I have greatly enjoyed being a dental hygienist for over 30 years. Something that still fascinates me is the oral health and whole-body health connections. As a constant student, I have studied bidirectional and causal relationships amongst oral pathogens and a host of chronic diseases. In fact, over two decades ago, the surgeon general spoke about periodontal disease effects, and we now know there are established associations to 57 adverse health conditions, associated with periodontal dise...
Read More
Practice Management
Oral Hygiene and Cognition By: Ram Rao, PhD
A nice, friendly smile is visually attractive and is also a sign of good oral hygiene practice and cognitive health. Numerous studies have found a close connection between poor oral hygiene and dementia. Studies have found that those with poor oral hygiene practices are at higher risk for dementia, and dementia patients are at higher risk for developing gum disease. Poor oral hygiene and inadequate nutrition are likely the primary drivers for the risk of gum disease in dementia patients, par...
Read More
Words of Wisdom with Kary Helmer RDA
Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, to share their insight.
When we asked Kary Helmer from Growth Mindset Dental Consultants to respond to “I hate the dentist,” here is her approach.
We are all accustomed to hearing the dreadful words “I hate being here, or I hate coming to the dentist” in dai...
Read More
Is A Medical Model Right for Your Practice? Part 2: Two Visit New Patient Appointments
Last week in Part 1, I introduced telehealth as an option to build value into your diagnosis and treatment plan. Since a one-visit new patient system presents some challenges, other than for patients who are very healthy, here is another option to consider. A two-visit new patient process similar to the medical model, especially for patients with more involved issues. This is the model most hygienists and dentists were taught in school. It’s only in private practice that the one-visit model ...
Read More
Is A Medical Model Right for Your Practice? Part 1: Telehealth
When you go to a primary care physician for a routine examination, chances are you’ll get weighed, have your “vitals” (blood pressure, temp, pulse) taken, have your lungs and chest listened to, ears, nose and mouth explored. Perhaps they’ll take an EKG to monitor your heart. Lastly, they’ll ask you to provide a urine sample and have blood taken so some lab tests can be run.
What happens afterwards?
Since the results of your urinalysis and blood work take several days to get back, ther...
Read More
Words of Wisdom by Kim Miller, RDH
Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, to share their insight.
When Kim Miller RDH with Inspired Hygiene was asked to address “I need to think about it” or “I need to talk to ____ (my husband, wife, etc.) about it,” her response included the following:
“I completely understand. I’m sure you weren...
Read More
Computer Security and You: Part 2
Last week in Part One, common breaches were defined, and remedies explored. After reading Part 2, your objectives will be to comprehend the complexity needed for passwords and to enable two-factor authentication for your OralDNA® Labs account.
Passwords are another significant risk with online accounts. A common practice is that people use the same username/password on multiple websites. The problem with this practice is that when a site gets hacked exposing your username/password, now a ...
Read More
What’s a “Hygiene Visit” Worth? With Dr. Michael Goldberg
Price becomes an objection when a patient does not perceive “meaningful value.” Without such a value-based context, people use money as a benchmark.
Is your hygiene visit worth $39, $59, $99 or more?
Or is it only worth it if the “insurance will cover it?”
And now that the new hygienist you just hired is making 20% more than the previous one, how does that figure into the profitability of the practice?
We are in complex times, made more intense by the pandemic-effect, which acceler...
Read More
Words of Wisdom with Doug Thompson DDS
Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?”
When we asked Dr. Doug Thompson from Wellness Dentistry Network to respond to “But it doesn’t hurt” (when diagnosing periodontal disease), here is his approach.
This is one of the most difficult reali...
Read More
Words of Wisdom from Dr. John Kempton
Every patient is different. Overcoming a patient’s obstacles to treatment may take some finesse. The diagnosis and treatment plan are typically the easier task. In this series, we have asked the experts from our Protocol Directory, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?”
When we asked Dr. John Kempton from LAUNCH Oral Systemic Health to respond to “That’s more than I was expecting,” here is his approach.
When patients respond to our consultation with “That’s more than...
Read More