Being the Best Dentist you can be in 2015

Unlike popular belief, dental practice can be very involving. In fact, increased awareness of the need for dental care has contributed to a significant rise in the number of patients booking regular appointments with their dentists. These changes among others are more reasons to work towards being a better dentist in 2015. A few guidelines can lead you in the right direction.

Professionalism

It is crucial that you exhibit professionalism in all your conduct. Equally important is fairness and respect. A good dentist must be able to treat all patients equally regardless of their lifestyle choices, ethnicity or conduct.

Develop helpful intrinsic qualities

Your primary responsibility as a dentist is to protect your patient’s teeth and alleviate the pain and problems caused by oral diseases and disorders. You must be interested in the well being of your patients rather than just money. Develop an ability to feel rewarded by helping others.

Most people are terrified just by the idea of going to see a dentist. You need to develop a confident and reassuring demeanor to make your patients feel relaxed and comfortable. Couple this with excellent interpersonal skills and your patients will feel safe in your hands.

Up to date

The dental industry is undergoing numerous changes, and it’s essential to keep up to date with new developments in dental practice. Being a qualified dentist doesn’t exempt you from learning. Get out of your mental comfort zone to discover new ideas and pathways of experience.

It’s not enough to discover new diagnostic methods or dental techniques at a workshop or seminar; you have to put a sustained effort in adopting them into your practice until you become a professional. You need to understand that expertise is more than being exceptional at something until it becomes like second nature. You also have to work hard to enter new areas of expertise.

Patience

Some dentists still want to see as many patients as they can within a day. While it’s not ideal to have long queues in the waiting room, making quick decisions and rushing appointments is not ideal for patients. A good dentist will spend more time with the patients to gain a better understanding of their problems for better diagnosis and treatment.

Work harder

People will always need oral care. Working as a dentist often means working long hours, weekends and even holidays. Be ready to work harder this year.

Dr. Roman Temkin is a Doctor of Dental Surgery who graduated from New York University.