Your role in delivering the RETURN intervention is to create a safe and supportive space.
This means:
- Acknowledging the patient’s experiences and concerns
- Recognising how significant their barriers may feel
- Accepting that change may not happen immediately
Even if a patient is not ready to make a change now, a positive conversation can make future change more possible.
Why your role matters
For some patients, this may be the first time they have spoken openly about:
- Anxiety
- Embarrassment
- Cost concerns
- Lack of trust in dental care
They may have only experienced dentistry through urgent care and pain, rather than ongoing relationships with a dental team.
A supportive experience during this conversation can influence how they feel about attending dental services in the future.
