Background A trusting dentist-patient relationship is pivotal in providing person-centred care. This scoping review aims to identify how trust is defined, measured and perceived by dental professionals.Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute framework was adopted. A search strategy was developed using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and key words. Medline/PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched. Data were synthesised using thematic analysis.Findings In total, 16 studies were included that frequently used quantitative research methodology. Only four studies provided definition of trust. Many studies employed either Dental Trust Scale or Dental Beliefs Survey to measure dentist-patient trust, although others developed their own items. Limited research suggested that the dental professionals appreciated communication was paramount to building a trusting relationship with patients.Conclusion No consensus was found on the definition of trust, nor on a preferred assessment tool to measure dentist-patient trust. The limited evidence intimated that dental professionals acknowledged the importance of effective communication in building a trusting alliance with patients. The scarcity of relevant research highlights the need for more robust investigations of trust in dental care.

Background: A trusting dentist-patient relationship is pivotal in providing person-centred care. This scoping review aims to identify how trust is defined, measured in the dental literature and how trust is perceived by dental professionals. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework was adopted. A search strategy was developed using MeSH terms and key words. Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched. Data were synthesised using thematic analysis. Findings: Sixteen studies were included frequently using quantitative research methodology. Only 4 studies provided definition of trust. Many studies used either Dental Trust Scale or Dental Beliefs Survey to measure dentist-patient trust, although others developed their own items. Communication is a key aspect to measure trust. Limited research confirms that the dental professionals appreciated communication in building a trusting relationship with patients. Conclusion: No consensus was found on the definition of trust, nor on an assessment tool to measure dentist-patient trust. The limited evidence has found that dental professionals acknowledged the importance of effective communication in building a trusting alliance with patients. The scarcity of relevant research highlights the need for more robust investigations of trust in dental care.