Browsing CategoryPatient Care

Expanding the Perio-Focused Approach — Part II

Research is rapidly advancing our understanding of biofilm, the development of the disease along with nutritional factors and emerging concepts involving pharmacologic intervention — this is an exciting time to be at the forefront of periodontal health. We have an extraordinary opportunity to predict disease, tailor treatment and substantially improve the outcome for our patients and it’s only going to advance from here. If there is one thing you can do to set yourself apart it is to commit to consistently and voraciously seek education and training for the life of your career.

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Expanding the Perio-Focused Approach – Part I

I know dentists who won’t even administer anesthetic without their assistant helping them. Okay, I won’t pick on you, but it’s true. My point is, as the doctor, you have the power to make sure your hygienist has the help s/he needs. I’m encouraging you to take the lead here. Yes, it helps the hygienist and, more importantly, it supports the practice as a whole by getting necessary periodontal therapy diagnosed early and providing excellence in patient care. To get the ball rolling, I recommend incorporating this as a component in every morning huddle.

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Proven Recipe for Happily Returning Patients

I know, we like to think we’re “doing our job” by “educating our patients” and making sure they “understand” how “important it is that they ______”. The blank can be filled-in with all kinds of things such as, floss, brush at least 2 times a day, rinse with our super galactic formula rinse, complete treatment…UGH!!! Do you know how completely uninspiring all of that is for our patients? Do you think they don’t know what they “should” be doing?

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