Perspective is what makes us different. Human eyes work differently; some are able to perceive tiny differences in colour whereas others may struggle to differentiate between shades – recall the infamous dress that went viral 10 years ago. But perspective is not just limited to sight; the way we think and act stems from the belief that we are right, yet this can lead to conflict with those who don’t see things as similarly.
For dental practitioners, engaging with and adopting new perspectives can broaden the horizons of your career, increasing your understanding of new techniques, new technologies or thought-processes of your patients. This will allow you to enhance the treatments you deliver and improve the outcomes for your patients.
Exposure to the new
It’s easy to slip into predictable routines and to follow a mindset that has proven reliable. Whether this is the morning routine or aspects of the daily workflow, a routine is a safety net that maintains health and reduces stress – ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is less about eating one type of fruit and more about the consistency of having healthy habits.[i] However, it is also important to break routines; to expose ourselves to new ideas and increase brain productivity. Following repetitive routines can create a deadening effect, switching the brain into autopilot.[ii]
A fresh perspective on the daily routine’ can blend the health positives of consistency whilst changing smaller aspects to keep energised. This could be as simple as adding a walk to your lunchtime break or attending a new evening class to learn a skill; small changes to keep a dynamic edge to the week. You could also change the way you interact with patients; asking different questions or endeavouring to know more about them shows that you care and will boost your understanding of their problems or opinions towards treatment types. Reassessing your daily routine and adopting small changes can keeping the workflow free from the monotony that can lower enjoyment.
Professional benefits
Gaining a different perspective in a professional environment can also increase creativity in the workplace. Whilst a practice team unified by similar ideas can generate a comfortable and streamlined workflow, a herd mentality or groupthink may lead to inadequate results and inhibited creativity. Fresh points of view should always be welcome in a practice environment and, whilst adopting a new perspective is important for you to do, you should also encourage and platform the opinions of others to see alternative solutions – help them help you.
With a broader array of different perspectives in the dental practice, including each patient’s, deeper discussions can occur, be that on new technology or furnishings for the practice, or the best treatment to solve a problem. Veering away from predictability may lead to enhanced outcomes for all involved.
Eliminating bias
A crucial component of perspective is bias; we are often unaware of it or don’t like to admit its presence. From the news stories you read or the AI software you use, bias is especially prevalent in the online sphere. For dental practitioners, it can manifest in numerous ways; it could be seeking evidence that upholds a pre-existing belief, having a different attitude towards a patient or performing certain treatments without wanting to try a different technique, material or product. These biases are often unconscious, making them hard to pick up on.
Counteracting our biases is done through welcoming new information that challenges our preconceived opinions and notions. Engaging other dental professionals with an open mind can help erode one-sided perspectives, learning both sides of a particular topic of interest for a firmer understanding.
Excelling at events
Networking with other dental professionals is an excellent way of engaging with new perspectives. Clover Dental Group has extensive experience with putting on exciting events, offering outings that fuse luxury venues, delicious fun, unique activity opportunities and CPD lectures. The latter are led by first-class speakers who spotlight the key debates in dentistry and the technologies and techniques that you can use to elevate the effectiveness of your treatments. Unmissable events await with Clover Dental Group.
Learning new perspectives is more than slipping on someone else’s shoes – it is an invaluable thought process that solidifies your passion for personal and professional growth. By challenging your preconceived thought processes, or daily workflow routines, you can take your dentistry, and your patients, to the next level of exceptional dental care.
For more information on the events available from Clover Dental Group, please visit the https://cloverdentalfitout.co.uk or call 07961 669996
Author:
Steve Kettle has worked in the dental sector for over 30 years and has a wealth of contacts all over the UK after developing strategic partnerships through dental property networks. He has vast experience in delivering high-end building projects in dental, retail, residential and commercial marketplaces.
Steve is very personal and determined when it comes to serving his clients and has an excellent track record in delivering the best results in all his projects. He has an absolute focus on following the brief and creating that personal touch that is greatly appreciated by his clients.
[i] Arlinghaus, K.R. and Johnston, C.A. (2018). The Importance of Creating Habits and Routine. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, [online] 13(2), pp.142–144. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6378489/.
[ii] Psychology Today. (2019). Why It’s Important to Break Routines. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/compassion-matters/201910/why-its-important-to-break-routines.
