In a time of rapidly advancing technology, it is natural for dental educators to focus on training our learners with the newest tools that benefit patients’ health. But while technology will advance at an ever-increasing rate, we must hold basic human skills at the center of what we teach and do.
Technology Adds Value
Modern technology is indispensable in dental education and clinics. Digital dentistry has begun to transform clinic workflows and holds the potential to improve our patients’ oral health-related quality of life. The newest imaging devices have given us a clearer picture of what’s going on in our patients’ mouths. Integrating medical and dental records has allowed us to make better-informed decisions that lead to better patient care and outcomes. Assistive technology enables students with disabilities to receive dental education, which expands the perspectives and diversity of the dental workforce.
Technology can enhance skills that have always been required to succeed as a dentist. The ability to do rapid calculations for correct drug applications is vital for a successful clinician. Doing these calculations in your head, however, is a thing of the past. All of us carry a pocket-sized supercomputer with us these days, after all.
Anatomical recall will always be critical, though soon I imagine we will use augmented reality eyewear that will clearly identify objects in our field of vision. This technology, employing artificial intelligence (AI) carefully trained with diverse data, will allow us to work more quickly while also reducing the likelihood of error.
The High-Tech Pitfall
Clinicians’ use of AI and other technology brings with it a very specific pitfall that requires careful consideration. If we become reliant on technology, we may focus too much on the tools we use rather than the patients themselves. It would be a mistake to see our patients only through the lens of advanced tools rather than looking directly at the people we are here to help. We risk placing our learners in the position of mastering technology at the expense of developing their own critical thinking and interpersonal skills.
It's important to keep in mind that along with rapid technological change there is a similarly swift transition to obsolescence. Mastering a specific new tool today might prove to be a benefit only briefly, while human-centered skills will provide our patients the most benefit over time. When we plan future dental curricula, we should preserve and emphasize the human qualities that define us as caregivers rather than the technology that assists us in caring for patients.
Empathy is a Core Competency
Empathy is at the core of what we do. In 2002, the American Dental Association (ADEA) first included empathy as a clinical competency for practicing dentists. Work is presently underway on an update to the ADEA competencies for general dentists, but the 2023 “ADEA Entry-level Competencies for Allied Dental Professionals” stated they should “Demonstrate interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and collaborate with professionals and patients across socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.”
Empathy is not something we can teach, but it is something that dental educators can model for students. The best setting for this is the clinic, where we should spend as much time as we can with our students to demonstrate how we overcome challenges and provide our patients with the best care.
Patients want to have a connection with their oral health provider. It benefits their oral and overall health when they participate in discussions about their treatment and are seen as more than just a customer. Patients who feel a strong connection to their providers are also the ones who refer their friends and family. We can view referrals therefore not just as a benefit to our clinics but also as a measure of how empathetic our patients perceive us to be.
The Lasting Importance of Curiosity
Curiosity and inquisitiveness are additional elements that are key to our success as oral health providers and educators. These were likely part of who we were from an early age and are motivators for lifelong learning. The hunger for new information is what keeps us on top of latest trends in oral healthcare and compels us to stay current with technology as it races along.
Being aware of the latest discoveries, the most current treatments, and the changing world around us keeps our brains active. It is a self-fulfilling process, where the thirst for knowledge leads us to new ideas and introduces us to different and perhaps better ways to practice our craft.
Timeless Qualities
New and exciting technology emerges almost daily. It seems logical that these advances are the pathway to the future of oral healthcare. The lesson for all of us is that these innovations, while very powerful tools, are just another set of instruments we use to care for our patients. We should look to reinforce the timeless elements that strengthen the connection with our patients. That connection is crucial to providing the best patient outcomes and the thing that we have to keep at the center of our efforts as oral healthcare providers and educators.
