DTUK1710

I n dentistry, as in any medi- cal field, it is advantageous to be as well informed about the patient as possible before proceeding with treatment. The initial communica- tion a practitioner has with their patient is often the most important, as this is the stage that the patient will form their first thoughts about the profes- sional, and decide whether or not they feel comfortable with them. With this in mind, com- munication should be non-in- timidating, open and sensitive, and accommodate active listen- ing and acknowledgement of the patient’s concerns. Dig deep It is important to gain as much information about the patient as possible before they even get into the chair. This ensures the professional is armed with in- formation on the patient’s medi- cal and dental history, any fears or phobias, and the patient’s needs and desires for treatment from the very start. This allows the practitioner to offer a more tailored treatment plan, and any additional support, such as se- dation or distraction techniques, should they be required. The whole dental team should be involved in the initial communication with a patient. After all, it’s not just the practis- ing dentist who is seen! Many patients will be very nervous of a visit to the surgery, so a casual chat with a friendly receptionist, or a conversation with the den- tal nurse about the upcoming procedure before arriving at the surgery can often help put their minds at ease. All patients want to deal with people who are empathet- ic to their situation, so an ini- tial meeting with a team that is warm and friendly is one of the best ways to help relax a nerv- ous patient. One of the key mem- bers of staff in this situation is the dental nurse. Ensuring that you have a strong nursing team is very important, as the nurse is the person who will be there to hold the patient’s hand and offer reassurance. Nobody can be taught how to offer this kind of support, so ensuring you have a compassionate and personable nursing team defi- nitely makes the dentist’s job much simpler! Address patients’ concerns Good communication before an initial consultation is a good way for patients to air any concerns or fears they have about a proce- dure. Concerns should never be ignored – acknowledging a pa- tient’s anxieties and reassuring them that they are understood, and that you are prepared to tai- lor a treatment plan to ensure that they feel as comfortable as possible shows compassion. While the personal approach is vital when a patient is in the surgery, the advent of modern technology has simplified the process of gathering initial in- formation from patients. I have included a section on my web- site where referring practition- ers can provide detailed infor- mation about referrals, so by the time a patient enters my surgery, I already have a comprehensive document detailing the patient’s previous dental care. This is incredibly useful when putting together treatment plans, how- ever must be followed by a face- to-face conversation during the initial consultation! A good relationship If receiving a referral patient, working closely with the refer- ring practitioner is vital – after all, the patient’s own dentist knows the most about the pa- tient. Maintaining a good rela- tionship also helps relax the pa- tient, and they feel that the team they are visiting is an extension of their own practice. I often tell patients to imagine that my team and I are just another room in their own surgery – everything they know and trust is the same, and I we are simply an extension of their own prac- titioner’s team. Occasionally you will experi- ence a patient who is reluctant to offer any personal informa- tion. I would advise to proceed very carefully in this situation. Personally, I refuse to treat any patient who refuses to provide medical details, as a lack of in- formation in this area can put everyone involved at risk. It is more difficult when discussing less clinical details, as many pa- tients feel that their personal in- formation is not needed to carry out dental treatment. In many ways, this is the case, however I believe that the more I know about a patient the better the procedure. The rela- tionship between practitioner and patient needs to be one of trust and respect, and I believe that it is very difficult to feel this way about a patient when all you have in your chair is the equivalent of a sheet of medi- cal facts. Of course, knowing your patient’s favourite colour is slightly too much detail, but a certain amount of personal in- formation is useful! For example, if a patient doesn’t like the taste of mint, you can accommodate by using an orange-flavoured prophylax- is paste instead – thus making the experience a more pleasur- able one! Details like this helps ensure that a patient leaves the surgery feeling that they have experienced a good service, and are not likely to be as apprehen- sive should they have to return. Communicate clearly I firmly believe that the relation- ship between patient and practi- tioner is one that should be nur- tured, and good communication from both is vitally important. The patient is likely to receive better treatment, and by human- ising the practitioner, the patient is likely to feel more relaxed and comfortable in the chair. DT It’s important that you get all of the information you need when you meet a patient for the very first time, says Dr Michael Sultan Know your patients About the author Dr Michael Sultan BDS MSc DFO is a specialist in En- dodontics and the clinical director of EndoCare. Michael qualified at Bris- tol University in 1986. He worked as a general dental practitioner for five years before commencing specialist studies at Guy’s hospital, London. He completed his MSc and in Endodon- tics in 1993 and worked as an in-house endodontist in various practices before setting up in Harley St, London in 2000. He was admitted onto the specialist register in endodontics in 1999 and has lectured extensively to postgraduate dental groups as well as lecturing on Endodontic courses at Eastman CPD, University of London. He has been in- volved with numerous dental groups and has been chairman of the Alpha Omega dental fraternity. In 2008, he became clinical director of Endocare a group of specialist practices. To talk to a member of the Endocare team call 020 7224 0999 or email reception@en- docare.co.uk or for more information please visit www.endocare.co.uk. ‘I firmly believe that the relationship between patient and practitioner is one that should be nurtured, and good communication from both is vitally important’ KaVo. Dental Excellence. Dental Professionals rely on KaVo’s quality handpiece servicing! Would you run your car without regular servicing? So, why expect your handpieces, to perform consistently at their best without regular servicing? Are you guaranteed the best service? The KaVo UK Handpiece Repair facility offers an unbeatable handpiece repair and maintenance support for all KaVo handpieces. Fact: The higher the quality of handpiece and its maintenance, the better its life-long performance. Prolong the useful life of your handpieces whilst protecting patients and staff with correct maintenance by factory trained technicians and high quality, original KaVo parts. KaVo the cost effective way to ensure handpiece longevity. You get what you pay for so invest wisely. KaVo, known and respected for quality, reliability and longevity. KaVo Dental Limited · Raans Road, Amersham, Bucks HP6 6JL Tel. 01494 733000 · Fax 01494 431168 · mail: sales@kavo.com · www.kavo.com For information call KaVo Handpiece Repairs on Freephone 0800 281020. A5 Techs SELECTED:Layout 4 3/6/10 16:48 Page 1 June 28-July 4, 201022 United Kingdom EditionEducation