Does motivational interviewing have a role in dentistry?

Traditional approaches to health promotion involve clinicians imparting knowledge to patients and 'telling' patients what changes they should make to benefit their health. This so-called 'fixing reflex' can be counterproductive and ineffective, creating unhelpful discord between clinicians and patients. There is little evidence that this approach is wholly effective in bringing about healthier patient behaviours. In contrast, motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centred consultation style aimed at developing patient motivation and commitment for a range of health-related behaviours. It focuses on discovering the values, beliefs and goals of patients and encourages clinicians and patients to work together collaboratively, to bring about change and growth. It is an effective, evidence-based approach, even when used as a 'brief intervention' for a few minutes only. This paper discusses how MI can be applied in dental healthcare settings to enhance general and oral health. The evidence available for its use in dentistry is discussed, along with opportunities for training of the dental team in this skill.