THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION
The ability to communicate is something we take for granted and always assume people understand completely what was said to them as they rhythmically nod their heads up and down. However my years in practice have shown this to not always be the case. Misunderstandings can range from not understanding terminology, to language barriers, simply not comprehending, or hearing problems.
Some of the consequences can be humorous and others more serious.
The following are a few examples.
1. One of the steps we go through when making dentures is a wax try in. At this stage denture teeth have been set into a wax base and can be fitted into a patients mouth like a set of dentures. Giving both patient and myself the opportunity to determine if the appearance will be appropriate. It is quite common to have a patient take this wax try in home so they can view it in their own light and mirrors. On one occasion I had sent a lady home with a wax try in only to receive a phone call from a very aggravated patient a few hours later. When I answered the phone the patient said, " Mr. Lewis, what kind of terrible dentures have you made me, they have broken apart and all of the teeth have fallen out." Here enters miscommunication. It seems the patient was under the impression that the wax try in was the finished denture and promptly went home and had a nice hot cup of tea. One can imagine the results with a denture made of wax. Needless to say we had to start over.
2. When to open and when to close. Sounds simple enough as long as the patient has reasonable enough hearing to understand my shrill tones of "Open! Open!!!" As they are firmly clamping down on my fingers like a vice.
3. Miscommunication goes both ways. One of the real challenges can be for practitioners to decipher what a patient is describing as their problem. Patients describe dentures as everything from choppers to china clippers with one of the most common being, my teeth. It can be rather confusing with a patient that has a full denture on top and natural teeth on the lower simply saying, " my teeth hurt". My automatic assumption of course is one of the natural teeth on the lower is having some problem, when in fact the patient really is trying to tell me they have a sore spot on their gums underneath the denture.
Miscommunication is an aspect of life that is sometimes unavoidable however here is a few quick tips to minimize these problems in your dental office. If you wear hearing aids make sure you are wearing them, with batteries. If there is a language barrier bring along a family member to act as interpreter. If you do not fully understand what your practitioner is describing to you do not be shy about asking him or her to clarify before proceeding forward with that all knowing nod and eyes glazing over .