Next Time Your Patient Speaks, Listen - Really Listen!

When you're concentrating on what you are doing, sometimes its very difficult to hear what people are saying to you.  However, when it comes to your dental practice, you really need to become proficient at working and listening at the same time because it's usually when you're working that your patients tell you the most important things about themselves.

Things like they are terrified of feeling pain, or how the dentist of their childhood years hurt them, or the fact that the tooth next to the one you're working on is extremely sensitive to heat, cold and sugar. The point is, when else do your patients really have a chance to talk with you other than when you are working on their mouths? They really don't!

By listening, you will also hear a lot about your patients hopes and dreams, especially if you know how to read between the lines, so to speak. The young woman who wants to be an actress knows she'll need a great smile but may not feel able to bring up the topic of financing the cosmetic dentistry that would give her that great smile.  The older man who was widowed last year may want  to start dating again but feel shy because his teeth don't look their best.

By really listening to your patients, you'll get all kinds of clues as to what they want and need in their lives, and as to how you can help them get it!