Dentaltown June 2021 - 24

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Improving Confi dence
After receiving the same critiques from multiple patients, this young Townie wants to know
how to come across as more confi dent
kayaker89
Member Since: 06/13/15
Post: 1 of 27
I'm two years out of school and about to buy a small practice. I'm an associate now with a
senior doc. I do fi ne but I get frustrated when patients want to switch to the senior doc. One
said I seem young and wasn't confi dent. They all seem to be women in their 30s and 40s. (I'm
a guy and senior doc is female.) Anyway, it's so frustrating, and I want to lose as few patients
as possible when I buy my practice. Does this just get better with time? Or maybe I'm just not
being direct enough with them. Any help is appreciated! ■
4/15/2021
MetalDoc
Member Since: 05/20/13
Post: 2 of 27
Just accept it. You are young. You have less confi dence. It will come with time, but for now
you will have people who won't want you. I started working fi ve years ago, and for the past two
or so haven't really heard anyone say that; when I started, I heard it all the time. I guess working
dental aged me superfast. ■
4/15/2021
SBlair
Member Since: 11/20/13
Post: 4 of 27
Some of us are just naturally much more confi dent (and good at conveying confi dence) than
others. Luckily, it's possible to become more confi dent over time through experience. One way
to accelerate the process of becoming or appearing more confi dent is to focus on your communication
skills. It's likely that you are unwittingly demonstrating a lack of confi dence through
your verbal communication and body language.
There are several courses under Dentaltown's CE under " Practice Management, HR and
Accounting " that might be helpful in developing your verbal communication skills with
patients. Even taking a course completely outside the realm of dentistry could be great, like a
public speaking course, a stand-up comedy class, etc. There's a great (although a little controversial)
TED talk by social scientist Amy Cuddy that illustrates the importance of the nonverbal
signals we are sending each other. She also has a book on the topic, Presence, that might be
helpful. I'd recommend studying and practicing communicating more clearly and confi dently
(both verbally and nonverbally) as the best way to increase your confi dence! ■
4/15/2021
SEOK
Member Since: 05/01/18
Post: 6 of 27
kayaker89
Member Since: 06/13/15
Post: 11 of 27
Once I accepted the fact that I cannot be everyone's dentist, I felt better. This job can be an
ego beat-down, there is no doubt. ■
Yeah, I shouldn't take it so hard. Like today I had a patient come in who had a large fi lling I
4/15/2021
did a little while ago. Told her it may need a RCT after the appointment, but she didn't remember.
Well, she comes back hurting, crying to me, saying I screwed up her tooth and wanted to
see the other " competent " senior doc. Well, the other doc simply told her she needed a RCT and
she was fi ne. I don't understand these people sometimes. ■
4/15/2021
24 JUNE 2021 // dentaltown.com

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Dentaltown June 2021

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