Nonverbal communication in the dentist-patient relationship

This article presented a discussion of four aspects of the nonverbal communication process, suggesting implications for the dentist-patient relationship. The subjects reviewed and discussed included (1) environmental factors, (2) the perception and use of personal space (3) touching, and (4) various types of physical behavior. The outcome of any dentist-patient interaction can be significantly altered depending upon the dentist's awareness of, and responses to, the various nonverbal cues present in the dentist-patient interaction.