One of the most important aspects of the dental professional’s role today is educating patients on the importance of oral health. This means sharing information on their current dental status, helping them reduce the risk factors for future health issues, and recommending products, techniques, and treatment to elevate oral hygiene and maintain long-term dental wellbeing. However, it is not unusual for a patient to seem receptive to advice during an appointment, only to return at a later date having not implemented anything at all. This non-compliance must be addressed in a sensitive yet effective manner if they are to genuinely improve their oral health.
Factors affecting compliance
There is a vast array of possible factors contributing to patient compliance. Health education, oral health awareness, and satisfaction with previous treatment have all been shown to influence patient response to professional advice.[i] These may be reasons for missed appointments too, as patients might not fully appreciate the value of regular dental care and, therefore, consciously or unconsciously de-prioritise their visit. The literature has also found that some patients are not fully aware of their responsibility to maintain or improve their dental wellbeing, further reducing the chance that they will take time to make changes.[ii]
There are practical considerations to take into account. Even if a patient understands the recommendations they receive, a lack of time in their everyday life might prevent them from adding a step into their oral hygiene routine. Similarly, a lack of dexterity could make it difficult or impossible for them to perform effective dental hygiene, especially when it comes to interdental cleaning.[iii]
Improving communication and recall
A lot of the above can be rectified with improved patient education, which centres on effective communication. It is crucial that this is a two-way street – practitioners must provide information but also listen carefully to their patients and make an effort to understand their perspective or concerns in order to build a good rapport.[iv] Other than that, it’s about being open and honest, remaining friendly and non-judgemental, and giving patients the opportunity to express themselves.[v]
Digital solutions can also help, having already revolutionised many other areas of dentistry. Utilisation of suitable technologies or software programmes often provides more flexibility and efficiency in how key information is exchanged and accessed by patients in the time between appointments.[vi] Animations are particularly effective in improving patient recall of important recommendations from the professional team, as they overcome potential health literacy barriers and encourage patient engagement.[vii] This could be used to explain an individual’s current oral health status or risk profile, as well as to detail proposed treatment procedures for more informed and confident consent.
Maintaining simplicity
Another way to help patients recall and implement recommendations is to keep them simple and specific. Guiding patients to make important changes one step at a time can make the process less daunting and remove some of the perceived barriers before they become an issue. It’s also vital to tailor advice according to the individual. For example, if they have confided that time restrictions make it difficult to maintain a high-quality oral hygiene routine, don’t make suggestions that will require even more minutes every day. For those with manual dexterity challenges, avoid products that they will struggle to manoeuvre.
To further support patients in their decision-making, be specific in the solutions they should use, how, and when. Give them examples and recommend by brand so they know exactly what you mean and there is no ambiguity about what you feel would benefit them most. When it comes to enhancing interdental cleaning, for instance, the Cordless Advanced water flosser from Waterpik™ is proven to remove up to 99.9% of plaque bacteria from treated areas in as little as 3 seconds,[viii] and is up to 2x as effective as string floss for improving gingival health.[ix] The 360º rotating tip makes it easy to use by those lacking dexterity and 4 unique flossing tips cater for those with restorations, fixed braces, and more. What’s more, Waterpik™ is the only water flosser brand approved by the Oral Health Foundation, providing complete peace of mind for you and your patients.
From insight to action
Patient compliance is a complex and challenging aspect of modern dentistry. It requires excellent communication between practitioner and patient, which will help to remove barriers to enhanced oral health. Simplifying the message, being specific in recommendations, and tailoring guidance to suit each individual will further elevate oral hygiene standards for the best results.
For more information on WaterpikTM water flosser products visit www.waterpik.co.uk. WaterpikTM products are available from Amazon, Costco UK, Argos, Boots and Tesco online and in stores across the UK and Ireland.
Author: Rachel Bennett dental hygienist at Bupa Dental Care Leeds and Churchview Dental Care
[i] Shah R, Thomas R, Bhandari S, Mehta DS. Influence of various factors on patient compliance after periodontal therapy: A pilot study. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2017 Jan-Feb;21(1):50-54. doi: 10.4103/jisp.jisp_254_16. PMID: 29386801; PMCID: PMC5767991.
[ii] Weinert, L., N.El Sayed, M.Wensing, B.Dannewitz, and S.Listl. 2026. “Exploring Barriers to Periodontal Treatment Adherence in Patients With Periodontitis to Inform Development of a Digital Companion: A Qualitative Study.” Journal of Clinical Periodontology53, no. 1: 58–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.70044.
[iii] Milleman K, Milleman J, Bosma ML, McGuire JA, Sunkara A, DelSasso A, York T, Cecil AM. Role of Manual Dexterity on Mechanical and Chemotherapeutic Oral Hygiene Regimens. J Dent Hyg. 2022 Jun;96(3):35-45. PMID: 35654566.
[iv] Focus on Standards. Ggeneral Dental Council. Principle Two: Communicate effectively with patients. https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle2/principle2 [Accessed April 2026]
[v] 5 ways to improve communication between dentist and patient. News. The Dental Law Partnership. https://dentallaw.co.uk/news/5-ways-to-improve-communication-between-dentist-and-patient/ [Accessed April 2026]
[vi] Ho JCY, Chai HH, Huang MZ, Lo ECM, Chu CH. Impact of Modern Communication in Transforming Dental Care. Dent J (Basel). 2025 Sep 25;13(10):441. doi: 10.3390/dj13100441. PMID: 41149088; PMCID: PMC12564604.
[vii] Hansen S, Jensen TS, Schmidt AM, Strøm J, Vistisen P, Høybye MT. The Effectiveness of Video Animations as a Tool to Improve Health Information Recall for Patients: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Dec 30;26:e58306. doi: 10.2196/58306. PMID: 39753224; PMCID: PMC11730234.
[viii] Gorur, A., Lyle, D. M., Schaudinn, C., & Costerton, J. W. (2009). Biofilm removal with a dental water jet. Compendium of continuing education in dentistry (Jamesburg, NJ: 1995), 30, 1-6.
[ix] Mancinelli‐Lyle, D., Qaqish, J. G., Goyal, C. R., & Schuller, R. (2023). Efficacy of water flossing on clinical parameters of inflammation and plaque: a 4‐week randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, 21(4), 659-668.
