Opinion H


ave you ever had that feeling of frustration, anger, rage or maybe just plain disappoint- ment that the person you are dealing with just doesn’t get


what you are saying, can’t see what it is you want to do and are in your way somehow or are obstructing you? It’s interesting isn’t it? I imagine you are


probably nodding as this happens to all of us sometimes in many areas of our lives. “How can they be so thick?” “Is he stupid?” “It’s so obvious!” Let’s reflect on this to work out how


this happens and ask ourselves how can this affect us? We should also work to see if we can turn this to our advantage when dealing with our patients and colleagues and, in fact, anyone we engage with to make our lives smoother, calmer, more productive and happier. After all, the purpose of my musings each time I write to you is to try to give something away from my grey hairs that may be valuable to even one of you. How many times has it happened that


you examine a patient and give them a crystal-clear treatment plan that shows what they need and yet they either say they don’t want to proceed or you simply don’t see them again? There cannot be a single dentist who hasn’t had this happen. How can this be? You are a dentist,


you know your stuff, you have diagnosed disease or a fracture or something obvious that “should” be changed and you have told the patient and still they don’t want


Bruce Oxley


Tel: +44(0)141 560 3050


bruce@connect communications.co.uk


Senior sub-editor: Wendy Fenemore


Sub-editors: Nigel Donaldson


Design and production Scott Anderson


We need to build stronger relationships with patients to understand their priorities


Column


with Dr John Barry Two sides to everything


it or they don’t come back. How can that happen? Well, let me give you a few ideas why


I think it can happen. Communication, understanding priorities, non-reassurance, fear and not feeling understood or listened to. All of the above have one common denominator and that is communication. We think it is so obvious. Even a blind man can see that there is black stuff on the occlusal of the LR6, which is obvious decay. They should want that “fixed” immediately. You give them the plan, ask them to book 30 or 45 minutes and quote


them €xx, but when they go to make the appointment they act shifty and say “I’ll give you a buzz to make the appointment. I’m up to my eyes at the moment”. They then they disappear, sometimes for years,


DETAILS AND CONTRIBUTORS Editor


Advertising sales manager Ann Craib


Tel: +44(0)141 560 3021


ann@connect communications.co.uk


Subscriptions Lauren Adger


Tel: +44(0)141 561 0300 info@connect


communications.co.uk 1 year, 6 issue subscriptions: UK £48;


overseas £65; students £25. Back issues: £5, subject to availability.


and when they come back – if they do – its bigger, deeper or now sore and a much bigger problem. (In most cases they don’t come back to you as they are embarrassed and these are the


new patients who sometimes turn up at you with pain because they left their old practice). Remember, every new patient is usually


a former patient of someone else. I have laboured this before. We need to have much stronger relationships with our patients to understand their thinking and their priorities. Start care co-ordinating – this is where someone in the practice starts to ask meaningful questions and spends time with your patients and you will see far greater uptake of your plans and much better patient retention.


The copyright in all articles published in Ireland’s Dental magazine is reserved, and may not be reproduced without permission. Neither the publishers nor the editor necessarily agree with views expressed in the magazine. ISSN 2043-8060


is published by


Studio 2001, Mile End, Paisley PA1 1JS


Tel: +44 (0)141 561 0300 Fax: +44 (0)141 561 0400


info@connectcommunications.co.uk Ireland’s Dental magazine 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56