Listening Skills in Dental Nursing

Listening Skills in Dental Nursing is part of meeting I 1.2. For dental nurses, this involves using attention, patience, checking, summarising and silence to understand what patients and colleagues mean.

Communication in dental nursing supports consent, dignity, reassurance, record-keeping, handover, prevention and escalation.

In practice this appears in ordinary moments: a patient who looks uncertain, a receptionist asking for guidance, a dentist working quickly, a trainee needing feedback, a digital message, a handover, or a colleague who is worried about raising a concern. Interpersonal skill is the ability to respond with care, clarity and professional judgement.

Practical markers

• Notice: what the patient, colleague, situation or system is communicating.
• Choose: a communication method, team route or escalation step that fits the context.
• Respect: role boundaries, confidentiality, dignity, cultural needs and emotional impact.
• Check: understanding, responsibility, handover and whether the next person has the information they need.
• Follow up: through records, feedback, supervision, team discussion or concern-raising where needed.

Useful wording can be simple: "Can I check how the patient would prefer us to explain this before we continue?" The phrasing is calm and professional and gives the team a clear reason to pause, clarify or escalate.

SPF behaviour links

Non-verbal communication, listening skills and barriers to effective communication helps dental nurses protect patient dignity, team trust and safe care.