Wellness Program

The Wellness Program is a source of support and assistance for dental professionals who are battling physical and/or mental ailments, including anxiety, depression and substance dependence. The program advocates for the overall wellbeing of dental community members and their families with confidential peer-to-peer support and hands-on assistance throughout treatment and recovery.

CDA member and Chair of the Wellness Program, Matthew Korn, DDS, spoke with CDA about his wellness and recovery journey and offers insight on how this program is a valuable benefit for anyone coping with stress, burnout or substance dependence.

For more information about the Wellness program or a confidential referral, please contact your local dental society or a Wellness committee near you. You can also find more information in the CDA Wellness Program Brochure.

Find confidential 24/7 support

North/Bay Area

Northern California: 530.864.4264

San Francisco Bay Area: 510.209.5637

Central

Central California

916.947.5676

Southern

Southern California: 310.487.5040

San Diego: 619.980.4726

National Resources

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741 to text confidentially with a trained crisis counselor for free, 24/7.

Wellness resources

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s an illness or disease characterized by addiction to a mood-altering chemical, including both drug addiction and alcoholism. The dependent person is unable to stop drinking or taking a particular drug despite serious consequences. If left untreated, it is progressive and chronic. Sadly, it can also ruin the lives, careers and the health of dental professionals as well as compromise patients’ safety. 

Warning signs include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Frequently lateness or absenteeism from work 
  • Difficulty meeting scheduled appointments or deadlines 
  • Impaired motor coordination 
  • Prescribing large doses of controlled substances 
  • Frequent and prolonged bathroom breaks; periods of isolation 
  • Obvious physical changes; lack of attention to hygiene or appearance 
  • Dramatic mood swings 
  • Unexplained family and/or financial difficulties 
  • Decline in quality of care; exercising poor judgments 
  • Slurred speech 

To learn more about the Well-Being program or to make a confidential referral, contact your local dental society or a Well-Being committee near you:

Yes, unless you advise the committee otherwise.

An investigation will take place to determine the validity of the claim. If accurate, an intervention will be facilitated and, if necessary, the individual will be referred to a professional evaluation team for a treatment recommendation. A contract will then be drawn between the individual and the Wellness Program committee.

As long as an individual complies with the recommended treatment/monitoring and there are no issues regarding patient safety, the Board will not be notified.

Available treatments include:

 

  • Individual, group and family counseling 
  • 12-step group involvement (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous)
  • Education to address the individual’s physical, mental and emotional needs 

Confidential peer-to-peer support and professional assistance is provided through assessment, treatment, recovery and monitoring. The program aims to help individuals restore dignity and self-respect, provide an opportunity to gain support from fellow dental professionals in recovery and maintain quality health care along with the safety of the general public through ongoing monitoring.

The committee is composed of volunteer member dentists, allied dental health professionals and dental society staff who are selected for their specific experience, expertise and willingness to serve. We also try to find those with similar experience or pertinent knowledge.