‘Dr. Violin,’ wellness advocate, recipient of Distinguished Service Award

Bill Claytor, Jr., D.D.S., is executive director of North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals

What do playing the violin and practicing dentistry have in common?

For Bill Claytor, Jr., D.D.S., the answer is quite a lot. They both involve working with one’s hands, they both require a certain level of repetition, and they’re both deep passions of his. Dr. Claytor has always been drawn to the meticulous details, which, in large part, is why he decided to pursue dentistry and play the violin in the first place.

“I always say that if you gave me a project to build a storage house or some big add-on to a house, that would drive me absolutely crazy,” Dr. Claytor said. “But if you put me down in a small, focused area of a few millimeters or an inch and say I’m going to be there for hours and hours, that’s my happy place. That’s where I relax and I calm down.”

Dr. Claytor, who is affectionately nicknamed “Dr. Violin,” played the violin in orchestras growing up in North Carolina and through college. He and his wife, Lisa, also a violinist, met while playing in the Charleston Symphony. Dr. Claytor earned his dental degree from the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, after which he worked in private practice for more than 39 years.

A man of many interests and responsibilities, Dr. Claytor is the first to admit that the daily stresses of life can quickly accumulate into an overwhelming pile. His own experience with burnout led him to become a champion for the mental and emotional health of dental professionals, from writing a book on burnout and perfectionism to lecturing around the nation about well-being. He currently serves as the executive director of the North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals, a nonprofit organization committed to helping dentists and dental hygienists who struggle with substance use disorders, mental health issues, depression and burnout.

Dr. Claytor’s stalwart dedication to the dental profession is why the ADA Board of Trustees is awarding him the ADA’s 2025 Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor the ADA bestows on its members.

“Dr. Claytor has had a huge impact on our profession — and on me. He’s a mentor, a friend and one of the strongest advocates we have for dentists’ mental health and well-being,” said ADA President Brett Kessler, D.D.S. “Dr. Claytor has worked hard to break down the stigma around addiction and mental health, and he’s built a strong community of support for those who are struggling. I’ve been lucky to do this work alongside him — and even luckier to call him a friend. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the Distinguished Service Award.”

Spinning plates

While working in private practice years ago, Dr. Claytor was also working to balance supporting his practice as well as starting his family. Gradually the pressures started to mount, until he felt like he was struggling to balance spinning plates. After one plate was metaphorically spinning, he’d start a second one, followed by a third and fourth, and then return to the first one once it began slowing down — all while still spinning the others.

“You get a lot of plates spinning in your life, and I got to the point where it was overwhelming. I didn’t know how to manage stress. I had not yet learned coping skills,” Dr. Claytor said. “My generation was one of pulling yourself up by the proverbial bootstraps, and you don’t tell anyone if you’re having issues.  By my early 40’s, I kind of crashed and burned realizing that I had to get some help. I realized I didn’t have to do this alone. I discovered a lot of people wanted to help me. I just had to ask for the help.”

This decision altered the course of his life. At first, Dr. Claytor blamed himself for not having learned proper coping skills. He soon realized that no one inherently knows how to deal with stress, conflict, disgruntled patients, or setting boundaries. These are tools that are taught and learned, so he resolved to do just that.

Initially, Dr. Claytor volunteered with the North Carolina Caring Dental Professionals. He coordinated conferences and connected people with helpful resources, which eventually led to presenting educational lectures on substance abuse and well-being. He then rose to the position of associate executive director, and in 2022 was named the organization’s executive director.

Additionally, he co-founded the National Council on Dentist Health Programs, an organization focused on encouraging best practices in peer assistance, professional monitoring, education and advocacy. It works with dental societies and licensing boards to build effective wellness resources for dental professionals.

“It always comes back to the practitioner. They have to ask for help, so my goal is to create an environment that is less stigmatizing and more inviting for them. Hopefully, dental professionals will come forward and ask for help. That’s why I do what I do,” Dr. Claytor said.

Community is key

Joseph Hendrick, D.D.S., met Dr. Claytor more than 50 years ago when the two were undergraduate students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The two are still friends to this day: Dr. Claytor teaches mental health, Medication Access Training Expansion (DEA required) courses, courses on cannabis, and assists with local anesthetic technique courses for Athena Dental Solutions, an ADA CERP-approved continuing education provider and dental lab which Dr. Hendrick co-owns with his wife, Lori Hendrick, Ph.D.

“Dr. Claytor is a recognized speaker and educator, where he addresses safe prescribing, mental health, and substance use disorders at many national conferences and organizations both on his own behalf and with our Athena Dental Solutions. We are honored to have him speaking and teaching for our organization in both didactic and clinical roles.” Dr. Hendrick said. “Dr. Bill Claytor is a skilled clinician, instructor, lecturer, and author. Personally, Bill has been a great colleague and friend throughout the years. He has numerous personal interests, has served well in his community and church, and remains a powerhouse in his profession.”

Lori Hendrick, Ph.D., said Dr. Claytor was a pillar of support when she and Dr. Hendrick lost their son to a drug overdose. He is passionate about educating patients, providers, and the public concerning the negative consequences of substance abuse.  Lori is moved by his ministry to aid dental professionals who find themselves struggling.

“He has served the dental community with compassion and resolve, striving to pass along the knowledge he has obtained through the years to make future generations better,” she said. “Dr. Claytor likes to remind others that it is okay to not be okay and that admitting that you are not okay does not show that you are a weak individual. It just shows that you know when to ask for help.”

Dr. Claytor has spent much of his life encouraging people to ask for help when they need it. His storied career reflects this, as it is filled with many achievements like receiving the 2017 Academy of General Dentistry Lifelong Learning Service Recognition Award, 2022 North Carolina Dental Society Meritorious Achievement Award, 2022 Distinguished Service Award of the Dental Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, mastership of the Academy of General Dentistry in 1993. Recently, he has been a consultant with the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs and has served with the ADA Dental Wellbeing Advisory Committee.

In 2020, Dr. Claytor released his first eBook, “Perfectionism & Burnout in Dentistry: Are They Inevitable?” in which he examined the evolution of 1950’s dentistry to the modern landscape and explored solutions to create a healthier work-life balance. He is currently chipping away at a follow-up to this book, which will delve more into applicable experiences.

Although his professional life is steeped in success, he deeply values the personal side as well. Dr. Claytor’s upcoming plans include spending more time with family, including his children, new grandson, and his Jack Russel Terrier, Bailey, faceting gemstones and continuing to play the violin in his free time.

Both personally and professionally, Dr. Claytor strives to surround himself with community. Isolation often leads to loneliness and burnout. “Encouraging all dental professionals to remember that they don’t have to go through life alone is the message.” One of his favorite pearls is, “Call a friend and take them for coffee or dinner.” Knowing you are not alone can oftentimes lead to pathways of healing. 

Dr. Claytor wants everyone to know that as a dentist or dental hygienist, you don’t have to be left behind in this profession. 

“Dental professionals have suffered long enough. I think it’s time that we embrace this opportunity to receive help, remove stigmas and empower ourselves to do what we need to do and stay engaged with our dental community.”