“That’s Too Soon.”
“September? That’s Ages Away.”
I had a conversation this week with a clinician who was genuinely keen and committed to attend our Patient Centred Communication – BEST CHOICES programme.
They’d had a few recent incidents with patients—not formal complaints, but conversations that left them feeling anxious, exposed, and disheartened. They also admitted things with the team weren’t great. Communication was stilted, meetings felt tense, and morale was low.
What really frustrated them, though, was this: after investing heavily in advanced clinical training, patients were still opting for the cheapest, least effective treatments. The kind of dentistry that keeps the lights on—but doesn’t light them up.
They were ready for a change.
So I said:
“We’re in Newcastle on the 6th–8th July.”
Their reply?
“That’s very soon.”
I offered:
“Bicester, 10th–12th September.”
They said:
“That feels a long way off.”
So I asked,
“When would be the right time?”
They paused.
And said,
“I don’t know.”
Sound familiar?
You might feel that now isn’t quite the right time.
Many other dentists have felt exactly the same way—pressured by targets, reluctant to cancel patients, hemmed in by school holidays and diary clashes.
But what they’ve found is that there is never a perfect time. There is only now, and what you choose to do with it.
Training Isn’t Like Ordering from Amazon
The best training—the kind that changes how you practise and how you feel—doesn’t come in a brown cardboard box, delivered tomorrow by 10am.
It’s not a webinar you can watch with one eye while doing your notes.
It’s not a “squeeze it in on a lunch break” kind of thing.
It’s face-to-face. Immersive. Practical.
It invites you to think differently, to practise new skills in real time, and to walk away with confidence—not just knowledge, It Is a mindset.
This kind of learning takes space, intention, and planning.
And it’s worth it.
This is not a “tick box” CPD day.
It’s a professional reboot.
Let’s be honest—we all have our inner objection machine.
The voice that says:
“But I can’t take time off right now.”
Flip it: What if this course saved you hours of stress, uncertainty, and rework every week?
“But July is too soon.”
Flip it: What if the sooner you go, the sooner things start to feel better?
“But September is ages away.”
Flip it: What if planning ahead gave you something powerful to look forward to—and time to make it easy?
“But I’m doing OK right now.”
Flip it: Are you growing—or just surviving?
“But can I just attend one day?”
Flip it: What if attending only one day left you more frustrated—because you only got part of the solution?
Let’s be honest: saying you want to attend a three-day course but only coming for one is a bit like your patient saying:
“I want the 60-minute restoration, but I only want to stay in the chair for 20.”
You know the outcome won’t be right.
You can’t compress 60 minutes of skill into 20—and I can’t compress three days of layered, transformational learning into one.
Trying to shortcut the process means compromising the result. You won’t leave satisfied—and I won’t risk delivering anything less than excellence.
You deserve the full experience. Because this isn’t just about techniques.
It’s about who you become as a communicator, a clinician, and a leader
The Status Quo Is a Myth
Let’s bust the myth once and for all:
🛑 There is no neutral in dentistry.
You are either evolving your career—or slowly letting it erode.
Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as standing still in your career.
You are either developing—or deteriorating.
Growing—or stagnating.
Becoming more confident—or quietly eroding your self-belief.
You’re either becoming more confident with each conversation…
Or watching uncertainty creep into your practise.
You’re either increasing trust and case acceptance…
Or unknowingly sabotaging opportunities with unclear communication.
There’s no such thing as “just coasting”—especially in dentistry. The stakes are too high, and the feedback (patient dissatisfaction, complaints, low uptake) always finds a way to surface.
There’s no neutral gear in dentistry. Every patient interaction, every team conversation, every unmet treatment plan is either building trust—or chipping away at it.
If you’re feeling disconnected from patients, frustrated by low-value treatment plans, or dreading difficult conversations, those patterns won’t magically shift on their own.
And brushing it under the carpet doesn’t work.
Eventually, it becomes a trip hazard.
The Cost of Waiting
Here’s the uncomfortable truth
Waiting to learn effective communication might seem harmless—until you receive a GDC letter, face yet another patient complaint, or find yourself lying awake wondering why your patients keep saying “I’ll think about it.”
:
By the time you receive a complaint, or a GDC letter, or you notice your diary is full of patchwork treatments and lost opportunities—the cost of not learning better communication skills becomes painfully clear.
Great communication isn’t just a nice-to-have.
It’s your protection, your progression, and your peace of mind.
It’s an insurance policy for your sanity, satisfaction, and long-term success.
And let’s be honest—if these problems are cropping up, the time to act is now.
Make Space for What Matters
Yes, being a clinician means you’ve got constraints:
- Targets
- Patient commitments
- Family responsibilities
- Practice policies
But here’s what I’ve found—When I recognise I have something to learn, and the learning will be of benefit to me and my business, I commit to the event. Sometimes this means I have to travel, , maybe to different parts of the UK, often further afield USA, Europe or even to New Zealand. I then have to make a choice do I reschedule plans minimising Inconvenience to others so I can attend sooner ( I can be Impatient with an opportunity to learn) or do I block out time In the future whether It be 3, 6 or 12 months depending on when the course is scheduled.
As Marianne Williamson says
“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine”
And this usually involves stepping out
stepping into the better version of your professional self.
So… When Is the Best Time?
There isn’t one perfect time.
There’s only the time you choose to prioritise the career you want.
It depends on you.
- If you’re working part-time around young children…
- If your practice requires 3 months’ notice for leave…
- If you’ve got a packed diary and full books…
Whatever your situation, growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.
…then you need to take control and design the time.
Not when it’s convenient—but when it’s essential.
You won’t find time. You make time—for what matters.
So block the dates. Book the course.
And if you’ve read this far, I’d suggest the time is now.
Your Next Opportunities
If you’re ready to elevate your patient conversations, rebuild your confidence, and create a career you enjoy again, come and join us at one of our next BEST CHOICES events:
📍 Newcastle – 6th, 7th, 8th July 2025
📍 Bicester – 10th, 11th, 12th September 2025
Whether you want to act now or plan ahead, we’ll help you create space, build skills, and feel proud of your work again. Book here
📩 Want to explore which date is right for you?
Book a complimentary “Speak with Jane” call at www.iodb.co.uk and let’s make a plan that fits.
Because you didn’t come into dentistry to feel stuck, disheartened, or alone.
You came to make a difference—and that starts with learning how to connect.
