Colleagues, communication and your practice culture

I suspect most patients currently sitting in the dental practice waiting room are not looking forward to the next 30 minutes of their life. Some will try to relax as they read an article in a magazine they are not really interested in, but are likely to be anxious – with some quite fearful of the ‘dentist’s chair’.

Much has been done in recent years to reduce the fear a visit to the dentist evokes – including improvements in the physical environment and analgesia. A significant part of that positive culture change has occurred in the development of a trusting and professional relationship with all members of the dental health care team. Good professional relationships between staff and patients and also between staff and other colleagues have many positive aspects for the individuals, team spirit and the general ethos of the practice or department.