The most important qualities a good family dentist should have are being knowledgeable, being an expert in their field, and being trustworthy. A dentist should have excellent communication skills and be compassionate.
Superior eye-hand coordination as a dentist is critical to ensuring the safety of your patients and the integrity of the profession.
Dentists are healthcare professionals responsible for providing oral health guidance and instruction to patients and carrying out preventative and restorative care; they treat a variety of diseases affecting not only the teeth but the gums and the mouth as a whole.
Dentists must have excellent communication skills. They must be able to communicate effectively with patients, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and receptionists. Detail oriented. Dentists must be detail oriented so patients receive appropriate treatments and medications.
A thorough and methodical approach. Ability to work long hours, often under pressure. Manual dexterity. Teamwork skills. Strong and clear communication skills, with the ability to adapt your communication to suit different patients.
Dentists are oral health experts. They have the skills, training and expertise to know how the health of your teeth, gums and mouth relates to your general health.
It is important to have correct operator, patient and dental assistant positioning to minimise distortion of the neck and back. Positioning will differ depending on the procedure, and if it in the maxillary or mandibular arch or an anterior or posterior tooth being treated.
A general dentist is your primary care dental provider. This dentist diagnoses, treats, and manages your overall oral health care needs, including gum care, root canals, fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and preventive education.
The five key principles of dental ethics are patient autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and veracity. Understanding each of these principles will provide the guidance needed to ensure that patient needs are met within the ethical guidelines of the dental license.
“Four out of five dentists surveyed recommend sugarless gum for their patients who chew gum.” In the 1970s, Trident Gum came up with this slogan, and the idea of “four out of five dentists,” which is still widely used today to sell gum and toothpaste.
The Principles
Be truthful, obey the law, and provide care with respect for human rights and dignity and without discrimination. Commit to the highest level of professionalism by maintaining current competency. Respect the right of patients to be cared for by the dentist of their choice.
The most important person on your dental office team is the patient!
As health professionals, dentists aren't interested in judging you or making you feel bad. All they really care about is your oral health. Rather than worrying about what they might think of you on a personal level, think of dentists as partners who are on your side and working to protect your oral health.
Studies Show Those with Great Smiles Excel in the Workplace
In addition, almost 75 percent of study participants say they are more likely to trust someone who has a nice smile. This is true even when other candidates for the position have good jobs, designer suits and luxury cars.
Factors like helping others learn about their oral health and providing compassionate care show the interviewer your passion and empathy. Because caring for patients requires the ability to communicate and connect with others, these traits are also important indicators of your inspiration for choosing dentistry.
Four-handed dentistry is a team concept where highly skilled individuals work together in an ergonomically designed environment to improve productivity of the dental team, improve the quality of care for dental patients while protecting the physical well-being of the operating team.
The “dentist” personality types are typically pragmatic and practical (S), logical and objective (T), and organized and decisive (J).
Tooth enamel is the hardest structure in the human body. Roughly 25% of American adults have no teeth. The average human being produces 100,000 gallons of saliva during their lifetime. Tooth decay is the second most common disease, second only to the common cold.
Some examples of hard skills include learning how to use specific medical tools and devices and the medical knowledge that dentists require to diagnose oral and dental issues. Dentists may require to develop a few soft skills that can help them communicate better with patients.
In professional practice, critical thinking enables the dentist to recognize pertinent information, make appropriate decisions based on a deliberate and open-minded review of the available options, evaluate outcomes of diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, and assess his or her own performance.
Unnecessary Services. A dentist who recommends or performs unnecessary dental services or procedures is engaged in unethical conduct. The dentist's ethical obligation in this matter applies regardless of the type of practice arrangement or contractual obligations in which he or she provides patient care.