Busy But Stuck: The Hidden Plateau Most Dentists Don’t Realise They’re On

In this episode of The Aesthetic Dentist Podcast, Dr Andrew See discusses one of the most common — and least talked about — stages of a dental career: the plateau.

This is the phase where dentists are not failing, not struggling, and not inexperienced — yet no longer feel challenged, fulfilled, or excited by their work.

Andrew reflects on his own experience of feeling mentally fatigued despite a full diary, and explains why being busy often prevents dentists from recognising stagnation.

You’ll hear:

• Why busyness creates the illusion of progress

• How repetition differs from true experience

• The “treadmill effect” many dentists unknowingly live in

• Why aesthetic dentists often sit in a frustrating middle ground

• How growth requires intention, not just activity

Using clear analogies and real clinical insight, Andrew explains why slowing down — rather than doing more — is often the key to moving forward.

This episode continues the foundational theme of the podcast: progress in dentistry doesn’t begin with new techniques, but with clearer thinking.

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