Patient Centered Care: A Paradigm Shift in the Delivery of Oral Health Care

Patient centered care is a nonlinear and archetypal approach towards treatment planning of patients which acknowledges the patient as an individual with his/her own tale to tell. It enhances trust and rapport, provides clarity and characterizes the patient's symptoms and concerns. After generating and testing many hypotheses patient-oriented care lays the robust foundation for an ongoing treatment. The two pillars of patient centered care are oral health literacy which helps in non-judgmental articulation of where the patient and the oral health care provider's level “is at” and oral health coaching which primarily focuses on the intentional behavioral change and evolving towards positive attitude towards any treatment. Yet the backbone of this approach is the dental team performance because outcomes of any dental treatment are deeply interlinked with team performance. Through effective communication low level of health literacy can be identified and patients can be empowered, encouraged and motivated to take responsibility of their self-care. Thus, this review article provides a holistic approach using a rich history of social and psychological science citing major perspectives and insights from behavioral sciences, clinical practice management and public health, coupling it with patient empowerment and comprehensive care.