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Behind the Curtain: Treatment-Plan Your Happiness by Dr. Jason Battle

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Behind the Curtain: Treatment-Plan Your Happiness 

by Dr. Jason Battle

[Editor’s note: In this recurring column, in their own words, some of the most well-known orthodontists share stories of personal or professional struggles they have managed, or continue to manage, during their journey in orthodontics. If you’re interested in participating, email Orthotown’s editorial director, Dr. Chad Foster, at chad@farranmedia.com.]

You will treatment-plan the next one to three years of every patient who walks in the front door of your practice, but are you treatment-planning your own happiness? As dentists, we are trained to find the problem. My freshman year operative professor told our class, “If you can’t find and detect what is and isn’t caries, you are useless as a dentist.” So we search for the problems—the caries, periodontal disease, malocclusion, TMJ, oral cancer, domestic abuse, drug abuse, contraindication in medicine, etc. Then we do the same as business owners: “Is my equipment working, where did that water come from, what’s that smell, why didn’t the team member notice that the light bulb is out, are we greeting patients warmly, is the patient happy, do I have enough supplies?”

We are always looking for what’s wrong in every situation so we can fix it. It’s in our training. But that’s a terrible way to live—when you look for the negative, you will find the negative. While it’s important to find the negative in our practices, we must learn to shift our minds to also pay attention to what is positive in our practices and our lives.

So let’s pause and take a moment to applaud ourselves for our accomplishments. Five or 10 years ago, did you think you would be in the place you are today? You’re doing great, so let’s keep it going! Where do you want to be in one year? In three years? In 10 years? Let’s plan it out. But first, ask yourself this question: “In one year, I will be satisfied if …” “In three years, I will be beyond ecstatic if …”

Let’s write our goals. Measure those goals. Then be thankful for our victories.


Some talking points
  • Gratitude. First, let’s be thankful for what we have now. One, five or 10 years ago, we badly wanted the things we have today. Today you have them. “I just want to get into dental school. … I just want to get into orthodontic residency. … I just want to have a nice car. … I just want my own practice. … I just want to feel like I am successful.” Find a safe, quiet place where you can count your blessings. I find that my morning drive to work is the perfect place to acknowledge all the things in my life I’m thankful for.
  • What do you want—really? specifically? We all have goals, but have you specified what you really want? You want more money? How much? You want to travel? Where? How long? When? You want more time for yourself. How much? To do what?
  • Lower your expectations and be flexible to a myriad of outcomes. Sometimes life turns out better than you could have planned it. Tell yourself, “It is this or something better!” This is hard for orthodontists—everything we do is planned for a successful outcome according to our terms of success. Sometimes we’re so focused on how we want our lives to transpire, we completely miss alternative better endings.
  • Don’t worry about what others think about you and don’t stress about what others are doing. Comparison is the thief of joy. You are running your own race. Focus on winning the day and being the best version of yourself.
  • What was the best day of your life? Do all the things you did that day again! Find the things that make you happy and do more of those things. Do more of the things in life that give you happiness and purpose and fewer of the things that take away from that.
  • There is no such thing as a neutral human interaction. It’s either positive or negative. The things you do, the choices you make, the thoughts you have will either make things better or make things worse. Be conscious of that.
  • Be genuinely happy for others, both publicly and privately. Others’ success is not your failure; in fact, there is so much to learn about happiness by celebrating others! There is a human energy cycle. Your thoughts, positive or negative, will return in the same form and attract more of that.
  • Protect your energy. There are plenty of Negative Nellies who want to drag you down with them. Surround yourself with people who support your positive mental state and don’t be afraid to let the others go. You can’t be there for those who need you if your mental state isn’t at its best.
  • The highs and lows are a part of life— embrace them. It’s hard to appreciate the good days without the bad. Life is like a rollercoaster; your lowest moment on the ride is when you’re about to make your greatest ascent. How you feel is temporary. Don’t suppress or block feelings. Acknowledge, accept and let those feelings (sadness, anxiety, doubt, regret) flow through you so you can make room for new feelings.

We as orthodontists move with intention in the way we build our practices, but we often forget about ourselves. Let’s take a few moments to focus on how we can build better and happier lives.

As always, I’m here for you in this journey. Feel free to reach out if you ever need to talk!
Author Bio
Dr. Jason Battle Dr. Jason Battle is a technology-loving, leading-edge specialist in orthodontics, with more than 19 years of experience treating some of the most diffiicult cases and people possible. He is wellknown in Orlando for two things: delivering amazing smiles and grilling incredible BBQ, both served hot.

Since 2004, Battle has been practicing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics in Florida and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He treats his patients like family and fully incorporates them into all aspects of treatment. Communication, openness and respect are his top priorities..



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