Are you really 'all ears'?

In a busy world, it can be difficult to give time to really listen to what others are saying. Of course, professionally, the regulators place an expectation upon the dental team to actively listen to patients. The GDC’s Standards for the Dental Team suggest they should ‘communicate effectively with patients – listen to them, give them time to consider information and take their individual views and communication needs into account’.

Modern technology now powers the way we communicate and it is easy to lose sight of the basics. The digitalisation of dentistry, whilst enhancing patient education, should be viewed as an adjunct to personal interactions rather than an alternative to old-school communication skills.