Dentists with a physician or dentist parent: examining trends, challenges, and life satisfaction

Dentists with a dentist parent are often assumed to have inherent career advantages. Despite the high prevalence of these "second-generation" dentists, little research has examined whether they are actually happier than others. This study investigated life satisfaction among dentists with a dentist parent, compared to those with a physician parent or non-physician/dentist parents.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Taiwanese dentists, assessing their life satisfaction using the 5-item Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), along with sociodemographic and career-related factors. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with SWLS scores.

Among 1,170 respondents (mean age = 43.5 years, SD = 12.0; 46.5% female), the prevalence of young dentists with at least one dentist parent increased from 2 to 10% over the past two decades, whereas the prevalence of dentists with a physician parent remained around 10%. Multivariable analysis revealed that dentists with a dentist parent reported lower mean SWLS scores (β = -0.245; p = 0.015) after accounting for potential confounders. When the items of the SWLS scale were analyzed individually, dentists with a dentist parent had similar current life satisfaction, but lower past life satisfaction (β = -0.541; p < 0.001) than those without physician/dentist parents. Among dentists who ranked in the top 25% of their class, those with a dentist parent reported the lowest mean SWLS scores. In contrast, dentists with a physician parent did not experience the same decline in life satisfaction observed among second-generation dentists.

Although the small sample size of second-generation dentists limits the strength of inferences, these findings highlight the growing prevalence of second-generation dentists in Taiwan, their regret over past choices, and the potential challenges unique to this group. Understanding the pressures faced by second-generation dentists may inform strategies to enhance their professional fulfillment and overall well-being.