What makes an excellent dentist?

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Finding a suitable dentist is important to long term health.   Teaching in a dental school for many years, working with many dentists, running my own practice, then doing anesthesia in other dental offices has given me plenty of data to form an opinion.  The most important factor to me is empathy.  Are they trying to understand the feelings and thinking of the client?   Second, are they curious enough to read the scientific literature and understand the difference between a valid study and a biased tome.  Third, do they have technical skill that depends more on them then on the latest technology gadget.