Month: November 2015

I know you’re busy and if you’re here in the US, you’re probably preparing for the Thanksgiving celebration. So I’ll make this short and sweet.

What I’ve noticed lately is that sometimes we (ok…me) let the ‘busy-ness’ of our lives get in the way of expressing gratitude. I’m hopeful if you’re reading this email, you have things you’re grateful for.  Whether it’s family, health, career, friends, shelter and warm food, there’s something we can give thanks for during this season.

It’s been a busy few weeks here at IH and what I realized is over the last two weeks, the Inspired Hygiene team has traveled to a total of 7 different states AND Canada to teach, train and inspire dental teams.

Because of this, I would love to share with you how grateful I am for YOU. That’s right, YOU! I’m serious.  Without you reading our emails and without all the teams we work with, the audiences we get to speak to, our sponsor and referral partners, none of this would be possible.

I would also like to acknowledge the entire Inspired Team and their tireless work to help improve the lives of our clients and their patients.

I wish you and yours a very warm and happy Thanksgiving!

Have you ever wondered why some of our patients don’t take their own oral health seriously? Ever frustrated with all of the time and effort spent explaining, educating and even sometimes shaming our patients into being more proactive with good homecare and regular hygiene visits to just fall on deaf ears? You may not like what I am about to suggest but, could it be that WE don’t take treatinggingivitis, the “Gate Keeper” to periodontitis seriously enough ourselves? Often we wait until the disease has reached the incurable stage of periodontitis, to recommend non-surgical therapy? If we continue to treat bleeding gums the same way appointment after appointment, how could we ever expect our patient’s behavior to change?

Watch my short video to learn some of the ‘ins and outs’ with recommending and providing Gingival Therapy. Recognizing and treating gingivitis different is truly treating periodontal disease at its earliest stage!

Last month’s Hygiene Profits Mastermind Webinar focused on the correct use of insurance codes as well as avoiding the pitfalls of coding errors. This month, with the help of Dr. Roy Shelburne, also with Practice Boosters, we’ll understand the importance of record keeping and accurate documentation.

Join Dr. Shelburne and myself as we learn this no non-sense team approach to record keeping.  It could mean the difference between success and failure in the event of an action or challenge to your practice and can maximize the benefits due your patients.

Don’t miss out!  Mark your calendar today!

Documentation for Dollars
with special guest
Dr. Roy Shelburne

A couple weeks ago, I was preparing one of my videos for this newsletter and my friend Diane said to me… ‘Do realize you’ve been doing this e-zine for 10 years’?

See, Diane has helped me with Inspired Hygiene since Day ONE. She built the first website and she helped me understand this email thing way back to when we were first out of college. She’s a programmer. I’m a hygienist. Need I say more?

Anyway, I started this e-zine back then to get the word out and launch Inspired Hygiene nationally…and it worked! We now have readers in over 20 countries!

Diane sent me the first e-zine article we published and I thought it would be fun to share it with you today. I wasn’t sure the concepts would still be current but while we have certainly expanded on these over the years, I believe you’ll see the core message is tried and true.

I am SO VERY grateful for the IH team without whom this endeavor would NOT be possible and for YOU for giving your precious time and energy to learn and share with us.

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for following us and for all you do for your dental team, your clients and patients!!

After more than 10 years of coaching dental teams to refine and boost the effectiveness, efficiency and energy of their hygiene departments, these core concepts still ring true. I hope you enjoy this article from the first issue of this e-zine in 2005.

Top 5 Tips to Boost Hygiene

#1 Invest in Time
In an attempt to increase hygiene production, teams sometimes make the decision to shorten hygiene appointment time to squeeze in more patients. What often happens is that as days get busier, critical steps in diagnosis and treatment may be unintentionally short-changed. This results in lower levels of care and productivity.

In real terms, investing in time means reserving 60 minutes for most adult hygiene visits. Over the last 10+ years, every team we have coached to increase their hygiene appointment time has increased their effectiveness in delivering high quality care and increased hygiene production when they put in place an outline for what takes place at each hygiene visit and commit to using every minute for intentional care and conversations.

#2 Increase the effectiveness of your perio program
The most common reason for low hygiene production is a low level of perio care. Just like a dentist that does single surface fillings all day long, a hygienist that does one prophy after another is going to get bored and frustrated and won’t be maximizing his or her potential for taking care of patients.

First, make a commitment to do complete periodontal charting (recording every number and bleeding at a minimum) at least once/year. Any changes in periodontal health will be caught early and treated conservatively. Next, be sure you have a clear protocol for periodontal treatment that is based on science and that everyone on your team feels good about.

#3 Reserve time for priority care
How can you create a sense of urgency with your patients to move forward with perio care when the next appointment is 6 weeks away? It sends mixed messages and can create a “Now or Never” philosophy. Treat it now (as a “prophy”) or never.

The result is often hygienists running over and patients never really knowing they have disease. Set aside time in the hygiene schedule each day for perio therapy. This way, when you talk with patients about the urgency of the needed treatment, your schedule will support it.

#4 Increase the level of hygiene co-diagnosis
Talented, empowered hygienists are very qualified to use their skills and knowledge to educate patients about their restorative dental needs. What about that cracked tooth that Doctor has already treatment planned for a crown? Share the problem along with the benefits of treatment before your doctor comes in. This makes for efficient doctor exams, builds your credibility and helps patients complete needed treatment before they get into an emergency situation.

#5 Invest in technology
There are lots of high tech tools out there today that will boost hygiene. When used effectively tools like intra-oral cameras and perio charting software will increase your case acceptance. Create a plan to work this technology into the current hygiene exam and get committed to using them on every patient.