ABSTRACT
The inter-personal relationship between dentist and patient relies on effective communication. A practice can survive or fail on the perceived strength of this relationship. The answer in a word is 'communication'. There are many ways in which the dentist and practice communicates with the patient. They combine to form the communications mix. These are: verbal, visual or non-verbal, written and psychological or perceptual. The verbal input communicates factual information and, to a lesser extent, opinion and speculation. In contrast non-verbal communication concentrates on emotional aspects of the process which include anger, sadness, joy, surprise etc. Empathy describes an ability to see things from someone else's point of view. It is arguably the most dominant component in the style of communication. English courts have ruled that the evaluation of material risk is a matter of professional judgement, in accordance with the views of a responsible body of professional opinion.
