13/08/2025
Do you consider listening a technical skill or just a matter of sensitivity?
Most dentists I’ve met over the years believed that listening to the patient was something intuitive.
Almost a “natural” ability that some people have and others don’t.
But what if I told you that good listening can, and should, be taught, just like any other technical step in clinical care?
Just as you learned to choose the right file, position the rubber dam, or assess a radiograph with accuracy, you can also learn to listen strategically.
Listening, from a clinical perspective, is not passive.
It’s an active process of data collection, pattern recognition, and mental organisation of the patient’s complaint.
And more than that, it’s the starting point of any truly accurate treatment plan.
This shift in perspective was one of the most impactful milestones in my career.
📘 Still think listening is just “paying close attention”?
I invite you to follow my upcoming posts, you might be surprised.
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👩⚕️ Dr Dani Mancuso
🦷 Specialist in Endodontics and Prosthodontics | BDS MSc PhD Postdoctoral
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