The potential impact of enneagram personality types on dental treatment adherence and success: a narrative review

Abstract

Personality traits significantly influence health-related behaviors, communication, and adherence to treatment. While personality-based approaches are increasingly utilized in psychological and medical fields, their integration into dentistry remains limited. The Enneagram model, which categorizes individuals into nine personality types based on motivation, fear, and behavioral patterns, may offer a novel framework for understanding both patient and clinician behaviors in dental practice. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence linking Enneagram personality types with health-related behaviors and to explore their potential impact on communication, compliance, and treatment outcomes in dentistry. A secondary focus is placed on how dentists’ own personality structures may shape the therapeutic relationship. An interdisciplinary narrative approach was adopted, integrating psychological theory and clinical dental experience. Relevant literature was reviewed to evaluate associations between personality types, emotional regulation, and adherence patterns, with particular attention to implications for dental care communication. Enneagram types demonstrate distinct behavioral and emotional tendencies that can influence oral health practices, treatment cooperation, and clinical communication. For example, Type 1 (The Reformer) may exhibit strong adherence due to conscientiousness, whereas Type 7 (The Enthusiast) may struggle with routine care. Similarly, dentists’ personality profiles can modulate patient interactions; for instance, authoritarian tendencies may hinder rapport with dominant patients. Personalized communication strategies aligned with patients’ Enneagram profiles may therefore enhance trust and adherence. The Enneagram model provides a promising framework for predicting patient behavior and optimizing dentist–patient communication. However, clinical application is limited by the lack of brief, valid assessment tools suitable for healthcare settings. Future studies should empirically test whether Enneagram-informed communication improves dental adherence and outcomes. Collaboration between psychologists and dental professionals is essential to develop integrated, personality-aware care models.