better professional and personal decisions
- Crisis can spark transformation. Burnout or dissatisfaction doesn’t have to be the end—it can be the beginning of a more fulfilling chapter
- Dentistry must address mental health. Open conversations and support systems are essential to sustaining a healthy, thriving dental workforce
NEXT STEPS
- Learn more about Dr. Brown’s coaching service for dentists and other high-achieving professionals (and find her on Instagram)
- Connect with DentalScapes to learn more about our full-service online marketing for dentists — so you can take it off your plate and focus on balance and wellness in running your practice
If you’re a dentist, orthodontist, or practice owner feeling the weight of burnout or questioning your career path, you’re not alone. At DentalScapes, we work with dental professionals every day who are striving to grow their practices while maintaining balance and fulfillment. Our job is to make our clients’ lives easier, more convenient, and less stressful by managing their growth through full-service online marketing.
Schedule a free strategy call with us today to explore innovative online marketing solutions that can help you reduce stress, attract more of the right patients, and build a practice torhat aligns with your values.