Patient-centered Care in Dentistry

Abstract

Patient-centered care (PCC) in dentistry is a holistic approach that considers not just the dental condition but also the patient’s individual preferences, needs, and values (Kristensen et al., 2023). It aims to ensure that patient values guide all clinical decisions, fostering a collaborative and respectful patient-dentist relationship. It tries to make sure patients’ values determine clinical decisions so that an interaction involving both the dentist and a patient-centered approach with respect will result. This interconnection in dentistry goes further because psychosocial factors, such as experiencing dental phobia and one’s economic class, affect oral health significantly. Dental phobia, which can create treatment avoidance, accentuates the necessity of comprehending and addressing such issues to provide effective and patient-centered care (Kristensen et al., 2023). Another issue is economics, which can hinder getting care, especially when dealing with a low-income group. Data shows that PCC is associated with a reduction in the use of health resources, better patient satisfaction, and better overall health. Additionally, PCC can aid professional healthcare workers when it comes to litigation cases, and it reduces work dissatisfaction, which is another indicator of its value. Integrating objective data into treatment strategies is essential for effectively implementing PCC in dentistry. Objective data, for instance, clinical parameters that can be quantified, serve as a research basis that completes the information patients can provide regarding their subjective experiences (DrKumo, 2023). Integration of the two of them provides a broader picture of the patient’s current oral health status and the potential available treatments. For example, tracking a patient’s hard data figures of probable oral wellness indicators like gingivitis and tooth damage alongside their subjective details, such as reported symptoms or concerns, can aid in recognizing patterns and customizing treatment plans to achieve better results by offering optimized services to the patients (DrKumo, 2023). However, despite the bright side of PCC, there are also some difficulties that persist; among them, one can highlight the absence of a uniform definition and detailed recommendations for its application in dentistry. Reasonable attempts are being made to tackle them by virtue of a theory-based PCC model created with the dental setting as its core area of application. However, additional research that would entail empirical testing of the model and its practicality is needed to realize the potential for developing patient-centered care in dentistry, indicating the rising importance of this model and its timely implementation in dentistry.