Rapport to the rescue

Addressing certain dental-related issues with patients can sometimes be tricky; a minefield of possible explosive reactions in fact. However, according to Public Health England’s Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention, it is the responsibility of the entire dental team to convey these sensitive messages in order to aid in treatment planning and prevention of oral diseases, trained dental care professionals ‘should aim to take every appropriate opportunity to encourage and support patients and colleagues to improve their health and wellbeing’ (Section 4b of the NHS constitution). This means every time the patient visits your practice, you should try to address any unhealthy oral health-related behaviours, whilst treating them with dignity and respect at all times. (Standard 1.2, GDC) These behaviours can include, smoking, alcohol use, diet, brushing habits, fluoride use – you get the idea, all the things a patient may already have some residing guilt about.