Doctor-Patient Communication

The importance of building a trusting relationship

Why Trust is Vital

The BasicsBy showing interest in a patient’s personal life, a dentist can make a

patient feel like more than just a number. This can be done at a patient’s very first visit by having a conversation that does not solely focus on dentistry.

Some topics to address are: Family Hobbies/Vacations Work Non-dental health issues

By bringing this information up in conversation in following visits, it shows the patient that the dentist remembers them and cares about their overall well-being. Also, being under the care of someone whom the patient feels knows him on a personal level can make for a more comfortable experience.

Informed ConsentThere can be a lot of gray areas regarding which treatment plan is

the best. Although the dentist is the expert and has an opinion about what would be best, a patient still has the right to know every option. This is known by the American Medical Association as Informed Consent and is fulfilled by the doing the following:

Telling the patient what his or her diagnosis is Explaining all relevant treatments that can be done and what the treatments will accomplish Discussing pros and cons of each treatment Discussing what will happen if no treatment is done

When a patient knows all of the options, not just the one the dentist recommends, he or she can feel more in control about what is happening to them and that the chosen treatment truly is the most appropriate.

Communication During a Procedure

1. Enter room, wash hands, and greet the patient2. Ask if there are any additional problems besides the one that is being

addressed that visit3. Go over the general steps of the procedure that is going to be done4. As the procedure progresses, inform the patient of any specifics that are

going on at that moment. Examples: “You’re going to feel some pressure now.” “I’m done with _________ and now I’m going to _________.” “You’re about half way through, good job!”

5. When the procedure is over, go over any after-care instructions and once again, ask if there are any questions about the procedure or anything else at all.

When a patient is in the chair, they are completely vulnerable at the hands of the dentist. By clearly communicating with the patient throughout the entire procedure, it allows the patient to feel less blind about what is happening and can give the illusion of having some sort of control.

Society’s Gender Expectations

At the dentist, men may feel the need to portray these characteristics while women may feel obligated to defy the characteristics that have been associated with their sex. Both of these tendencies can lead to internalizing fears about going to the dentist.

Encourage OpennessWhen a male has a fear, he may disguise it by

acting tough in order to conform to society’s assumptions of him (fearless, strong). This causes that fear to grow and turn into anxiety.

Conversely, when a female has a fear, she may hide it in order to resist society’s assumptions (helpless, weak) in an effort to be viewed as capable and strong. This too can create anxiety.

Male or female, it is okay to be scared. But, if these fears are not discussed, nothing can be done about them.

FearA trusting relationship does not just come from being

personable and informative, but also from addressing patient’s fears about going to the dentist.

Fears may stem from: Fear of needles Fear of pain during the procedure Lack of control Oversensitivity to the sounds and sensations of a procedure

As a dentist, if you create an open and non-judgmental atmosphere for a patient to open up about their fears, you can work together to figure out a way to deal with the source of fear. Once again, a relationship built on trust is being sustained and strengthened.

Overview

Never assume a patient knows something and always communicate!

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