CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST49 PARTNERING WITH PATIENTS willingness to self-reflect, the willingness and ability to recognise our inherent and implicit biases, and the willingness to approach every patient encounter as an opportunity to learn (Tervalon & MurrayGarcía, 1998). Where competence is considered a skill, humility on the other hand is more of an attitude. Together they form what has been newly termed “competemility”; the synergistic merging of competence and humility, a balance of skill and mindset that strengthens our ability to care across cultures (Stubbe, 2020). For dentists, this means balancing professional expertise with openness to the cultural narratives patients bring to the chair. Practical strategies for dentists 1. Know your community – Understand the demographics of your patient base. Which languages, cultures, or faith groups are most represented. 2. Create an inclusive clinic environment – Multilingual signage, diverse imagery, and interpreter access all send signals of welcome. 3. Ask, don’t assume – Ask patients how they prefer to be addressed, or how they best absorb information (spoken, written, visual). 4. Use teach-back – Confirm consent and instructions by inviting patients to explain in their own words (Ha & Longnecker, 2010). 5. Address bias – Reflect on your own assumptions. Consider journaling or peer discussion to identify patterns. 6. Collaborate – Involve patients (and where culturally appropriate, families) in treatment planning. Clarify goals, values, and expectations together. 7. Close the loop – After a discussion, ask: “Do you feel like I have understood you today?” This simple act builds trust and reveals hidden concerns. The business case Having addressed the medical, social and ethical need, it is also important to understand that actively adopting cultural competence into our practices is also strategic from a financial perspective. Positive experiences in CALD communities often ripple widely; word of mouth is amplified through networks of trust (Mahmoud et al., 2021). From a neuroscientific perspective, positive communication triggers the reward pathway in the brain; reinforcing memory and strengthening loyalty (Schultz, 2015). For practices, this translates into patient retention, case acceptance, and organic growth. Conclusion – SpeakSmart As part of this commitment to communication excellence, I am proud to introduce SpeakSmart; an Accent Management and Accent Softening program designed specifically for healthcare professionals. SpeakSmart empowers culturally and linguistically diverse clinicians to refine their pronunciation, enhance clarity across diverse patient populations, and build stronger connections without compromising their identity. When we communicate clearly and confidently— across accents, languages, and literacy levels—we don’t just treat patients; we partner with them X Email gapamagazines@gmail.com for a complete list of references. Author Bio Dr Shahana Abed (BDS, ADC Cert, MICOI, DSc) is a clinician, writer, and educator with a professional focus on cultural competence in dentistry and healthcare communication. Trained initially in South Africa, she went on to complete the Australian Dental Council (ADC) certification and holds a mastership with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (MICOI). She also earned a Doctor of Science (DSc) by deepening her expertise in the integration of neuroscience, communication psychology, and dental practice. Alongside her clinical career, Dr. Shahana has a longstanding commitment to professional writing and knowledge dissemination. She holds formal certification in Journalism and Creative Writing and has authored numerous reflective and academic pieces that bring together her lived experience as a culturally diverse clinician with evidence-based perspectives on patient care. As founder of The Overseas Dentist, a program supporting internationally trained and CALD clinicians in adapting to Australian practice culture, she advocates for cultural competence as a clinical, ethical, and professional imperative in modern dentistry.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTc3NDk3Mw==