As a dental professional, it’s vital to cater to the needs and unique requirements of each patient. It is important to ensure that your practice is a comfortable and stress-free environment to help minimise patient anxiety, and that yourself and your dental team communicate effectively with each patient. You should also carefully consider the equipment you use in practice to maximise treatment success.
Meeting patients’ expectations can be very challenging, however, by prioritising prevention, high-quality equipment, and minimising the risk of complications, clinicians offer the best possible chance of satisfaction. When patients are happy with the standards of care they receive, they are far more likely to return for further appointments in the future, boosting patient satisfaction and retention.
Prioritising prevention
Preventive dentistry is key for maintaining oral health and overall health, so it is vital that patients attend regular dental check-ups. This provides dental professionals the opportunity to monitor for changes in oral health, and make recommendations to prevent future issues. This might include oral hygiene advice, including the use of a fluoride toothpaste, as well as dietary guidance, recommending a reduced sugar intake.[i]
Maintaining a welcoming practice environment, communicating effectively with patients, and educating them about their oral hygiene and the importance of prevention can be key factors in ensuring patients attend regular dental appointments. A friendly dental team, calm environment, and skilled dental professional can help patients to build trust and help them to actively engage in their own oral healthcare.
Meeting care expectations
Research suggests that, as many patients are increasingly tech-savvy, they are more likely to expect a seamless tech-assisted experience from their dental practice.[ii] For example, many patients would like to be able to book dental appointments at their convenience, making online 24/7 booking a helpful tool in many cases. This not only means that patients are able to book in at a time that suits them, but it also frees up reception staff’s time to assist patients with more complex concerns, or who might struggle to book an appointment online.
Dental technology can also have an influence on how patients perceive the standards of care they receive. Because dental technology is constantly evolving, it’s important that clinicians continue their learning and training, to help them remain abreast of the latest advancements. Further to this, clinicians should assess the long-term value of their dental tech investments. This means considering whether they are future-proof and relevant to your practice.[iii]
Minimising complications
Ultimately, to ensure patients have the best possible experience, despite any other factors, minimising the risk of complications is absolutely essential. This means carefully considering the technology you implement into your practice, and whether it offers the best and most accurate treatment outcomes. For example, in a practice which offers specialist treatment types, it is crucial to use a high-quality imaging system to ensure a precise diagnosis and accurate treatment planning.
However, in some general dental practices, it may not be appropriate to adopt the most cutting-edge clinical dental solutions, with traditional tools able to produce the desired outcomes, and investment better spent elsewhere. The need for different types of dental technology will vary from practice to practice, so it’s important that practitioners consider their unique needs, the needs of their patients, and their likely future requirements. Whilst it is important to embrace the future of dental technology, the tools that a practice uses should enable them to work with precision, so it’s important to research carefully, and seek advice where needed.iii Many modern solutions boast increased speed, but it is important that this is not at the expense of precision as, in the long-term, treatment outcomes will have a significant impact on patients’ oral health.
Integrating new technology into day-to-day practice workflows can seem daunting to some.ii As such, it’s important to think carefully about the software and equipment you choose, so as not to overcomplicate your team’s work, and consider a gradual approach.iii In doing so, this allows time for the appropriate training and education to ensure those using the new tech feel confident. After all, a confident, competent, and happy dental team will instil confidence in patients, and reassure them that they are receiving the best possible care.
Retaining your core patient base
Patient satisfaction is key for retention. So, further to the above, it can be incredibly helpful to ask patients directly about their experience. Consider asking patients to complete a short survey following their visit to help ascertain what your practice is doing well, what patients would like more of, and any changes that might be needed. Whilst it is important to use your initiative, and invest in areas which will help you to develop your business, it can be helpful to hear feedback from your patients, to better understand the patient journey.
Alyn Morgan Bio:
Alyn Morgan qualified from the University of Leeds School of Dentistry in 1995. He worked in general dental practice for 12 years and undertook his postgraduate training in Endodontics at the Eastman Dental Institute, where he was awarded an MSc with Distinction in 2009.
He worked as the Director of Endodontic CPD at the Eastman for several years and is currently Endodontic Teaching Lead at the Leeds Dental Institute, whilst maintaining a specialist endodontic practice at U Dentistry in Ilkley.
He has presented well over 200 hands-on courses in endodontics, lectured nationally and internationally as a keynote speaker at numerous conferences and study days and acted as a key opinion leader and adviser to several multi-national dental companies.
He is the immediate Past President of the British Endodontic Society, and the co-founder and CEO of a spin-out company from the University of Leeds, Mimetrik Solutions. The company develops innovative clinician-led solutions in the field of digital dentistry, , and to date has attracted over £3.5m in grant funding and investment.
[i] NICE. Oral health promotion: general dental practice. Accessed Apr 24. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng30/documents/oral-health-promotion-approaches-for-dental-teams-draft-guideline2
[ii] Oral Health Group. Dentists are Struggling to Keep Up with Patient Expectations. Accessed Apr 24. https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/features/dentists-struggling-keep-patient-expectations/
[iii] University of Bolton. Adapting to Technological Trends: Challenges in Modern Dental Practice. Accessed Apr 24. https://www.bolton.ac.uk/blogs/adapting-to-technological-trends-challenges-in-modern-dental-practice
