In the world of dental healthcare, the foundation of a thriving dental practice lies in the strength of the dentist-patient relationship. This connection, characterized by trust, understanding, and effective communication, plays a pivotal role in ensuring not only customer satisfaction but also fostering long-term loyalty.
At Keating Dental Lab, we recognize the significance of nurturing these relationships and are committed to providing insights to enhance your bond with patients. Below are strategies designed to bolster dentist-patient interactions and cement a flourishing dentist customer relationship.
Why Your Patients Are Scared Of You (And What You Can Do About It)?
Compared to other health care professions, dental care has historically been characterized as generating more fear and anxiety from patients. Therefore, the development of trust security between the practitioner-patient relationship is an essential professional skill that needs to be learned by future dentists. No matter the level of the procedure, a thorough explanation of the process can work wonders in helping the patient to remain calm because it demonstrates your level of knowledge and professionalism. Furthermore, allowing the patient to pause the procedure at any time of discomfort gives them control to reduce anxiety. Using different forms of verbal and non-verbal communication will help you convey a sense of concern for the patient’s fears.
Practicing strong communication skills are one of the most important things you could do to strengthen your relationships with your patients. Clinicians who take the time to clearly communicate procedures and after-care will be viewed as more trustworthy than those who leave those tasks to the front desk. An extra step in making sure patients understand the material you feed to them is to have them relay back the discussed information to you.
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Additionally, make sure that the patient feels involved in their healthcare decisions by driving shared decision-making. Although you may feel that you know what is best for the patient, you also have to keep in mind that cultural and personal preferences may not always agree with your professional opinion. As a dentist, it is your responsibility to make sure that your patient understands the pros and cons of each decision that they make for themselves.
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Understanding the Dynamics of Dentist-Patient Interaction
Overcoming Fear and Anxiety in Dental Care
Contrary to other healthcare services, dental visits are often marred by patient anxiety and fear. Cultivating a sense of security and trust in the dentist-patient relationship is crucial for alleviating these concerns. Transparency about procedures, offering control to patients during their treatment, and empathetic communication can greatly diminish fear, thereby strengthening the dentist and patient relationship.
Read also: A Friendly Dentist’s Way Of Improving Patient Experience
Effective Communication: The Cornerstone of the Relationship
The essence of an enduring dentist-patient relationship hinges on clear and compassionate communication. It is paramount for dentists to articulate the specifics of treatments and aftercare comprehensively. Encouraging patients to recapitulate what has been discussed ensures they grasp the information effectively, paving the way for shared decision-making. Acknowledging the patient’s cultural and personal preferences reinforces the dentist patient interaction*, making it more collaborative and respectful.
Listen to our dental podcast and learn more: “Your Patient Is The Most Important Person In The Room,” By Dr. Alan Kaplan
Every Dental Patient Matters
Ensuring uniform care and empathy
Last but not least, always keep in mind that every patient is equally as important as the last one. Just because you’ve known a patient longer or they bring in a bigger profit for your practice does not mean they deserve extra care and attention. Practicing empathy towards patients can help you connect with them on a personal level by making them feel understood. Research has suggested that this increases patient satisfaction, regardless of the care outcomes.
A general assessment of care quality and patient satisfaction surveys showed that 65 percent of patient satisfaction can be attributed to clinician empathy. This finding is critical as providers work to crack the code of a good patient satisfaction score.[1]At the end of the day, building a positive dentist-patient relationship begins and ends with the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated.
[1]https://patientengagementhit.com/news/3-key-traits-of-a-positive-patient-provider-relationship
