While juggling the schedule, managing the business of the practice and leading the team, the hygiene department is one area that most dentists would agree they would love to have operating as co-pilot without having to micromanage the process. Here are just a few ways your hygienist can take the lead, increase practice revenue and enhance patient care…starting today!

1| Be Perio-Focused

As long as we have 80% of the adult population with signs of periodontal disease we cannot rest. This is one area where I’m passionate and I won’t tip-toe around it — if you insist on doing bloody prophy’s then you need to go home. Hey, Go Perio OR Go Home! All kidding aside, there is no other way to practice as far as I am concerned. So what exactly does this mean? Well, see number two below and then create an established periodontal protocol. Your protocol will serve as a guide to treatment plan patient needs according to the diagnostics and findings. This serves as a standardized approach to periodontal treatment in your practice and provides consistency in care (especially when there is more than one hygienist). Treatment may include non-surgical periodontal therapy which may involve localized areas, full quadrants of scaling and root debridement, irrigation, laser-assisted periodontal therapy, locally applied antibiotics and at-home care products. One more thing, I beg you to STOP seeing everyone on six-month recare visits!!! Find the frequency where your patient is healthy and keep them there as long as they are healthy. It is NOT a goal to get to a six-month recare. It is a goal to support every patient in being HEALTHY. And, that is defined differently for every one.

2| Educate-Educate-Educate

Yourself and your patients. Don’t just stay current — patients can do that with Google — be ahead of the game in a constant mind-feeding frenzy with the latest information available. Get out of your comfort zone and attend webinars, workshops, get connected and participate in dental communities and study clubs. Set your practice and YOU apart to be seen as a trusted resource by your patients. Understand and be able to effectively communicate the current model of periodontal disease along with contributing risk factors — in terms the patient can understand. It’s about going beyond the “just a cleaning” experience. They can get that anywhere. You have an opportunity to create even more value with the added service of consultation on health, wellness, nutrition, risk factors and what the future holds for the world of oral health care.

3| Use an Intraoral Camera

Yes, the hygiene department needs to have a dedicated camera and it needs to be used with each and every patient. This is the BEST and most effective way for engaging and enrolling a patient in their oral health. Pictures speak a thousand words. Very often a patient doesn’t know exactly what they are looking at however, it doesn’t take a dental degree to see the difference between healthy and unhealthy tissue, bleeding, a cracked tooth or filling, recession, etc. — especially through the magnified lens of a camera. With excellent verbal skills, the hygienist has the ability to impact the patient in feeling more empowered to take ownership and by having a crystal clear understanding about the cause and effect of what’s happening in their mouth.

If you enjoyed this article please like, share and comment below. For support in any of these areas and more reach out by calling or private message to connect with me at 866.809.4890 or Chris@hygienebydesign.com. And, be sure to follow us for the latest strategies and tips for growing a hygiene department and practice you love…by design.