The Truth Behind the Smiles - A Story of Dental Suicide (w/Melissa Methven) [Ep.177]

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

• To Purchase Melissa’s Book: https://a.co/d/8nYzyTO 
• Melissa on FB: https://www.facebook.com/tremblaymel/ 
• Melissa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissamethven/
• Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/
• Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/
• Website: theorthocoach.com
• YouTube: @theorthocoach
• Instagram: @theorthocoach

• (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