The benefits of a patient centred approach to dentistry

Benefits of personalised care

It’s vital that patients understand their own oral health, and how to manage any issues properly, and getting this message across may require support from the entire dental team. To offer effective individualised care,[iv]communication is vital. Creating an environment in which your patients can speak freely – for example, if they’ve been struggling with pain or sensitivity, suffering with dental anxiety, or simply have questions about an upcoming dental procedure – this will allow you to explore treatment options which are most appropriate for the individual patient. By communicating effectively with your patients, you’ll be able to build trust and manage their treatment expectations.[v]

This interactive experience benefits both parties; with patients feeling far happier with their experiences, and dentists gaining the loyalty of their patients, encouraging them to return and generate revenue for the practice.[vi] When a patient feels comfortable in their dental appointment, they are far more likely to open up and discuss their experiences with their oral health.[vii] Patients may feel more comfortable discussing any small changes they’d like to make to their smile, creating opportunities for orthodontic or restorative treatment they hadn’t previously considered. They may also feel more comfortable discussing their personal life, giving you the opportunity to build a stronger rapport with your patient. This personal connection will help your patients to develop trust in you^v – meaning that when they come to consider more extensive treatment, you are their first choice. This personal aspect of care will also mean that patient compliance is improved as in-depth discussions will reinforce the requirements for successful treatment.[viii] The more that patients understand the role they play in their oral health, the more likely they are to actively work with you to improve their smile.^iv

Maintaining high standards

At times, it may feel like a challenge to provide patients with very personal and attentive care, while still completing your administrative duties during the appointment. The requirements for note taking, are extensive and it’s important that you take complete and accurate clinical notes. However, a more free-flowing, patient centred approach is unlikely to follow a rigid structure. So, taking notes of key conversations and issues raised during appointments is vital, but potentially more challenging.

Clinical notes should be a true reflection of your patient’s oral health, providing an accurate representation of their situation, any conversations had, and any treatments they have undergone. All dental professionals will be aware of the need to create complete and accurate notes for their own sake too. With increased awareness in the professional community about the risk of litigation,^v accurate records will help to protect you should a complaint be raised. Of course, maintaining high levels of patient satisfaction through creating strong relationships with your patients will also reduce the likelihood of complaints.^vii Be sure to adapt your process depending on the patient, for the best possible outcome.

For note taking that keeps up with you, choose Kiroku – the innovative digital note taking platform. Dental examinations don’t always go as expected, so the templates adapt to your needs. You can even create or customise your own note taking template with Kiroku, for a bespoke experience. Drag and re-order individual lines, allowing you to follow the natural flow of each appointment. Dynamic templates give you the freedom to create a true reflection of the dental appointment, as it happened, at the click of a button. Kiroku suggests prompts to include relevant information in your patients’ clinical notes, so you don’t forget important information.

Creating a positive patient experience in practice is important for improving treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction. An interactive dental appointment style encourages a positive relationship between you and your patient and helps you to adapt any potential treatment options to your patients’ specific needs. Ensuring you keep clear records of all discussions, diagnosis, and treatments is vital for protecting both yourself and your patients. Do all you can to create an environment in which patients feel comfortable so that they can discuss any concerns and ask any questions they may have.

To find out more about Kiroku, or to start your free trial, please visit trykiroku.com

[i] GDC. Principle One: Put patients’ interests first. https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle1/principle1.aspx (accessed: 03/10/22)

[ii] GDC. Principle Two: Communicate effectively with patients. https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle2/principle2.aspx (accessed: 03/10/22)

[iii] Scambler, S., Delgado, M. & Asimakopoulou, K. Defining patient-centred care in dentistry? A systematic review of the dental literature. Br Dent J 221, 477–484 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.777 https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2016.777

[iv] Scambler S, Gupta A, Asimakopoulou K. Patient-centred care–what is it and how is it practised in the dental surgery? Health Expect. 2015 Dec;18(6):2549-58. doi: 10.1111/hex.12223. Epub 2014 Jun 20. PMID: 24948386; PMCID: PMC5810625. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5810625/

[v] Westgarth, D. ‘If there’s someone to walk you through it, it can make all the difference’. BDJ In Pract 35, 12–13 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-022-1166-4 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41404-022-1166-4

[vi] Mazzei, Alessandra, Vincenzo Russo, and Alberto Crescentini. “Patient satisfaction and communication as competitive levers in dentistry.” The TQM Journal (2009). https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/41184289/Mazzei_Russo_Crescentini_TQM_2009-with-cover-page-v2.pdf?Expires=1664892396&Signature=Q~eyk3Q4YEqJhDucjKpdnVn1UAHY9d~VwWF9aTpEmTu7oR8GXdh2-YkZEUHXScv4Cx4JTTaknn7pPmt3GVUsjaosdN3idV8YTga4TdMsj4vVEmQ22mwACH5o3S0-jSOSohPpOT7JztwRdKdItw2-XwM3n50v9thDvlZ4WTJ-q5xOKOqAPbUzhHAq2UIzM-Fp2x-39~u8d0yVXUPLMoZ6UcKs6aXJy3XSCssL9g0T-KQR7zkE8OYHqNXBJM6tlFOzXd20dpLasOvdCY5Nd-kB186wAosZZrT0tc0yCNRl0Awec06fI4Bu8pS1Fs9AhPSNAUgyErCvIjkBQM9kegOQYg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA

[vii] Kadanakuppe, S. “Effective communication and empathy skills in dentistry for better dentist-patient relationships.” J Dent Probl Solut 2 (3): 058-059. DOI: 10.17352/2394-8418.0000 20 (2015). https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/41004210/JDPS-2-120-1_Editorial-with-cover-page-v2.pdf?Expires=1664892879&Signature=YfI49lwGZ-p~8Mjqs4M-kQ3IOx9AEQSI-~IC-FkMpWpvVksXRMoSocVQDrDDEGUMUCc56lZD8AkRuWtNCzyShA1qmjHxQE9uCX1YU0e4xmcnQRlr0ryvdXnfeo3UwzldxCEtz6chTDqLWFDVcJmTcAR7fVdjAVkOO7AJFqytJBWTAfWyF5kBPl9h9iuHCvL-bt~GWK4mVs9f5BRovxzc9uCTI~lSxCVvqPS~DGl8bYhN~B~g7JgX9cT98-0Ril7HPX3kby7M9Y49b9RJzZ2qa9EF69Aum~MC~BZohwWW6DNjfsb8J9Z1xXK-dpG5h7BgWeDX1DW1wWuv5H2pV02bzA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA

[viii] Misra S, Daly B, Dunne S, Millar B, Packer M, Asimakopoulou K. Dentist-patient communication: what do patients and dentists remember following a consultation? Implications for patient compliance. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2013 Jun 17;7:543-9. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S43255. PMID: 23814463; PMCID: PMC3693916. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693916/