Communicating With Your Patients About The Reason For Treatment

If you’re having difficulty getting your patients to schedule appointments for follow-up treatment, it may be because of the way you’re explaining their dental issues and treatment. We’re sure that the language you’re using to explain the procedure is clinically correct, but this doesn’t mean your patients understand it.

Helping Your Patients Understand Their Treatment

If you use clinical terms to explain to your patient why he needs a dental crown, chances are that, unless he went to dental school, he won’t understand what you’re saying. He’ll know he needs a crown and that it has something to do with a problem on the X-Ray, but he’ll also realize that it sounds expensive and painful. This means he’ll probably skip scheduling a treatment appointment.

We recommend keeping the explanations simple. Let your patient know that he needs a dental crown to treat a dental cavity and that, if he doesn’t get treatment, the cavity will deepen, leading to lots of pain and even more expensive procedures. This way he understands the problem, the solution, and what will happen if he ignores it.

Communication is critical in any medical profession, including dentistry. Make sure you’re making eye contact with your patients, explaining problems through easy-to-understand language, and leave enough time to answer any questions or address any concerns your patient may have. When your patients understand their problem and their treatment, they’re much more likely to schedule an appointment for treatment at your office.

For more information about keeping your dental office running smoothly and successfully, or for help with learning how to communicate with patients, please contact CTC National today.