Empathy and the anxious patient

Dental care comprises clinical treatment, records and the communication/interaction between patients and members of the dental team. Patients generally take clinical competence as a given. After all, team members are trained, qualified and registered. In addition, patients do not routinely examine their own records. However, patients are very much “qualified” to judge the individual interaction between themselves and team members. An important part of that interaction for all patients, but especially where the patient is anxious or even unhappy, is empathy. Empathy can create a strong feeling of connection, and kindness, between us and our patients. Whilst it may seem simple, it is a key skill for all healthcare staff in understanding and caring for someone else’s concerns and anxiety. But why is empathy so important for the dental team?