Beyond teh Drill: Experts Emphasize Empathy as Key to Modern Dentistry
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A growing consensus among dental professionals highlights the critical role of compassion and trust in patient care, moving beyond a purely technical approach to oral health. For many, a visit to the dentist remains a source of anxiety, stemming not just from potential pain or unfamiliar procedures, but from a basic feeling of vulnerability.
The need for a more holistic approach was a central theme shared by periodontist and implantologist Daliah Salem, a certified specialist from the United States, during a recent visit to the University of Monterrey (UDEM). Salem participated in the university’s Global Community Professor program, an initiative designed to connect students with leading international health experts.
“Dentistry is not just a technical skill,” Salem stated.”A good dentist must make evidence-based decisions and treat patients with compassion.”
Cultivating Empathy in Future Dental Professionals
during her time at UDEM, Salem delivered lectures, led workshops, and observed students in the university’s dental clinic. She noted with particular interest that UDEM students begin working with patients from their earliest years of training-a practise uncommon even at top-tier universities in the united States.
“I was surprised by their curiosity and the number of questions they asked,” Salem observed. “That reflects obligation towards the patient.”
This early exposure to clinical practice, she believes, not only hones technical skills but also fosters an awareness of the profound emotional impact dental procedures can have on a person’s life.
The future of Dentistry: A Blend of Precision and Humanity
With a background in both private practice and teaching at Boston university-supplemented by academic training at Tufts and Harvard-Salem emphasized that the challenges facing modern dentistry cannot be solved by technology alone. Increasingly, patients are seeking dental professionals who take the time to explain procedures, offer support, and build trust, particularly when undergoing complex or long-term treatments like implants, periodontics, or oral surgery.
“Technical knowledge can open a patient’s mouth, but trust is what allows them to come back,” salem shared with students.
Her visit underscored a vital message for the next generation of dentists: providing excellent patient care is an integral part of the treatment itself. A healthy smile, she explained, depends not only on a prosthesis, a precise procedure, or a perfect x-ray, but on the empathetic professional who recognizes the individual behind the patient.
Going to the dentist remains a cornerstone of preventative oral health.
News Report Summary:
Who: Daliah Salem, a periodontist and implantologist from the United States, visited the University of Monterrey (UDEM) as part of their Global community Professor program.
What: Salem emphasized the importance of empathy and trust in modern dentistry, arguing that technical skill alone is insufficient for effective patient care. She highlighted UDEM’s early clinical exposure program as a model for fostering patient-centered care.
Why: A growing number of patients experience anxiety related to dental visits, and they are increasingly seeking professionals who prioritize communication, support, and building rapport. Salem believes a holistic approach-combining technical expertise with compassionate care-is essential for positive patient outcomes.
How did it end?: Salem’s visit concluded with a reinforced message to UDEM dental students: excellent patient care is as crucial as the technical
