Managing Difficult Encounters With Patients

Stress is axiomatic in dentistry, especially implant dentistry. Implant dentists significantly improve patients’ lives; however, providing high-level, precise, complex treatments can be stressful. I am confident that every time implant dentists take on a case, whether a single bicuspid implant with adequate bone or a case with terminal dentition and significant bone loss, we desire and give our best to satisfy and improve the patient’s quality of life. That is why we became dentists; we want to help people. The implant dentist and staff invest their time, money, education, and daily work to enhance the lives of their patients. However, sometimes, patients do not seem to appreciate the dental team’s efforts, which leads to stress for the dental practice. Butcher and Hooley¹  identified 3 categories of stressors: (1) frustration, (2) conflicts, and (3) pressures. This editorial focuses on the second identified stressor, “patient conflicts,” which can lead to frustration...