The psychological well-being of future dentists as a priority for the professional community: a new FDI initiative

In recent years, the issue of mental health among medical professionals has increasingly moved beyond professional discussions and become a focus for international organizations, educational institutions, and healthcare regulators. A particular area of concern in this context is dental education, which is traditionally characterized by high-intensity training, significant clinical workload, and early exposure of students to professional responsibility. The signing of a call to action to support the mental health and well-being of dental students at the FDI World Dental Congress in Shanghai in September 2025 marked an important step toward institutional recognition of this problem and the development of a systemic response.

The role of Dental Protection and MPS Foundation in shaping the new agenda

Dental Protection and MPS Foundation were the first official signatories of the FDI World Dental Federation initiative aimed at supporting the mental health and well-being of dental students. Dental Protection is part of the Medical Protection Society (MPS), which in 2022 established the MPS Foundation as a global nonprofit research entity. The foundation’s primary mission is to invest in patient safety and the well-being of healthcare professionals, reflecting a contemporary understanding of the inextricable link between the state of practitioners and the quality of care they provide.

In its relatively short period of activity, the MPS Foundation has supported over fifty research projects worldwide. Among these, the collaboration with FDI holds a special place, focusing on raising awareness about mental health management and developing practical tools for dentists and students. This underscores the foundation’s commitment to not limit itself to theoretical research but to achieve applied outcomes capable of influencing everyday educational and clinical practices.

Dental students as a vulnerable group

The endorsement of this initiative at the international level reflects a growing awareness that dental students are at high risk of developing stress, emotional burnout, and anxiety disorders. The educational process demands the simultaneous acquisition of complex theoretical knowledge, practical manual skills, and clinical reasoning, while students often face pressure from expectations related to future professional success. Insufficient support at this stage can lead not only to a deterioration in mental health but also to the attrition of professionals who have already invested significant resources in their education.

It was this aspect that Dr. Yvonne Shaw, Head of Underwriting Policy at Dental Protection and a board member of the MPS Foundation, highlighted. Speaking in Shanghai, she emphasized that the organization’s long-term work has clearly demonstrated how stress and burnout affect not only the professionals themselves but also patient safety. According to her, dental students face no less pressure than practicing dentists and therefore require specialized tools and educational programs aimed at maintaining their well-being.

Content and significance of the FDI commitments

The FDI Mental Health and Wellbeing Pledge is not merely a declarative document but a framework for practical action. It involves the development and dissemination of tools and information to help educators promptly identify and appropriately address mental health issues among students. An important component is also preparing future dentists for the transition from university education to clinical practice, including cultivating stress management skills and fostering a conscious approach to self-care.

Special attention is given to establishing tailored support services for students and ensuring access to mental health resources during clinical internships, which are often among the most stressful phases of training. This comprehensive approach reflects an understanding that student well-being is shaped not by a single factor but by the entire educational environment as a whole.

Practical support and a call to the professional community

In her address, Dr. Shaw also noted that members of Dental Protection already have access to round-the-clock psychological counseling and well-being support, provided confidentially through an independent partner. This example demonstrates how professional organizations can take tangible responsibility for the well-being of their members, rather than limiting themselves to formal statements.

The call to sign the FDI initiative is addressed to all stakeholders — educational institutions, professional associations, insurance and protection organizations, as well as individual practitioners. The openness of the initiative to new signatories underscores its aspiration to become a global movement capable of transforming the cultural approach to mental health in dentistry.

Conclusion

The signing of the call to action to support the mental health and well-being of dental students at the FDI World Dental Congress in 2025 reflects a significant shift in the professional consciousness of the dental community. Acknowledging the vulnerability of future specialists and the willingness to invest in their psychological resilience indicate a transition from reactive measures to a preventive and systemic model of support. In the long term, such initiatives have the potential not only to reduce burnout and attrition but also to cultivate a more resilient, ethical, and person-centered dental profession.