There’s so much more to our patients than where they work, what type of insurance they have, and that gnarly MOD amalgam on tooth # 30. And getting to know them as a real person and not just a set of teeth goes a long way towards all of the things we want – treatment plan acceptance, sending referrals, etc… Maybe even more importantly – getting to know our patients better is FUN! You will learn some interesting things and find out some really cool stuff when you get to know someone a little better.
Here’s a simple question to ask your patients:
“What would you like to be doing if you weren’t at a dental appointment right now?”
Or you can throw in a little self-deprecating humor and say something like:
“I know that you would rather be in the dental office than anywhere else, but what’s in second place?”
Try it! You’ll learn some fascinating things about your patients – like the shy guy who’s an expert rock climber, or the granny who was the lead singer in a psychedelic rock band in the 60s! And then of course, make chart notes about your conversations and rekindle them on future visits.
Go ahead. Give it a try! At the very least it will make the day more fun for you AND your patients.
Meet the Madow Brothers
Dr. David Madow
Influencer, Speaker, Author & Coach at The David Madow Lifestyle Show + Co-founder of The Madow Center for Dental Practice Success.
Dr. Richard Madow
International Keynote Speaker, Author, Award Winning Musician & Composer, Coach and Co-founder of The Madow Center for Dental Practice Success.
