01 March 2023

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The importance of explaining dental treatments to patients

Massimo Gagliani

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Professor Luca Pani, on the occasion of EDRA's 10th anniversary (congratulations!), made an enlightening speech, as often happens with him. He brought to the fore the amazing technologies available in the medical world and did not miss an opportunity to return to the theme of the so-called "Medicine of the Four Ps," i.e., Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, Participatory. They represent the cornerstones of a model of clinical medicine which offers concrete opportunities aimed at changing the healthcare paradigm. Among them, the participation of the individual becomes key to putting the other three aspects into practice for each patient.

The other day, a patient who was not satisfied with the work of a colleague came to me for a second opinion. According to him, all the teeth of the upper arch had been found in a "fixation," an ancient term to define a prosthetic product that included connected contiguous dental elements, without his consent. The job, however, seemed, and was, well done.

How a person does not participate in this type of situation is strange to me, unless he is treacherously put to sleep. But this episode, however, confirms once again the importance of communication in managing the doctor-patient relationship.

Incorrect communication — whether in terms of methods or contents, it makes no difference — compromises a work which, with regard to the previous items, had been conducted in a preventive, predictive and personally suitable manner.

Was unclear language used? Did the clinician believe the patient understood, without that conversation having taken place?

The fact remains that the patient turned to another colleague and that, fortunately, medical-legal aspects were found to be absent. Would spending a few more minutes to involve him in a choice that brought about a radical change in his life have made a difference?

It's a strange reflection these days where technology offers mountains of documents while the dentistry of our fathers only had drawings on white pieces of paper.