Question

A patient is anxious about their upcoming dental procedure, how can a dental assistant show active listening to help ease their anxiety?

Answer 1

A dental assistant can show active listening by providing a calm and comforting presence, using verbal cues, and reflecting and summarizing the patient's concerns.

Step-by-step explanation:

Active listening is an important skill for a dental assistant to help ease a patient's anxiety. Here are some ways a dental assistant can show active listening:

1. Provide a calm and comforting presence: The dental assistant should be attentive, maintain eye contact, and use nonverbal cues such as nodding to show that they are fully present and engaged.
2. Use verbal cues: The dental assistant can use phrases like 'I understand' or 'Tell me more' to encourage the patient to share their concerns and feelings.
3. Reflect and summarize: The dental assistant can reflect back the patient's concerns and summarize them to show that they have been actively listening and understand what the patient is going through.