CHAPTER 18
Communication
18.1 OVERVIEW OF COMMUNICATION
Effective and appropriate communication is essential for informed consent. The principles of this process are set out in the curriculum for the UK Foundation Dentist and in the General Dental Council Standards for the Dental Team [1–4].
Effective communication is critical in ensuring patient satisfaction and compliance with treatment plans. Studies have shown that patients who perceive their dentists as good communicators are more likely to be satisfied with their dental care and adhere to treatment recommendations.
Communication can help to manage patient anxiety and fear, which are common in dental settings. Dentists who use calming language and explain procedures in detail can help to reduce patient stress and improve their overall experience [3, 4].
Communication is also important in obtaining informed consent from patients. Informed consent involves providing patients with clear and accurate information about their treatment options, risks and benefits, as well as answering any questions they may have. This helps to ensure that patients make informed decisions about their care.
Dentists also communicate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, to coordinate care for patients with complex medical histories or conditions. Effective communication between healthcare providers can help to ensure that patients receive appropriate and timely treatment.
In addition to verbal communication, nonverbal communication is also important in dentistry. This includes body language, tone of voice and facial expressions. Dentists who are aware of their nonverbal communication can use it to convey empathy and build rapport with patients.
Effective communication is critical to providing high‐quality dental care and improving patient outcomes [4–9].
In dentistry, it is our ethical, legal and professional responsibility to communicate effectively with both our patients and the dental team. This responsibility extends to our interactions with marketing and social media.
Marketing
| Aspirational | Basic | Conditional |
| Communicate in a manner that causes the least anxiety. Respect dignity, confidentiality and self‐image. (i) | Present questions in a clear, concise and understandable manner. (i) | Identify patients that have special communication needs and address these requirements effectively.(i) |
| Communicate the treatment plan (and any other relevant correspondence) in writing in a way that the patient can understand. (ii) | Increase the patient’s awareness and understanding by careful explanation. (i) | |
| Effectively manage all patients through appropriate interpersonal and behavioural skills, including listening and responding to non‐verbal cues. (ii) |
Social media
| Aspirational | Basic | Conditional |
| Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the importance of safeguarding the profession’s image. Do not post any information, including personal views, photographs or videos, that could endanger public confidence. (i) | Demonstrate the presence of and adherence to a social media policy. (i) |
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