Attributes Of A Great Orthodontist:
Common Personality Or Psychological Traits:
Orthodontics is a unique profession, given that while many put most of their focus specifically on patient care, they might also own and run a business of their own. As such, quite a few orthodontists possess robust sets of various personality traits which let them work closely with their patients while still being successful managers over their practices.
Successful orthodontists show these attributes:
- Comfort with interacting closely with people: Think about it. Most of an orthodontist’s working time involves putting their hands and face very close to the faces of their patients. A successful orthodontist finds a way to be comfortable with this close proximity to others, even when a patient might have bad breath.
- Proper schooling: Sometimes it’s a great practice to ask where your orthodontist has gone to school. Some great dental and orthodontic schools are Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC or the Loma Linda School of Dentistry. Your teeth are extremely important so you deserve only the best working on them!
- Easy conversationalist: A good orthodontist might try to learn a few things about a patient on a personal level prior to starting treatment. This helps a patient be more relaxed. A patient at ease is more likely to feel their orthodontist actually cares for them and their whole health, not just their mouth.
- Trustworthiness: There’s no getting around it, orthodontists work in people’s sensitive mouths with sharp metal objects, so trustworthiness is crucial. A patient needs to have trust in their dentist won’t hurt them and takes all possible precautions to establish a pain-free process.
- Detail-oriented: A human mouth is not a large place for someone to work, so a dentist must be attuned to details. The tiniest misalignment of anything can substantially impact the health of a patient’s teeth, as well as their bite.
- Be an artist: Orthodontics is sometimes called an art form. It’s one that requires mastery of techniques distinct to this particular profession. Orthodontics is centered mostly on the maintenance of appropriate oral health, but the practice is also aesthetically focused. Much of orthodontics is focused on the restoration of teeth and providing a patient a beautiful smile that they’re thrilled to show off to others.
- Leadership: Orthodontists often work as a practitioner within a larger practice, but they might also own their own office, so natural leadership is a plus. Not only will a professional lead their own team of assistants, hygienists, and technicians, but they might also manage other employees, like a receptionist or billing staff, and also make high-end business choices affecting the entire practice.
- Excitement for the profession: A successful orthodontic practitioner is often someone that enjoys working in a person’s mouth every day, fascinated by the connections and roles it plays with the rest of a person’s body. Their passion for their profession involves providing care to anyone who needs it. That’s not just paying patients or those with money, but possibly participating in various community service options, like helping out anyone needy who has a genuine need for oral treatment and care. A lot of dental professionals simply enjoy assisting anyone without access to care and helping them get treatments for unattractive or painful parts of their mouths.
- Caring for how a patient feels during a procedure: Since an orthodontist works in a part of the body that is rather small in size, and quite sensitive at that, a good professional will communicate with their patient through every individual step of a procedure, being sure they’re alright and not in a lot of pain. They take great strides in making patients relaxed, comfortable, and pain-free.
- Good at communication: A truly successful orthodontist has a genuine ability to break down complicated processes and procedures into basic vocabulary so that any patient knows exactly what is happening in their mouth as well as fully understands the procedures suggested.
An orthodontist that we recommend:
OC Dental Center
2700 S Bristol St
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 966-9000
What Traits Do Good Dentists Have?
If you’re thinking about going into dentistry, then you have chosen a field which is both fascinating and fulfilling. You’re going to need both a genuine desire for helping patients and an individual interest in the science behind all of it. However, those aren’t the only skills necessary, as a dentist might also have to be a businessperson, a scientist, and even an artist. Keep reading to learn over 10 top qualities that a dentist might need, plus additional attributes.
- Robust Manual Dexterity: This is particularly useful for a dentist. A person’s mouth is a rather tiny area for anyone to work. As such, dental procedures necessitate steady hands and well-developed coordination. The ability to accurately manipulate tools inside a small space with great fine motor skills makes the profession much simpler. Additionally, a dentist also needs great stamina. Certain procedures might involve standing above their patient for long periods of time.
- People Person: A dentist needs to be friendly and sociable. Most folks hate going to see the dentist. However, the right dentist can be personable, and even someone that puts patients at ease. That’s good because the majority of the workday of a dentist is spent handling patient care. In addition to dealing with patients, a dentist should be able to work well with their hygienists and assistants
- Keen Business Sense: This is another helpful trait for a dentist, considering how many own their full practice or belong to a larger group. Owning a business involves many things, ranging from hiring and training to marketing and expenses.
- Premier Communication Ability: This might be the most important trait of all. A dentist has to educate patients about their diagnosis, their treatment, and their preventative care. Easily explaining such technical information to a layman is crucial.
- A Lifelong Desire For Learning: Dentistry is a field which is in a constant state of flux. New technology and innovations mean that dentists must stay current with the latest and greatest advances in the field. So that could mean going to dental school or attending local dental conferences. A willingness to constantly learn that which is new works well with the desire to improve one’s skill set.
- Honesty And Compassion: The right dentist has both these traits. A dental issue can impact many different areas of an individual’s life, and a dentist must be sensitive to all of this. Compassion makes patients feel better, opening them up to seek the help they need and deserve. Honesty makes it possible for a patient to trust a dentist’s judgment and care.
- Problem-Solving Ability: This is also essential for any dentist. Not all patients walk in the door with issues that are easily solved. A dentist might have to think creatively in order to determine the right treatment.