Never call a patient a liar

Most of us tell little white lies throughout the course of the day, and most of those lies are harmless. The same is true in the dental practice.

You’ve likely heard more than one patient tell you they’re flossing every day, but you know for a fact that’s not true, or that they absolutely mailed payment in last week, when clearly they didn't.

It might be annoying to hear these lies over and over, but calling the patient out right there in the dental chair won’t do you or the patient any good. These patients are likely fibbing because they’re embarrassed to tell you the truth. Instead of making the patient feel bad or uncomfortable about the situation, take this as an opportunity to educate. Remind these patients how important home care is and that they need to continue to do their part to keep their mouth clean and healthy.

Your patients are your practice. Without them, where would you be? You have to know the best ways to attract them to your practice, get them to accept treatment, and make them happy, life-long patients.

That’s where we can help. Check back regularly for tips on how to keep your patients happy, healthy, and loyal.

The DPR Patient Tip of the Day is sponsored by Instrumentarium Dental, manufacturer of high-end systems and solutions for dental and maxillofacial imaging. Visit Instrumentariumdental.com to learn about the company's full line of imaging solutions, including the ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPH®OP300.