Stop showing x-rays to patients

So many dentists love showing x-rays to patients yet it is so pointless.

I had that realisation a number of years ago. I was excitedly pointing out pathology on an x-ray to the patient. I was on fire – doing brilliantly well. The patient was nodding and saying "yes" so I thought I was convincing them of the need for treatment.

Then after about 5 minutes the patient suddenly said: "What are the white things."

Immediately I knew that the previous 5 minutes had been a total waste of time. The patient had understood nothing. It was a watershed moment for me.

Think about it this way. You took hours and hours of tuition to learn to take and interpret x-rays. It probably took you several years more of practice before you could interpret them accurately and with confidence. And yet, you think a patient can learn everything you learnt in only 5 minutes? It isn't going to happen.

With respect to x-ray findings my belief is this: It all gets down to trust.

If a patient trusts you then you don't need to show them the x-rays. They will believe you when you tell them what you found. If a patient doesn't trust you then no amount of showing them the x-rays will help.

Years ago in the film era a patient asked to see their x-rays. Instead of trying to explain I merely handed the plastic sheet with the x-rays on it to the patient. They looked at it upside down and backwards before handing it back to me. The they made a noise like they had understood what they looked at and proceeded with treatment.

Do yourself a favour. Stop showing x-rays to patients.