CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 6 • Issue 1

9 Issue 1 | 2019 | CDA at W ork I n his TEDx Talk called “Without Teeth,” prosthodontist Dr. Sree Koka says he is fascinated by the question patients sometimes ask him when struggling to decide among different treatment options: “What would you do if you were me?” He uses this example to illustrate why it’s a challenging question to answer, because he wants to give patients what they want—not what he wants. But learning what a patient wants requires having a conversation about what he poetically describes as “their unique fears, aspirations and dreams.” It’s only after having this shared conversation that he can answer, “What would you do if you were me?” Dr. Koka’s emphasis on respectful, empathetic and person-centred care resonates strongly with me. To guide such an approach to patient care, he proposes using a principle similar to the Golden Rule (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”), with a couple of key changes. The Platinum Rule he puts forward is, “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.” In other words, care for patients how they want to be cared for. We can only understand how our patients would like to be cared for by taking the time to learn more about them and centering our conversations on their individual values, preferences and goals. Only then can we partner with our patients to arrive at the best treatment decisions for them. At a time when dentistry is moving towards person-centred care (a recurring theme in CDA’s Future of the Profession report), it’s personal interaction—the process of cultivating a trusted and valued relationship with our patients—that is increasingly recognized as essential to providing quality care. As dentists, we don’t just treat the disease, we care for the whole person. To me, this involves building a personal relationship with a patient so I understand not only their dental and medical history, but also other aspects of their life that could influence their treatment decisions. Are they working three jobs? Do they have kids? What is their support system? It’s this one-on-one engagement with our patients that helps them make informed oral health care decisions because they’ve discussed all options with their dentist, including risks and benefits, costs, time for treatment and predictability of results. Building strong relationships with our patients encourages them to become partners in their care, makes it more likely they will welcome our advice, and assures them we will continue to care for them after treatment. As the face of dentistry in our communities, we recognize that a dentist-led team offers the best, safest and most predictable care when we work in partnership with our patients. Following the Platinum Rule will ensure that your patients receive the care that is right for them, not the care that is right for most patients, for a typical patient, or for you. In my view, it is the personal side of dental care that will continue to make the difference in achieving patient satisfaction and positive outcomes. From the President Michel (Mitch) Taillon, dmd president@cda-adc.ca Personal Dental Care Follow thePlatinumRule Watch Dr. Koka’s TEDx Talk at: youtu.be/ Yf-pYdooGGU