Need guidance with a complex issue?

We’re here for you! The Dentists Insurance Company offers tools to navigate potential liabilities in the areas of documentation, employment, patient care, property and more. TDIC policyholders can tap into resources, guidance and education to mitigate the risks of practicing dentistry today.

Time-saving Resources

• Dentistry-specific reference guides

• Multilingual informed consent forms

• State-specific forms and templates

One-on-One Guidance

• No-cost Risk Management Advice Line

• Dedicated analysts with unique expertise

• Convenient online appointment scheduling

Ongoing Education

• C.E.-eligible live, expert-led seminars

• Convenient on-demand eLearning options

• Articles and insights on trending risk topics

Plus, policyholders can earn C.E. and lock in discounts on professional liability premiums by completing a risk management seminar.

Explore the benefits at tdicinsurance.com/RM. Scan here:

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Terms and conditions may apply. Visit tdicinsurance.com/Seminars for additional details.

– Confirming statement: “I understand why you are angry and afraid. You didn’t expect to find out today that your crown would need to be replaced.”

• Equality. Messages of equality demonstrate that the person you are communicating with has value and worth, regardless of their amount of knowledge or expertise in a particular area. Try not to treat them differently because of age, gender, education or socioeconomic status.

– Disconfirming statement: “Since you haven’t been to dental school, you aren’t qualified to determine the best treatment.”

– Confirming statement: “I’d like to hear what you think about this. I want to make sure we find a solution that makes us both comfortable.”

• Provisionalism. Provisionalism is being flexible and allowing for other points of view. Behaviors that demonstrate that another’s opinions matter just as much as your own include letting others speak without interruption and encouraging others to contribute to the conversation.

– Disconfirming statement: “Postponing treatment is out of the question.”

– Confirming statement: “From my perspective, addressing this tooth sooner rather than later will result in a better outcome.”

Tips for Communicating with Employees

How you communicate is often as important as what you communicate. The following tips can help:

BE AUTHENTIC. Being honest and approachable helps build relationships. Sharing personal stories, finding common ground and asking open-ended questions creates a connection with the team, thus establishing trust.

BE POSITIVE. Approaching challenges with a can-do attitude works wonders on employee morale. Letting staff know you’re in it together creates a camaraderie that leads to buy-in from the entire team. Focus on successes and learn from failures.

BE CONSISTENT. Nothing kills employee morale faster than employees who feel they are treated differently or unfairly. Maintaining consistent policies in all aspects of practice management, from dress codes to time off, ensures each staff member feels respected.

BE CONCISE. A lack of clear instructions is one of the greatest causes of lackluster performance in the dental office. Giving directives and using straightforward language illustrated with causeand-effect examples can help employees better understand instructions. Practice owners are advised to conduct regular performance evaluations and morning huddles. Employees should also be asked whether they have follow-up questions.