Trust is at the core of every meaningful doctor-patient relationship, and perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than in dentistry. Day in and day out, our patients allow us into an incredibly intimate and vulnerable space, the oral cavity.
They recline, open their mouths, and place their full trust in us, often without truly understanding the complexity of the procedures we’re performing. That level of surrender deserves our highest level of respect.
We work in close proximity to what can be considered the human “nucleus”, the head, where all five senses reside: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch reside. This isn’t just clinical work, it’s personal. To earn and maintain our patients’ trust, we must approach each interaction with empathy, precision, and integrity.
As the noted leadership expert David Burkus points out, “trust isn’t built. Trust isn’t earned. Trust is reciprocated.”
As clinicians, we have a responsibility to explain to our patients about the critical role oral health plays in systemic health. Through thorough medical histories, blood pressure checks, and glucose monitoring, we can encourage routine care and collaboration with their primary care providers.
Recently, a patient came in with unusually low blood pressure. Upon my encouragement she sought a visit with her PCP and was diagnosed with gastroesophageal cancer. This serves to illustrate the importance of our role. The mouth is often the first place systemic conditions manifest, and our ability to identify those changes can be life-changing, sometimes life-saving. However, we must remember that patients ultimately have autonomy over their health decisions. Our job is to guide, inform, and support, not to dictate.
Another major, ongoing challenge we face is the interference of third-party payers in the doctor-patient relationship. It’s troubling how often patients defer to insurance carriers, entities with no personal relationship or clinical insight, over the guidance of the professional sitting right in front of them. This can erode the trust we built. It’s our duty to help patients understand that we advocate not for procedures or profits, but for them. We must be transparent, consistent, and patient in these conversations, always bringing the focus back to their health and well-being. We must continue to advocate for care that is in our patients’ best interest, not just what is covered. It’s our responsibility to help patients understand the distinction and remind them that our commitment is to them, not their insurance policy carrier.