subject: Why It Is So Important For Dentist To Build A Good Relationship With Elderly Patients [print this page] Each year, poor or uncaring treatment at the dentist office will force many elderly patients to postpone or forgo regular dental appointments. Recent studies suggest that patient care ranked higher than the cost of dental visits in determining whether an elderly patient would seek care at a dentist's office. Studies have been undertaken which highlight on the dental care habits and attitudes of the older population.
Typically, many aging individuals simply wish to be heard, and respected enough to be told politely what they can expect from their treatment plan. Today's dentists should head such information to properly care for today's elderly. In order to provide the best health care possible, this requires the dental industry as a whole to modify its views of older patients.
It seems that just about every elderly person has their own horror stories to add when it comes to visiting the dentist. I know an older lady who had to have a tooth extracted. During the procedure her dentist instructed her to ingest the accumulation of blood in her mouth. She rebuffed his advice in fear and ending up phoning her spouse to come and pick her up. She left the office without completing the procedure. She now endures dentures.
It doesn't matter how old a patient is - every patient needs to be made comfortable when visiting the dentist. The key is communication, studies have found that older patients trust dentists who communicate dearly with them.
For many elderly, a clear explanation of what is going on makes them feel less out of control. Seniors especially spend much time visiting doctors, and are often under the impression that these doctors take actions without informing them. So, when it comes to a body part as sensitive and important as the mouth, information is the key.
Unfortunately, many older people will not get regular preventative care. They go to the dentist only when they are in pain. A startling statistic, however, is that only about 8% of the elderly have dental pain which forces them to go in, while 64% suffer from problems which remain untreated. This problem can only be solved through a learning process.
Older people are not the only ones who can benefit from studies that show how a doctor's actions can affect their patients. Their conclusions are important to consider since they apply to all of us regardless of age. The bottom line of the studies is that everyone wants and anticipates the dentist and his or her staff to treat them politely and kindly because anyone working in the dental care field should be aware of the fear with which people come to the dentist.
The significant fact revealed by surveys is that unless there is tooth-related pain which forces them to go, many people will simply neglect their oral health. Obviously, much "doctoring" is needed to mend this broken doctor / patient partnership before routine, preventative visits can resume. All their patients must be treated with the same care and respect, a fact which dentists must keep in mind.
Communities need to work together to send a positive message across in terms of dental health. This will involve all levels of government and local businesses to educate citizens. You may wish to discuss how important dental health is with the use of ads, or invite local dentists to speak at area schools.
It is also important to remember that proper dental care and hygiene can affect a person's health in general. If we are spending the time and money required for routine visits to our family physician, we should apply this same mentality to our oral health and NEVER neglect it. This message will really hit home with many seniors who strive to remain active and strong.
It's always nice to see an older lady who can still proudly show you her own pearly whites. Most likely she'll tell you it was because she liked her dentist because they treated her right. Ensuring that everyone who gets in the chair receives sympathetic treatment and feels safe is the most important task for any dentist.
