From Patient To Client

As many of you realize, these can be very trying times in dentistry. With all of the new technology, research, studies and equipment available to us, we are sometimes bombarded with information while trying to stay current.

The College of Dental Hygiene of Ontario released in the spring issue of Milestones (spring 2001, page 5), their choice to adopt the term "client" rather than "patient". Their reasoning is: "client" implies a wellness model rather than "patient" which implies a disease and illness model.

With all of our attempts to transfer ownership of a client's oral health, having the client understand and accept treatment recommendations for optimal health.

You will notice that our team has also adopted this term and will encourage you to as well. It is our intent to keep you abreast of the changes in dentistry.