The Role of Explanatory Communication Behaviors in Dentist–Patient Interactions

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the impact of a structured communication protocol utilized by dental interns on patient understanding and the perceived practitioner-patient dynamic. The ultimate goal is to establish practical, evidence-based recommendations to improve communication training within dental education. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled a total of 136 patients from endodontics and periodontics clinics. Following the exclusion of incomplete surveys, the final sample consisted of 84 patients in the experimental group and 52 in the control group. To minimize potential bias, survey data were collected by an independent intern immediately post-treatment. RESULTS: The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher knowledge scores compared to the control group (p < 0.001, r = 0.71). No significant differences were observed in overall communication and paternalism scores, which may be attributed to a ceiling effect and high cultural trust in healthcare professionals. However, subgroup analysis indicated that patients in the experimental group perceived a greater communicative effort from the interns and exhibited higher levels of trust in their clinical authority (p < 0.001, r = 0.71). CONCLUSION: While a single detailed explanation session significantly enhances patient knowledge, it is insufficient to alter deeply rooted traditional practitioner-patient roles. Therefore, dental curricula should formally integrate and evaluate specific communication skills through structured clinical assessments, rather than relying solely on the inherent empathy of students.