Whether you’re moving to a new city or moving out on your own for the first time, one of the major things you’ll need to do is find a dentist. Of course, you want to see someone who has a top level of expertise in dental care – but how do you know if the dentist you visit is going to be the best dentist in Boise?
There are a lot of things beyond dental expertise that go into being a great dentist. Read on to learn more about what makes a dentist great and what you should look for in your next dentist.
Good Fine Motor Skills
You may not be surprised to learn that one of the best qualities a dentist can have is good fine motor skills. A dentist has to perform extremely delicate work in a small, cramped space. They have to work around tongues, teeth, and gag reflexes, all while applying enough force to teal with dental problems without hurting the patient.
A dentist should have excellent fine motor control and manual dexterity. They’ll need to be able to handle the tiny tools they work with and make sure they go precisely where they need to. If your dentist makes you bleed every time you visit them even though you floss every day, you may need to find a different dentist.
Strong Interpersonal Skills
Although being able to handle their tools well is important, dentists need to be able to interact with their patients successfully as well. Dental procedures can be scary and uncomfortable, especially for young patients or people with anxiety. This will only be worse if the dentist is cold or unhelpful in explaining what they’re doing.
A good dentist needs to be able to connect with their patients and ease any fears they may have about procedures. They should also be able to get along with their staff and provide a positive work environment. When you go see your dentist, you should leave feeling better, both about your teeth and about your next appointment.
Good Communication Skills
Part of the reason so many people are afraid of dental procedures is that they may not understand what’s going on. They’re told to open wide, spit, and hold still, but not given any other information as their teeth are scraped and poked and prodded. This only gets worse when you get into more serious procedures like fillings, root canals, and extractions.
Dentists need to be able to communicate well with their patients, telling them in clear terms exactly what will happen during the procedure. They need to be able to answer any questions patients might have and respond to any concerns. They’ll also need to be able to communicate clearly with their hygienists during procedures in order to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Passion for Learning
One of the most important qualities a dentist needs to have is a lifelong passion for learning. Like any medical field, our body of dental knowledge is growing and changing every day. Procedures that may have been the best new techniques five years ago could easily be obsolete by next year.
A great dentist needs to have a passion for continuing to learn and improve their skills throughout their career. They should attend seminars, pursue professional learning opportunities, and read the latest research. This will allow them to provide their patients with the highest quality of care, rather than stopping at whatever they learned in school.
Plenty of Compassion
No matter how good a communicator a dentist is, there will still always be some patients who are frightened. Adults with bad experiences at the dentist may panic while they’re in the chair, and small children who don’t understand what’s happening might start to cry. A dentist will encounter patients with sensitive gag reflexes and patients who need a little extra reassurance during a procedure.
A dentist must be compassionate in dealing with these fears and hesitations. It may make a procedure take longer, but putting the patient experience first will help everyone more in the long run. A great dentist will take all the time a patient needs to make it through a procedure, reassuring them and giving them tools to help them cope with their anxieties.
Creative Problem-Solving Skills
Another quality that will help dentists better work with patients is strong creative problem-solving skills. Sometimes, there may be unique challenges working with various patients. You might not be able to get a set of x-rays on a person with a sensitive gag reflex, or a child might panic every time their parent leaves the room.
Dentists need to be able to find creative solutions to these problems to give their patients the best experience possible. This may mean improvising new coping techniques or finding a new way to approach certain procedures. They may also have to get creative in resolving inter-office conflicts and business challenges.
Find the Best Dentist in Boise
There are many things that make a good dentist beyond just expertise in teeth. They must be able to connect and communicate with their patients and staff, and they must be compassionate. They also need to have strong problem-solving skills, good manual dexterity, and a lifelong passion for learning.
If you’d like to find the best dentist in Boise, check out the rest of our site at Boise Family Dental Care. Dr. Crump and his team provide exceptional dental care with a personal touch for you and your entire family. Schedule an appointment at our welcoming, state-of-the-art office today and come see why our patients love to recommend us!
