Episode 201 | Why Perfection Is Ruining Dentistry and What to Do Instead – JoAnn Gurenlian
The Dental Podcast Directory is Proudly Supported By:
Show Notes
What if the biggest thing holding you back in dentistry is trying to be perfect? In this episode of The Dental Handoff, Dr. Kelly Tanner sits down with Dr. JoAnn Gurenlian to unpack a challenge many dental professionals face but rarely discuss: perfectionism.
From early training to clinical practice, dentistry often reinforces the pressure to get everything right. But that constant pursuit of perfection can quietly lead to burnout, self- doubt, and stalled growth. This conversation explores how fear of mistakes shapes learning, confidence, and long-term success in dental hygiene and beyond.
Dr. Gurenlian shares a different perspective, one grounded in education, leadership, and real clinical experience. Instead of avoiding failure, she explains why it is essential for developing skills, resilience, and better patient care.
With decades of experience in dental hygiene education, research, and advocacy, Dr. Gurenlian offers practical insight into how shifting your mindset can change the way you practice and lead.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by expectations in dentistry, this episode will help you rethink what progress actually looks like.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why perfectionism is so common in dentistry
- How fear of failure impacts clinical performance
- Why mistakes are essential for growth and learning
- How to build confidence in practice
- Ways to shift from perfection to progress
Connect with JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AFAAOM:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joann-gurenlian-rdh-ms-phd-afaaom-8ab135165/
Where to Find Dr. Kelly:
Let’s Connect! Book a Call today to see how I can help you create high-performance teams, discuss educational programs, or how I can be of assistance.
https://calendly.com/drkellytanner/30min
Visit us at https://www.nextleveldentalhygiene.com
Subscribe to The Dental Podcast Directory Newsletter for Incredible Convenience
There are so many dental podcasts that publish great content, but it’s impossible to subscribe to all of them. Three days a week, we send an email newsletter with links to all of the recent podcast episodes published by dental-specific podcasts. To get this newsletter, type your email below and click subscribe.
Audio Disclaimer:
The audio available here uses the podcast creator’s RSS feed to pull the audio file. We do not download or host any of the audio files on our website. If the audio player is broken or the audio is no longer available, it may be that the podcast is no longer live or that the content was moved to another podcast host. If you find an error or need to make a change, please contact us by opening a support ticket. Click Here to Open a Support Ticket
Leave a Reply