7 traits of a good dentist
Can anyone become a good dentist? Is it enough to graduate from medical school and open a practice to succeed in this profession? Today, when the patient is a much more demanding client, expectations towards medicine are growing. Written for you by dentist Dariusz Wilisowski, DDS
Competences
The ease and speed of acquiring knowledge is a huge asset. In this profession, learning does not end with receiving a university degree. It continues throughout one's entire professional career. Dentistry is one of the most dynamically developing fields of medicine. To stay up-to-date, it is necessary to systematically participate in various types of courses, training, seminars, and to obtain certificates that confirm the high competence of the dentist.
Empathy
Patients still come to the dentist feeling stressed and fearing the unknown that awaits them in the dental chair. Understanding and empathy are essential. The dentist must put themselves in the patient's shoes, give them a sense of being safe and in good hands, and create the most comfortable conditions possible for treatment. And when the situation demands it, even interrupt the procedure. Attentiveness focused on the patient is a quality that even the best university cannot cultivate in a doctor.
Communicativeness
One of the conditions for successful treatment is setting the goals that the doctor and the patient want to achieve. A person who puts themselves in the hands of a dentist must be convinced that every action, every procedure is a meaningful and necessary step towards achieving the final result. Therefore, every specialist should have the ability to describe the treatment process clearly and vividly, and also explain everything in a simple and understandable way for the patient, who after all, is not a doctor.
The ability to use modern technologies
A dental specialist is defined as a person who not only has experience and knowledge, but also knows and applies the latest technologies in dentistry. This refers both to modern equipment and innovative treatment methods, as well as the use of the best and most effective methods of patient anesthesia in their work.
Synergy/Cooperation
Focusing on a single specialization is the key to perfection in the profession. A good dentist usually specializes in one field of dentistry but works surrounded by other specialists, creating a competent and effective team together with them.
Management
For a patient, the best confirmation of a doctor's professionalism is their busy schedule. The need to schedule a visit with a specific specialist means that they are a highly regarded physician and have already been trusted by many people. However, this does not mean that such a doctor will not find time for the patient. A professional is able to combine their busy schedule with the skills of a manager who manages their own time and the time of their clinic well.
Effectiveness
The key word in treatment. Today, patients expect their doctor above all to be effective, backed by experience and knowledge. Painful root canal treatment or constantly falling out fillings are now a thing of the past. A good dentist, before starting treatment, conducts all necessary examinations and consults with other doctors, to finally make an accurate diagnosis that allows the patient to go through the entire treatment process. Effectively.
