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Emotional intelligence in dentistry: Just a soft skill or the key to informed decision making?

BDJ Student volume 32, pages 60–61 (2025)Cite this article

A Correction to this article was published on 30 June 2025

Abstract

Emotional intelligence is an important skill for all oral healthcare professionals who wish to put an emphasis on person-focused care. It plays a pivotal role in how we establish rapport, communicate, and empower our patients. Focusing on emotional intelligence as a core element of communication and patient care could serve as a major paradigm shift in dentistry, especially for those patients who suffer with anxiety. This article aims to explore the potential benefits of emotional intelligence in the dental setting and how it can be implemented to cultivate empathy in addition to promoting patient autonomy, through harnessing the brain's ability to modulate activity in areas which support rational decision making and mitigate fear and anxiety.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth, United Kingdom

    Asha Abdirizak

Authors
  1. Asha Abdirizak
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Correspondence to Asha Abdirizak.

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The original online version of this article was revised.

When this article was originally published online, the author's name was incorrect. This has now been changed.

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Cite this article

Abdirizak, A. Emotional intelligence in dentistry: Just a soft skill or the key to informed decision making?. BDJ Student 32, 60–61 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-025-1500-5

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