Intervention

The definition of an impaired dentist is “a professional who is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety because of a physical or mental disability, including … abuse of drugs or alcohol, of sufficient degree to diminish the person’s ability to deliver competent patient care.”

This definition is ambiguous at best; defining at which point a social or recreational habit becomes a serious detriment to life and practice. Excessive drinking and illicit drug use are disturbingly common and accepted among dental students and even full dentists. Such prevalent use makes self-identification and peer-identification of the disease of addiction extraordinarily difficult. Also, when negative substance abuse is identified, the ethical response is also difficult to determine.

Our intervention program helps dental professionals, colleagues, and family members determine the correct line of action. As part of Treatment4Dentists, our interventional staff advises those in uncertain position; our goal is to organize the intervention of a professional in trouble, to instigate their recovery, and to begin the process of rebuilding career and life.

We recognize that disciplinary action is not the correct route into or around sobriety; rather a willingness and drive to change produces long-term recovery. The intervention is the mechanism through which this willingness to change can be produced in a loved one. Interventions take place with friends, family, and colleagues describing their concerns about and their love for the individual. They describe the damage they have seen drugs or alcohol do. The goal is to help the individual see the negative consequences of their dependency. Interventions are typically organized and moderated by an outside party with no emotional connections. This moderator helps keep the session organized and focused on the goal, which is helping the person see the need for help.

We handle interventions for dental professionals with special care. The number of issues and stigma around addiction makes many dentists unwilling to compromise their career for treatment; thus our moderators are specifically trained regarding the legal, social, and dental board requirements surrounding treatment. They are also knowledgeable about the career damage done by addiction and how to prevent further damage. For more information on how to arrange an intervention, please contact us. We are available via phone, email, or postal mail.

home / intervention / detox / treatment / contact

2007 © Copyright. Treatment 4 Dentists. All rights reserved.