HJAR Sep/Oct 2025

40 SEP / OCT 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ORAL HEALTH around the individual person results in en- hanced patient satisfaction. 6 Patient-Centric Care and Dentistry Traditionally, dentists would treat, instruct, and prescribe without much input from their patients, but the profession has evolved to a more patient-centric approach. In dentistry, oral health is linked to quality of life, overall health, self-reflection, social status, nutrition, the ability to obtain job employment, and missed hours of school or work, which affects job promotions and productivity. 7,8 Because oral health has various associations with well-being, this discipline should be viewed in a broad approach and scope. Let’s take caries as an example. Caries remains the most common chronic disease worldwide and has a significant impact on the well-being of U.S. citizens. Poor oral health affects physical, mental, and social health. It can result in decreased function in chewing and talking if teeth must be extract- ed. Losing part of the dentition — especially numerous teeth — can affect facial features, social acceptance, and the ability to obtain employment. If dentures or dental implants are the de- sired treatment plan, patients have many options. They should be informed about the DIALOGUE COLUMN ORAL HEALTH GONE are the days of doctors making all decisions for their patients. Benevolent pa- ternalismwas the guiding factor with doctor responsibilities ensuring patient welfare, but without regard to patient rights. A marked shift occurred around the mid-20th century, when decision-making authority went from the doctor to the patient. 1 The outcome was a “rights-based move- ment” that protected patient rights and em- powered individuals to make their own deci- sions. 2 Landmark court cases solidified that a patient must have the right to choose and be informed of all potential risks in treatment. Patient autonomy came into its own and has strengthened over the years. The doctor-patient relationship is a critical element in our constantly evolving health- care system. This relationship is not con- gruent, as the patient’s knowledge does not match the skill, comprehension, or expertise of the doctor. The adage “doctor knows best” always comes into play, but multiple laws and statutes give the patient the power to decide what is best for their own individual treat- ment. A healthy doctor-patient association is one that is built on trust, open communi- cation, and treatment collaboration, which leads to patient compliance, satisfaction, better health outcomes, and fewer lawsuits. 3 A Shift to Patient-Centric Care Another shift that has taken place and gained momentum is the concept of patient- centric healthcare. Instead of focusing on the disease a patient may have, the focus is first placed on the whole person, with the disease issue coming second. TheWorld Health Organization (WHO) de- scribes health as a state of complete physi- cal, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, a defini- tion which was put into place in 1948. 4 Some believe this is narrow in scope, since well- being encompasses a positive state of mind, functioning, satisfaction, and fulfillment in life. Taken further, well-being integrates all aspects of health, including social, physical, and psychological, as well as development, activity, and life satisfaction. 5 Clearly, well- being incorporates many factors outside physical health. Shared decision-making is at the forefront of patient-centric care. The collaboration between doctor and patient improves open communication and empowers patients to voice their desires and concerns. By being active participants in the decision-making process, they are more likely to be compli- ant in treatment plans, which can decrease healthcare costs. Ultimately, designing care The Rise of Patient-Centric Dental Care