Why include the patient’s subjective complaints word-for-word in a dental Case Report?
Because the exact words the patient used to describe their problem serve multiple functions: proof of listening, anchor for the recommendation, and ongoing reminder of why they came in. The subjective-findings section captures the answers the patient gave to motivator questions during the consultation, CDP, and any other interaction, transcribed as closely as possible to their original phrasing. The patient reading the Case Report sees their own words on the page and registers that the practice was paying attention from the first contact onward. Trust deepens. The subjective findings also serve as the patient-facing argument for why the treatment matters: the recommendation is responsive to specifically what the patient said they wanted to address. Months or years later, if the patient is wavering on commitment or considering deferring treatment, the documented motivator language reminds them of their own reasons. Practices that paraphrase or generalize this section weaken the document. Capture the actual words. They are the patient’s reasons in the patient’s own voice.
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.
