Learning Objectives: 

• Define compassion fatigue and burnout and distinguish between the two.  
• Recognize early warning signs and risk factors in dental practice.  
• Identify how burnout and compassion fatigue affect patient care and professional satisfaction.  
• Apply evidence-based strategies to build resilience and manage workplace stress.  
• Develop a personal action plan to support long-term mental health and career sustainability.

Dental hygienists are natural caregivers, committed to providing exceptional care to patients day after day. Yet this commitment often comes at a cost. The combination of physical strain, high productivity demands, emotionally taxing patient interactions, and a lack of control over the work environment puts hygienists at risk for compassion fatigue and burnout. Left unaddressed, these challenges not only diminish job satisfaction but can also negatively impact patient care.  This course explores the realities of burnout and compassion fatigue in dentistry and offers evidence-based strategies for prevention and recovery. Attendees will learn how to recognize early warning signs, understand the unique stressors hygienists face, and implement resilience-building practices both at work and at home. Special focus will be placed on maintaining professional empathy without sacrificing personal well-being, with tools that support both patient care and self-care.  By the end of this session, participants will be empowered to preserve their passion for dentistry, protect their mental health, and continue delivering compassionate, high-quality care to their patients.