The Probe Viewpoints Column – The Wellbeing Workplace

Dr Rana Al-Falaki has joined The Probe magazine as a quarterly columnist, kicking off her new series on wellbeing, leadership, and performance in dentistry.

In her first column, The Wellbeing Workplace, Rana challenges the perception that wellbeing is “soft” or separate from success. Instead, she shows it’s the glue that holds dental teams together, driving performance, retention, and patient care.

Drawing on data showing that 86 % of dental professionals report stress, she explains how burnout can’t be fixed with fruit baskets or one-off workshops — it requires embedding wellbeing into practice culture.

Rana shares three simple, actionable tools any practice can implement right away:
1️⃣ The Appreciation Board – a weekly “Thank You Thursday” to build positivity and recognition.
2️⃣ The Buddy Check-In – five-minute peer connections to reduce tension and improve empathy.
3️⃣ The Three-Word Huddle – a quick emotional temperature check that fosters openness and support.

Each step creates stronger connection, lower stress, and measurable improvement in teamwork and morale.

“Wellbeing isn’t fluffy. It’s the glue that holds your dental team together.” – Dr Rana Al-Falaki

This column marks the start of an ongoing series exploring practical, evidence-based wellbeing strategies for dental professionals - powered by the award-winning REATHE Dental Wellness Platform and NAIL-IT in Dentistry.

📘 Read the full article in the December issue of The Probe. page 8
👉 Visit breathedentalwellness.org or nailitindentistry.com for free resources