What is the role of unconditional positive regard in dentistry?

I just read an interesting article by an Egyptian dentist who also is a writer, entitled " Egypt in the Dentist's Chair". Although the article pointed out that there can be some parallels between writing and dentistry, it also emphasized that dentists  treat a broad variety of different people. This started me thinking about dentistry and how we accomplish this feat. The answer for me at least is to start with offering more or less unconditional positive regard to my patients. Actually there are a few conditions to treatment in my office. Patients must be willing to pay my bill, keep there appointments and be civil to my staff.  What they are like in their professional or personal lives need not impact their ability to receive treatment.  We strive to make every patient feel like  a guest in our dental office and as such accept him non judgmentally.

As an undergraduate psychology student at Clark University, I learned that offering people unconditional positive regard would make most people feel better ( Carl Rogers-client oriented therapy). I was and remain impressed with this principle of dealing with people and I try my best to be welcoming and friendly when I meet new patients in my practice. It tends to put people at ease and makes them more comfortable to be able to be open about their problems without a fear that they will be judged wanting.

Now I must confess that I can be a fairly judgment individual, but in my office setting I try mostly to limit my judgments to matters involving dentistry ( dental home care, hygiene, keeping up with recommended dental treatments). Dental patients place themselves in an inherently vulnerable position in order to receive dental treatment and should be able to feel safe in the care of their dentist, regardless of what they do in their personal or professional lives. Dentists, as do all who work in  the healing professions, have as one of their central missions the aim of helping people.

Although we do spend an inordinate amount of time perfecting our skill in performing clinical procedures, we should bear in mind that our practices' success is also dependent on our patients' perceptions and feelings. Making each patient feel accepted by us can only support our overall mission, helping people get better.