In many dental settings, conversations focus on:
- Giving information
- Explaining risks
- Advising patients what they should do
While education is important, RETURN uses a different approach.
Here, the focus is on guiding rather than directing.
This means creating space for patients to:
- Talk about their experiences
- Explore what has stopped them attending in the past
- Reflect on what might help them attend for stabilisation or routine care before problems become urgent