It took a health crisis for Poppy Dunton to realise the prevalence of burnout in the dental profession – she explains how this motivated her to ask the questions and teach the skills that no one else will.
I didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in dentistry. My work experience fell through and they offered me a position at a dental practice. I ended up never leaving…
At the age of 15 after school, I was earning £2.50 an hour making tea, scrubbing old impression trays (before they were single use) and filing those endless NHS blue forms.
When I nearly left to try a photography course, the principal dentist (my fabulous mentor) sat me and my dad down and said: ‘I’ll only give her a job here if she makes something of her life.’ That stuck with me.
‘I worked hard. I learned everything I could. And for a long time, it was intense. But I loved it’
So, I stayed. I trained as a dental nurse, did my NEBDN certificate through evening classes in Milton Keynes, and slowly built my career. I moved from reception, compliance and treatment coordination to chairside implants, practice management, and eventually qualified as a dental therapist.
I’ve helped open squat practices, led teams of 65, juggled management roles balanced employment law training with clinical days, and helped surgeries run from the ground up. I worked hard. I learned everything I could. And for a long time, it was intense. But I loved it.
Until my body said no.
Identity crisis
In 2021, I ended up in A&E struggling to walk, barely able to sit down. I was diagnosed with two slipped discs in my spine, pressing on the nerves in both legs. The pain was debilitating. Surgery followed. I had to step away from practice, stop working clinically, and take my first proper break in years. That pause changed everything.
It gave me space to breathe and to be honest, I think I had an identity crisis! I hadn’t had that in years. For the first time in more than a decade, I had time to properly reflect… and once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.
‘Overbooked, underpaid, overstretched. The diary was full but so were their heads, managing families, children, home life and work’
Messages were landing in my inbox from colleagues I respected, amazing dental therapists and hygienists, all saying the same thing: ‘I’m exhausted’, ‘I don’t know how much longer I can do this’, ‘I feel stuck’.
So many are working in the smallest room of the practice, doing brilliant clinical work, but still feeling invisible. Overbooked, underpaid, overstretched. The diary was full but so were their heads, managing families, children, home life and work. The passion hadn’t gone, but the spark was fading.
Dentistry gives a lot, but it can take a lot too. You can love the job and still feel exhausted by it, or you can be booked solid and still question your worth.
Full circle
At this point, I was approached by Dr Kaival Patel, director of Kana Dental Academy. He was someone I’d worked with years ago when I was still a dental nurse – it felt full circle. We began planning a day that would cover all the things no one ever taught us: how to handle burnout, build confidence, negotiate, set boundaries, understand income, own our time, and think like businesspeople not just clinicians.
We called it ‘The business side no one taught you’ and it sold out before we’d even finished promoting it. But this wasn’t about brushing charts or scaling tips. It was about asking the bigger questions: ‘What do I actually want from this career?’ or ‘Is this still working for me?’
One of the most common frustrations I hear and one I’ve lived through is that sense of hitting a ceiling. You get qualified, build a full list, and work non-stop. No one teaches you how to review your worth, protect your energy, or plan your next step. We were taught the science not the strategy.
‘Whether you’re self-employed or salaried, this isn’t about reinventing dentistry; it’s about helping clinicians feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive’
When the cracks start to show
For so many dental therapists and hygienists, especially women, the cracks start to show in our 30s and 40s. No one tells you what happens after you ‘make it’. How to keep going well; how to grow without burning out; how to say: ‘This isn’t enough anymore’ and not feel guilty for it. Whether you’re self-employed or salaried, this isn’t about reinventing dentistry; it’s about helping clinicians feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.
This was never about becoming a business coach. Stepping back after spinal surgery gave me space to reflect, and I knew I wanted to give something back to the profession that raised me. From blue forms and tea rounds to coaching, courses and hard conversations, I’ve simply followed where the need was.
At my core, I’m still that 15-year-old who just wanted to be helpful. If sharing what I’ve learned helps someone feel seen, supported, or a bit less stuck, then that’s enough for me.
If this resonates, feel free to drop me a message or contact Kana Academy to register interest for future dates.
Read more from The Kana Way:
- The Kana Dental Academy: upping skills in aesthetic and restorative dentistry
- The Kana Cup: turning positivity into profit (and lots of fun)
- Why relationships with suppliers matter more than ever
- Squat versus existing – which road is right for you?
- What no one tells you about buying a dental practice
For more information, visit www.kanahealthgroup.com or www.kanadentalacademy.com.
This article is sponsored by Kana Health Group.
