This course, presented by Dr. Michael Sonick, addresses how dentists and their teams communicate with patients during the first moments of an appointment, and how that early interaction shapes whether a patient goes on to accept recommended treatment.

Drawing on principles of hospitality and human connection rather than clinical technique, the course discusses practical approaches to building trust quickly, listening to patient concerns, and presenting treatment in a way patients can understand and act on, with the aim of improving case acceptance rates without changing the underlying clinical plan.

Dr. Sonick is a periodontist in private practice in Fairfield, Connecticut, and author of Treating People Not Patients.