Developing Essential Soft Skills for Dentists

It’s an adage we often share, that becoming a qualified dentist is just the beginning of your educational journey.

Yet, while technical skills and clinical knowledge are obviously vital, it’s other, more nuanced skills that really set us up for success. 

In dentistry, soft skills— interpersonal and emotional intelligence-based skills that help us with building relationships and communicating —are just as critical as your orthodontic skill set or your knowledge of implant surgical techniques. They’re the key to building trust, fostering a positive workplace culture, and ensuring patient satisfaction.

So, what exactly are soft skills, and which ones should you focus on to improve yourself as a practicing GDP? Let’s dive in.

Understanding soft skills

In a nutshell, soft skills are the non-technical abilities that influence how you interact with patients, colleagues, and even yourself. 

They encompass communication, empathy, time management, and adaptability. These are all qualities that improve the experience you offer your patients and your professional relationships, too.

While it’s easy to dismiss these skills as intuitive, or lower down the priority of learning, soft skills form the core of treating patients successfully and working well in a team. Imagine a vulnerable patient in your clinic, nervous about what treatments they would require. Just one dismissive comment could ruin weeks of trust-building. Imagine a new dental nurse on your team, nervous for her first day. Just one negative response to a small mistake could change the dynamics of your workplace going forward.

For this reason, dentists must be aware of their soft skills, and take steps to cultivate them.

What are the most important skills for a dentist?

But which soft skills are most important? Here’s a closer look at the ones you should develop.

Communication Skills

One of the most critical skills for any dentist is effective communication. 

This involves explaining procedures in a way that patients can easily understand, ensuring they feel informed and confident about their care. It also requires actively listening to patient (and team) concerns, questions, and anxieties. The aim of great communication is to create a dialogue that builds trust and strengthens your workplace relationships.

Empathy and Compassion

Equally important is empathy and compassion. 

As you’ve surely seen in your own practice, a visit to the dentist can be an intimidating experience for many patients. In fact, up to 36% of the population can be said to have some form of dental fear or anxiety, making a trip to your practice daunting indeed.

While the causes of such a phobia are deeply rooted and complex, we can mitigate this by openly addressing concerns and fostering a supportive and comforting environment. In this way, dentists can help patients feel more relaxed and cared for, ultimately improving their overall experience and keeping them healthy for longer.

Time Management

We all know that dentists must juggle appointments, procedures, and unexpected emergencies without sacrificing the quality of care. It can be challenging to cut a patient short when time is up, or take breaks religiously. Then, at the end of the day, it’s hard to find the motivation to complete those important pieces of paperwork.

However, managing time effectively not only ensures a smoother patient flow and reduces wait times but also contributes to a less stressful and more efficient workday. It’s the difference between helping your team get things done, and inadvertently causing delays that build up.

Team Collaboration

As we all know, we dentists rely on the seamless cooperation of dental assistants, hygienists, and administrative staff to deliver high-quality care. 

A collaborative team not only improves patient outcomes but also creates a positive and productive workplace culture that benefits everyone involved. Building and encouraging a positive and efficient workplace culture is an important part of those soft skills.

Problem-Solving and Adaptability

Sometimes, things don’t always go to plan.

Problem-solving and adaptability are indispensable skills. Not being too fixed on the plan, being happy to find workarounds, and expecting things to change are important things to consider.

Whether it’s handling unexpected patient reactions or tackling complex cases, dentists need to think on their feet and remain calm under pressure. Staying flexible when adopting new tools, technologies, or protocols ensures they can keep up with the evolving demands of the profession.

Conflict Resolution

Finally, when something does go wrong, conflict resolution plays a significant role in maintaining harmony within a practice. 

Keeping calm, understanding all the different sides, and managing negative feedback constructively can foster trust and professionalism. There’s always going to be something going on, whether that’s a difficult patient, a challenging team dynamic, or the regular pressures of your personal life. However, learning to compartmentalise and work with people (even when you disagree with them!) is a valuable skill.

Tips to hone your soft skills

So, how can you work to hone your soft skills and build a career to be proud of?

We asked our faculty for some practical tips based on their 

• Seek feedback from patients and colleagues. Their insights can provide invaluable perspectives on how you communicate and connect.
• Attend live or online workshops or training focused on communication and interpersonal skills. These sessions are tailored to help you develop the emotional intelligence and empathy needed for success.
• Practice mindfulness and empathy in daily interactions. By staying present and considering others’ feelings, you’ll naturally improve your interpersonal dynamics.
• Role-play common scenarios to improve patient (and team) communication. Whether it’s explaining a complex procedure or addressing patient anxieties, practicing in a low-stakes setting helps refine your approach.
• Set personal development goals. Identify specific soft skills to work on and track your progress over time.

Remember, the evidence suggests that soft skills are not just innate talents but they cultivated abilities. If you recognise something that you are not very good at, then it’s up to you to take proactive steps to change that.

Final thoughts

Soft skills are often overshadowed by technical abilities in dentistry, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. Interpersonal and emotional intelligence-based skills are truly the foundation for building trust, enhancing teamwork, and ensuring patient satisfaction — they deserve to be prioritised in your professional development.

As you continue to grow in your career, don’t overlook the power of soft skills. 

By actively working on communication, empathy, time management, collaboration, problem-solving, and conflict resolution, you’ll not only improve your professional abilities but also create a positive and lasting impact on your patients and colleagues.

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