The dentist-patient relationship: mutual perceptions and behaviors

Area of Science:

• Dental Psychology
• Patient-Dentist Interaction

Background:

• Understanding dentist perceptions of patients is crucial for effective dental care.
• Previous research has explored patient factors influencing dental treatment, but less is known about how dentist perceptions shape these interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the link between patient characteristics and dentists' perceptions.
• To examine how these perceptions relate to specific dentist behaviors from the patient's viewpoint.

Main Methods:

• The study explored associations between patient characteristics and dentist perceptions.
• It also analyzed the connection between these perceptions and dentist behaviors as reported by patients.

Main Results:

• Dentist perceptions of patient sophistication and anxiety correlated with patient traits.
• Patient likability perceptions were not linked to patient personal/social characteristics but were more associated with specific dentist behaviors.
• Dentists tend to favor patients who are dentally sophisticated and less anxious.

Conclusions:

• Dentist perceptions are mainly influenced by patient behaviors observed during treatment.
• Fostering patient dental sophistication and reducing anxiety may improve dentist-patient relationships.