Communication in Dental Teams

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Questions and Answers

What factor do 62% of dentists consider the most important when searching for a laboratory?

Size of the laboratory

Location of the laboratory

Quality of the laboratory fees

Qualified experience (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a recommended step when selecting a dental laboratory?

Viewing the laboratory's facilities

Choosing the cheapest laboratory available (correct)

Visiting the laboratory

Meeting the technician

Why is it important for dentists to discuss materials and techniques with the laboratory?

To align clinical and laboratory philosophies (correct)

To ensure all procedures are done by the technician

To keep all information confidential

To drive down the costs of services

Which of these agreements involves discussing specific types of services?

Service performance Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of subcontracting services with other laboratories?

Increased chance of communication errors Signup and view all the answers

What is a desirable policy regarding price changes in laboratory agreements?

Clients should be given reasonable advance notice of price changes Signup and view all the answers

Which factor should dental technicians' education be based on?

Technological advancements and certifications Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for a dentist to investigate regarding a laboratory?

The services offered and the laboratory's reputation for those services Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary consequence of poor communication within a dental team?

Higher costs with lower quality appliances Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a barrier to effective communication?

Positive reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

What should senders rely on to ensure their message is understood?

Feedback from the receiver Signup and view all the answers

Which practice is recommended for a technician seeking new accounts?

Research the dentist’s techniques and philosophies Signup and view all the answers

Which barrier arises from pre-existing personal feelings or traits of team members?

Fears and insecurities Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of communication is primarily impacted by environmental factors?

Barriers to understanding Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested to determine the purpose of a dentist’s search when changing laboratories?

Inquire why they are switching Signup and view all the answers

What is a common pitfall during communication when listening to others?

Formulating personal thoughts instead of listening Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of collaboration is emphasized in the treatment planning phase?

Involving the technician in complex case decisions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary means of communication between the dentist and the laboratory?

Prescription forms completed by the dentist Signup and view all the answers

What should dentists do if a new material or technique needs to be introduced?

Notify the technician in advance Signup and view all the answers

What issue arises from communication problems between dentists and laboratories?

Errors in delivered patient care Signup and view all the answers

Why should laboratories ensure their shade guides are identical to those used by dentists?

To prevent mistakes due to lighting differences Signup and view all the answers

What can be an effective way to obtain continuous feedback between the dentist and technician?

Designing a critique card to accompany completed cases Signup and view all the answers

What importance does visiting facilities have in the dentist-laboratory relationship?

It helps build a communicative relationship between both parties Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for the entire dental team after decisions on patient care have been made?

Unified support for the agreed-upon decisions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Communication Between Dentists and Technologists

Many dental prosthesis failures stem from communication breakdowns within the dental team.
Lower quality appliances result from poor communication; these cost more than usual.
Ineffective team communication negatively impacts team members' psychological well-being.
Dentists and technicians spend money on continuing education, but little effort is directed toward formal courses in improving team communication.

Basic Communication Principles

Medium: Communication is the successful transmission of a message from sender to receiver using an appropriate mode.
Barriers: Environment, education, personal preferences, social prejudices, and genetics affect how individuals communicate.
Feedback: Senders need feedback to gauge the receiver's understanding; receivers should notify senders of message clarity.

Barriers to Communication

Personal factors: Pride, intimidation, insecurities, fears, and personal ambitions hinder effective communication.
Environmental factors: Tone of voice, appearance, and undesirable surroundings contribute to poor communication.
Communication style: Poor listening skills and the inability to ask questions are significant obstacles to effective communication.

Planning for Effective Communication

Technician soliciting new accounts: Prioritize accounts near the laboratory; seek dentists with compatible techniques and philosophies. Evaluate technicians' credentials and avoid "problem payers." Assess if dentists want quality or merely discounted prices. Ask why dentists are changing labs. Look for cooperative dentists who give feedback.
Dentist searching for a laboratory: Location is a significant factor, especially for remakes. Visiting the lab, examining facilities, and meeting the technician are crucial. Reasonable fees should match the quality of the product.
Agreements: Define services to be performed; laboratories can specialize fully or in a particular area. Subcontracting has advantages (full service) and disadvantages (increased communication risks). The dentist must know which services the lab does vs. other labs. Discuss philosophies, techniques, materials, prices, due dates, turn-around time, rush cases, and policies for remakes.
Ethical and Legal Obligations: Dentists are ultimately responsible for the quality and quantity of patient care. Every team member must support the decisions made for patient care.
Credit and Payment policies: Agree on payment and credit policies before work begins.
Notify on materials and techniques: Dentists should be notified in advance of any new materials or techniques.

Developing Relationships

Visiting policies: Technicians should invite dentists to their lab, creating an opportunity for dentists to see the lab's operation. Dentists should similarly invite laboratory personnel for visits.
Treatment planning: Technician involvement in treatment planning minimizes complex case problems.
Prescriptions: Laboratories furnish the dentist with prescription forms (completed & signed by the dentist). The prescription should be the only way the lab communicates with the dentists regarding the case.
Terminology: Use common terminology for the procedures. All team members should have identical charts.
Tooth Shade: Laboratories should have the same shade guides that the dentist uses.
Feedback: Effective feedback systems allow issues to be resolved before becoming costly. Laboratories frequently use phone calls, but critique cards are also a helpful tool. Constructive, in-person meetings (vs. one-way written communications) are best.
Third-party communication: A dental assistant can act as a mediator to clarify technical communications between dentists and technologists.
Evaluation: Evaluating performance, quality of service, remake percentages, and dentist/technician reports is crucial after a suitable period of working together to identify any communication breakdowns.

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Description

Explore the importance of effective communication between dentists and dental technologists. This quiz covers key communication principles, barriers to effective dialogue, and how communication impacts the quality of dental prosthesis and team well-being.