In this powerful episode, I sit down with Melissa Methven - a former flight attendant turned dental hygienist, widow, author, and breathwork facilitator - to discuss the hidden mental health crisis in dentistry. Melissa shares the story of her husband Scott, a beloved dentist in Wasilla, Alaska, who died by suicide in March 2022 after years of suppressing the pressures of the profession: student debt, perfectionism, emotional labor with patients, chronic pain, and escalating substance use.
Melissa opens up about her own suppression and the physical toll it took on her body, the signs she wishes she'd seen sooner, and how she found healing through community, faith, and breathwork. She also reads from her book The Truth Behind the Smiles and offers actionable solutions for dental schools, including mental health education, peer communities, and a dental-specific crisis hotline. This is a raw, important conversation about breaking the silence around depression and suicide in the dental profession, and the hope that comes from living your truth.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 — Introduction & Content Warning
- 2:41 — Welcoming Melissa & Scott's Story
- 3:50 — The Pressures of Dentistry & Early Signs
- 9:33 — Hiding Behind the Smile & Physical Symptoms
- 13:28 — The Common Dental Struggle
- 16:19 — Why We Suppress — Roots & The Perfect Illusion
- 19:51 — Scott's Fear & Writing the Book
- 25:30 — Feeling Stuck, Faith & Moving Forward
- 34:50 — Faith vs. Religion & Signs from Beyond
- 42:41 — Dental Statistics & Solutions for the Profession
- 47:15 — Tools for Healing & Helping the Kids
- 57:59 — Being of Service, Fulfillment & Closing
- 73:06 — Outro
LINKS
- (00:00) - Introduction & Content Warning
- (02:40) - Welcoming Melissa & Scott's Story
- (03:49) - The Pressures of Dentistry & Early Signs
- (09:33) - Hiding Behind the Smile & Physical Symptoms
- (13:27) - The Common Dental Struggle
- (16:18) - Why We Suppress — Roots & The Perfect Illusion
- (19:51) - Scott's Fear & Writing the Book
- (25:29) - Feeling Stuck, Faith & Moving Forward
- (34:49) - Faith vs. Religion & Signs from Beyond
- (42:40) - Dental Statistics & Solutions for the Profession
- (47:14) - Tools for Healing & Helping the Kids
- (57:58) - Being of Service, Fulfillment & Closing
- (01:13:05) - Outro
What is The DOC Podcast?
The DOC Podcast brings you unique educational content taught by Dr. Mike DeLuke, a Board Certified Orthodontist with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Dr. DeLuke built his orthodontic practice from scratch in the early 2000s and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise in less than 10 years. He was able to retire from his private practice at the age of 46 years old, and now devotes his energy to teaching his colleagues how to succeed both personally and professionally. He also provides locum tenens coverage for colleagues in South Florida.
Dr. DeLuke has served as a faculty member at numerous hospitals and orthodontic residency programs around the country, including as the cleft craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center in New York, and as a clinical professor at The University of Connecticut in the Department of Orthodontics. He is presently an adjunct professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Healthcare Network and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Montefiore Einstein Hospital in the Bronx.
The DOC Podcast will bring you in-depth discussions and interviews with industry leaders and experts on a variety of topics, including clinical excellence, practice management, finance and wealth creation, health and wellness, taxes and accounting, fitness, and much more!