3 ways you might offend your patients

The last thing you want to do is annoy your patients, but you could be doing just that without even realizing it. Here are three things you and your staff members should avoid to make sure your patients leave your practice happy, healthy and wanting to come back.

1. Getting too personal

You want to build strong relationships with your patients. You want them to feel comfortable during their time at your practice and you want them to trust your treatment recommendations. Getting to know your patients is an important part of your job, but if you take the questioning too far you may leave your patients wondering if it’s time to look for a new dental home. Keep conversations light and friendly, and don’t probe into their son’s problems at school or their recent divorce.

2. Being too judgemental

No one wants to be lectured, so don’t scold your patients if they’re not complying with home care or treatment recommendations. If you do, they may feel like you’re judging them, which is a great way to make your patients feel uncomfortable. When you see a patient doing something you don’t agree with, take the opportunity to educate and help them turn their bad habits around.

3. Talking about politics

Even if the patient brings it up, no good can come from talking politics chairside. People are very passionate about their political beliefs, and you’d hate to lose a patient just because you don’t see eye to eye on who should win the next election.

Want more great patient-focused advice? Check out this Morning Huddle video on non-complying patients from Jameson Management: