Is A Medical Model Right for Your Practice? Part 2: Two Visit New Patient Appointments

Posted on September 23, 2022September 6, 2022 by Michael Goldberg DMD

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 ...

Interview with Dr. Caleb Robinson DDS

Posted on September 9, 2022August 29, 2022 by Caleb A. Robinson DDS MBA

Dr. McGlennen: You have been using our testing services for over 13 years. Do you have a different approach today than your approach 10+ years ago? Caleb Robinson DDS: Without a doubt. In retrospect, our treatment from many years ago really seems like a “shot in the dark” against disease. We originally implemented salivary diagnostics as a helpful guide prior to treatment, to help us tailor the treatment to each patient’s specific case. Over the years we have progressed even further – now...

Words of Wisdom by Kim Miller, RDH

Posted on August 26, 2022August 17, 2022 by Kim Miller, RDH, BSDH

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...

Words of Wisdom from Jan Lazarus RDH

Posted on August 5, 2022August 2, 2022 by Jan Lazarus 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 Jan Lazarus RDH with The JP Institute was asked to address “Is it going to hurt?” her response included the following. The simple response to “Is it going to hurt?” in most cases would be, “No, we plan to make you comfortable by ...

Words of Wisdom with Doug Thompson DDS

Posted on July 8, 2022June 24, 2022 by 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...

Words of Wisdom by Sheena Hinson RDH

Posted on June 3, 2022April 18, 2022 by Sheena Hinson 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, “How would they help the patient overcome their obstacle(s)?” Patient: “Will my insurance cover this?” This is one of the greater dilemmas in the dental industry. It’s a roadblock disguised as access to care for many patients. For years, they have been misle...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Posted on May 20, 2022May 16, 2022 by Abby McMillan

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In a recent survey of dentists done by the Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 71% had anxiety-related symptoms, 60% had depression-related symptoms, and 92% had symptoms of stress. Dentists working in the independent sector had more psychological symptoms compared with those in the public sector. Overall, 92% of the dentists were experiencing some form of psychological symptoms. We must bring awareness to these stat...

Dental Hygiene Student Discovers the Value of OralDNA® Testing

Posted on May 13, 2022May 13, 2022 by Kayla Rauschert, RDH

Challenge: To reduce periodontal pathogens in the oral cavity that are contributing to severe periodontal inflammation, improve oral malodor as reported by the patient and remove unsightly calculus buildup that is harboring oral pathogens. Introduction: In Fall of 2021, I had the pleasure of learning about OralDNA® Labs’ testing from my instructor Jamie Griggs of Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC). Before knowing anything about OralDNA® or how the process works, I wondered why...

Dental Hygiene Student Helps Manage Periodontal Disease Through MyPerioPath® Testing

Posted on May 6, 2022May 5, 2022 by Andrea Farago, RDH

Challenge: To reduce periodontal pathogens in the oral cavity that are contributing to severe periodontal inflammation and tissue sensitivity. Background: The patient is a 33-year-old female with a history of treatment for ovarian cancer. The patient presented with severely inflamed gingiva with generalized extreme heavy bleeding upon gentle probing. Upon touch, there was generalized sensitivity. For the patient’s home care routine, she states that she practices daily toothbrushing and in...

Interview with Madison Afsari, RDH

Posted on April 29, 2022April 26, 2022 by Madison Afsari RDH

Dr. McGlennen: Please tell me how and why you became interested to incorporate OralDNA® testing at your practice. Madison RDH: Our dental hygiene team wanted a way to determine exactly what type of bacteria our patients have in their mouths, so we can treat them the best way possible. Dr. McGlennen: What do you see as the biggest benefits to using salivary diagnostics in your practice? Madison RDH: The biggest benefit for us is being able to reduce patients' overall bacterial load i...