Possessing soft skills are an absolute necessity for any healthcare professional and dental assistants play a major role in diminishing communication barriers with patients. Let’s face it, many people go to the dentist not because they want to, but because they have to because of a critical dental situation. Understanding and recognizing patients’ defense mechanisms help the dental assistant get to the truth to provide better outcomes for their patients’. For this week’s discussion, identify several times or encounters as they relate to health care, where you utilized personal defense mechanisms. Explain what helped you move forward in the communication process and how you can apply your experience in dealing with patients in the future.
