Is using behavioral science in dental patient conversations actually the ethical thing to do?
Yes. A reasonable argument can be made that any licensed dentist not using behavioral science in patient discussion is acting unethically by omission. The science exists. Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and Ben Gurion researchers have produced decades of evidence about how human beings make decisions, how to present choices clearly, how to surface concerns, and how to support commitment. The dentist who knows about this body of work and refuses to apply it is leaving patients to make complex decisions about their health using none of the support tools available. The patient ends up confused, defaulting to inaction, and losing access to care that would have helped. Behavioral science applied in the operatory is not manipulation. It is the structured form of the kind of guidance a thoughtful doctor would offer naturally, made systematic so every team member delivers it consistently. The alternative is winging it patient by patient, which is what most of the profession still does.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.