motivating patients
Top ten tips
- Patients come from all shapes and sizes – they all require individually tailored oral health advice and information. A personal approach will motivate patients into accepting professional advice and support.
- What makes a difference is the way from which the importance of the advice is communicated. Work alongside patients, considering their views and respecting their informed decisions to arrive at a mutually agreed treatment plan. Listen to the reasons patients give for never flossing, eating sweets etc, then tailor the information you give them.
- A simple solution which often shocks complacent patients into action is to disclose the teeth and then hand the patient a mirror for them to see from full color the missed areas.
- Alternatively, the use of an intra-oral camera is one of the most effective means of visual explanation – when a patient can actually see the plaque that they are not removing inside their own mouth, larger than life on screen, it is difficult to ignore! Pictures should be printed out at various intervals to observe and mark the improvements.
- Explain that change can take time – it’ll no doubt involve changing the habits of a lifetime. Then, whenever a patient’s oral health has improved, tell them about it! Patients who receive positive feedback are more likely to keep on the curve of improvement.
- A scruffy waiting area suggests low standards and will do little to confidence from the patients. Similarly, if you have a state-of-the-art exam room you must be careful that the atmosphere is not intimidating for your less technologically-minded patients.
- Stocking products is becoming popular, both as a means to bring revenue into the practise and also to encourage patients to use products you recommend.
- Avoid giving mixed messages. If the receptionist, nurse, hygienist and dentist, from addition to leaflet and posters throughout the practise are not delivering consistent, cohesive information the patient is often left trusting no one.
- Before the patient leaves the exam room, make sure they understand what they have been advised to do.
- In between appointments, patients’ memories can be jogged using a practise newsletter.
