1. I hardly understand what he says…!! I don’t understand what he says…! I don’t want to understand what he says..!!

3. Why is it that a complete denture fabricated with utmost care following all the clinical steps is not accepted by the patient?

4. Did the dentist fail to understand the psychologic make-up of the patient? ? ? ? This is where patient-dentist communication comes into play.

5. Patient Dentist Communication: an adjunct to successful complete denture treatment Dr. Kamal Shigli Professor Department of Prosthodontics, Modern Dental College & Research Centre, Indore, M.P. Dr. Kamal Shigli Professor Department of Prosthodontics, Modern Dental College & Research Centre, Indore, M.P.

6.  Losing teeth and having complete dentures made is a stressful event.  For patients unfortunate enough to lose all their teeth, the importance of comfortable, efficient complete dentures cannot be overemphasized.  Losing teeth and having complete dentures made is a stressful event.  For patients unfortunate enough to lose all their teeth, the importance of comfortable, efficient complete dentures cannot be overemphasized.

7. Currently stands at roughly 8% Projected at 11.8% by 2015 INDIA’S ELDERLY POPULATION

8. Even with increased awareness regarding the retention of teeth and popularity of dental implants, conventional complete dentures remain the preferred treatment modality among the masses.

9. SUCCESS IN COMPLETE DENTURES Technical skills Psychological factors Technical skills Psychological factors

11. These elderly patients present different physiological and psychological problems than younger patients.

12. It is unfortunate that they generally need most of the necessary dental and medical services at an age when they are least able to tolerate them and possibly least able to afford them.

13.  It has been estimated that over a 5-year period about 25% of patients are lost as a result of poor patient-dentist communication. Lamb DJ. Problems and Solutions in Complete Denture Prosthodontics. Quintessence Publishing Co.; 1993. p. 9-48.  It has been estimated that over a 5-year period about 25% of patients are lost as a result of poor patient-dentist communication. Lamb DJ. Problems and Solutions in Complete Denture Prosthodontics. Quintessence Publishing Co.; 1993. p. 9-48.

14. When communication is good, patients  comply better with instructions and,  the amount of information provided by a relaxed, interested patient promotes greater understanding of any problem. When communication is good, patients  comply better with instructions and,  the amount of information provided by a relaxed, interested patient promotes greater understanding of any problem.

15. The word communication comes from “communis” Which means – to give or exchange thoughts In our case it means exchanging our thoughts with our patient regarding his problems …. The word communication comes from “communis” Which means – to give or exchange thoughts In our case it means exchanging our thoughts with our patient regarding his problems ….

16. The first impression on the patient relative Comes through communication… Or Impact The first impression on the patient relative Comes through communication… Or Impact PositiveNegative

18. De Van…. stated it well when he said, “we should meet the mind of the patient before we meet the mouth of the patient”.

19. Boucher (1970)…. put the initial contact with the patient in its proper perspective when he said the first 5 minutes spent with the patient are the most important period the dentist spends with the patient.

20. NEED FOR COMMUNICATION  Creating a good interpersonal relationship  Purpose of exchanging information  Purpose of making treatment- related decisions Sondell K, Soderfeldt B. Dentist-patient communication: a review of relevant models. Acta Odontol Scand 1997; 55:116-126.  Creating a good interpersonal relationship  Purpose of exchanging information  Purpose of making treatment- related decisions Sondell K, Soderfeldt B. Dentist-patient communication: a review of relevant models. Acta Odontol Scand 1997; 55:116-126.

21. ART OF COMMUNICATION Is a skill required for understanding the essence of good patient management. Which lies in patient’s participation in his own treatment. Is a skill required for understanding the essence of good patient management. Which lies in patient’s participation in his own treatment.

22. METHODS OF PATIENT- DENTIST COMMUNICATION Verbal Auditory Visual Written Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5. Verbal Auditory Visual Written Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5.

23. An effective method of positive communication is the use of acrylic resin models made from casts which depict clinical situations of common oral problems.

24. Explaining denture problems before treatment with the use of every available educational means is positive communication and is the foundation for dentist-patient understanding. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5. Explaining denture problems before treatment with the use of every available educational means is positive communication and is the foundation for dentist-patient understanding. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5.

25. Explanations made after treatment are negative communications which the patient may interpret as excuses. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5. Explanations made after treatment are negative communications which the patient may interpret as excuses. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5.

26. Written communication should be presented to the patient as various phases of the treatment are reached. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5. Written communication should be presented to the patient as various phases of the treatment are reached. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5.

27. One half hour spent on a well-planned educational discussion with simple, easy- to-understand terms will definitely minimize prosthetic failures. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5. One half hour spent on a well-planned educational discussion with simple, easy- to-understand terms will definitely minimize prosthetic failures. Schabel RW. Dentist-patient communication-a major factor in treatment prognosis. J Prosthet Dent 1969; 21:3-5.

28. ELEMENTS OF COMMUNICATION 7% WORDS 33% VOCAL TONE 60% FACIAL EXPRESSION & BODY LANGUAGE Dougall A, Fiske J. Access to special care dentistry, part 2.Communication. Br Dent J 2008; 205:11-21.

29. THE INTERPERSONAL FACTOR  Greet every person by name  Never interrupt  Smile  Greet every person by name  Never interrupt  Smile

30. BODY LANGUAGE Is a real indicator of what people truly are feeling.

31. NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION NVC could have an impact on patient satisfaction in the sense that if the dentist is very good at reading the patient’s body language and understanding what the patient is feeling, the patient might feel less anxious and more trustful after this manner of communication. NVC could have an impact on patient satisfaction in the sense that if the dentist is very good at reading the patient’s body language and understanding what the patient is feeling, the patient might feel less anxious and more trustful after this manner of communication.

32. UNDERSTANDING BODY LANGUAGE Lean forward when talking to a patient Avoid crossing your arms and legs Make good eye contact Sit at the patient’s height or below Shake hands with patients Levin RP. Body language speaks volumes. J Am Dent Assoc 2008; 139:1262-1263. Lean forward when talking to a patient Avoid crossing your arms and legs Make good eye contact Sit at the patient’s height or below Shake hands with patients Levin RP. Body language speaks volumes. J Am Dent Assoc 2008; 139:1262-1263.

33. GOOD COMMUNICATION Facilitates the building of patient rapport and trust, Helps to reduce patient anxiety, misunderstandings and complaints enhancing patient satisfaction. Dougall A, Fiske J. Access to special care dentistry, part 2.Communication. Br Dent J 2008; 205:11-21.

34. Try few of these simple things… Establish an EYE CONTACT with the patient. Be an active listener, respond when required with gestures & clarifications. Avoid interrupting before he has completed his statement. Discourage visitors while in an important phase of communication.

35. Enquire about the social and emotional impact of his problem on him & his family. Involve the patient during the entire constructive procedures. Speak slowly and clearly for maximum comprehension. Enquire about the social and emotional impact of his problem on him & his family. Involve the patient during the entire constructive procedures. Speak slowly and clearly for maximum comprehension.

36. CONCLUSION Art of Dentistry today is as important as Science of Medicine. And communication skill is the most vital component of Art of Dentistry… Inculcate these skills in your routine to : Ensure smooth dentist-patient relationship. Achieve good overall results. Achieve patient satisfaction.

37. Be Patient With Your Patients…