My predictions for dental hygiene

 

Are you wondering where the profession of dental hygiene is going in the next 5-10 years? You’re not alone. While I don’t have a crystal ball and I’m sure our industry will change more in the next few years than it has in decades, I do have a few predictions. I shared these with Gary Bird recently on his Dental Marketing Theory podcast.

Here’s a bit of what I share in this episode:

  • Where the hygiene world is at right now in my view
  • Where I see it going
  • How temp hygiene has evolved
  • Why Practice Protocols > Provider Protocols
  • How the clinical leader can make or break a hygiene team
  • Changes in PPO involvement within our client community

81% Hyg Production Increase

 

There’s a misconception that dental coaching creates significant results only for teams that have no foundational systems or protocols in place. That couldn’t be further from the truth and this team is proof of that.

The team at 30A Smiles already had a solid hygiene department by most definitions. They worked well together and they had a foundational perio protocol.

The doctors knew there was a higher level of care and engagement possible and they were willing to invest in training and support to realize that next level of growth. This takes hygienists who are open to learning and growing (even if they are a bit hesitant at first) and leaders who are willing to empower and support their team.

The results speak for themselves.

And let me be clear, these results are NOT a function of aggressive periodontal diagnosis or loading patients up with an excessive amount of products or services. This is real-life, patient-centered care.

Kudos to this team. They are a pillar of healthcare in their community and they are still going strong!

Empowering Hygienists Podcast Episode

 

This week, I’m sharing a recent podcast I did with Ross Brannon on the Financial Flossing Podcast.

In this episode I share some valuable tips on empowering hygienists to elevate care and their role in the practice. Here are a few takeaways and a link to the podcast. I hope you enjoy it.

TAKEAWAYS:

✅ Inspired Hygiene emphasizes elevating the hygienist’s role in dental practices to improve patient care and overall practice profitability.

✅ How the IH Team works with dental practices to set achievable goals for growth and help them achieve those goals through coaching and consulting services.

✅ How Inspired Hygiene emphasizes the importance of comprehensive patient care, including periodontal therapy, oral cancer screening, restorative treatment, and sleep apnea screening.

✅ Inspired Hygiene aims to shift the mindset of the entire dental team to that of healthcare providers, focusing on the patient’s overall health and well-being.

✅ Inspired Hygiene offers free Hygiene Opportunity Assessments to help dental practices identify areas of growth and improvement.

You can listen to the interview on:

iTunes  Spotify  TuneIn iHeartRadio C-Suite Radio Amazon Pandora and YouTube

Don’t Let it End

 

As April comes to a close, please don’t let Oral Cancer Awareness end. As dental professionals, we are on the front lines and we must be diligent and consistent in our screening efforts.

As a dentist or hygienist, you’re not expected to ‘diagnose’ oral cancer. However, your work is critical to early detection.

Please screen and identify possible pathology
Please refer to the appropriate provider for definitive diagnosis
Please document in detail what your screening reveals and your referrals
Please check in with patients after referrals to be sure they follow through

Here’s a very thorough review of the head and neck screening. While every provider may do this a little differently, screening consistently is key.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more on Oral Cancer Awareness and #IHTeamScreen.

What happened to your neck?

 

If you’ve read our emails this month you know our focus this month is on oral cancer screenings for YOU and YOUR TEAM.  

In this video, I share my own personal experience with head and neck pathologies and how we can’t rely on patients to tell us there’s something abnormal.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more on Oral Cancer Awareness and #IHTeamScreen. 

Eva Grayzel, oral cancer survivor has created a simple, effective method for screening and patient communication resources. Check out digital images and appointment cards to show your patients you’re committed to early cancer detection. www.sixstepscreening.org

Are you missing this critical piece?

 

Often when we ask dentists and hygienists if they regularly perform an oral cancer screening they say emphatically, ‘Well, of course I do!’

Then, when we ask if that includes an extraoral head and neck screening, the answer is quite different. We’re all human and with the hectic schedule of a dental office, things do get missed occasionally. What we find, however, is that the head and neck screening is rarely a consistent piece of the dental hygiene exam.

I urge you to read this vulnerable and impactful article by one of our Lead Coaches, Kathryn Gilliam that outlines The Dental Professional’s Role in Head and Neck Cancer.

Click the image below to access the article.

Are you interested in learning how Inspired Hygiene can help your dental practice? Use this link to schedule your Hygiene Opportunity Assessment.

A Look Inside the Bootcamp

 

You’ve likely seen in the last few weeks that we’re launching a brand new version of our Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp on January 26. It will be available for purchase until February 2 so if you’re interested, watch this quick video to see what the program looks like from the inside and then go over to periobootcamp.com and we’ll let you know when it’s ready for purchase.

This self-paced program is perfect for getting your team on the same page with a clear, written periodontal protocol and it offers CE credit for every participant in your practice.

Learn more about the Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp and, if you share your email with us, we’ll let you know when the bootcamp is open AND you’ll be in the first group to get a great discount on the PPOB.

“Our practice first worked with Inspired Hygiene nearly 10 years ago. The PPOB was an impactful first step in developing our periodontal protocol and it has grown from there. As we have added new hygienists to our team, watching these webinars is part of our onboarding process and a great way to introduce our perio program to new team members.”

Laura Woyciesjes, RDH
Milford, CT

Are the Doctors the Bottle Neck?

 

If your doctors aren’t calibrated, how can you expect the team to support them in recommending treatment? Our Standard of Care worksheet is a great way to start the year off and finally get your team on the same page.

Download the Standard of Care worksheet.


Below is an overview of each module included with the new Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp!

Learn more about it here and, If you share your email with us, we’ll let you know when the bootcamp is open AND you’ll be in the first group to get a great discount on the PPOB.


Hygiene Ad-Dos and Don’ts

 

I’m guessing if you’re not looking for a hygienist right now, you know someone who is. Are you having any luck?

We’ve been reviewing hygiene job postings for our clients and it’s been pretty interesting to see the common mistakes they’re making.

In the video below, I’ll share with you 3 Dos and 3 Don’ts of Hygiene Ads.

And while I have your attention, in January we will release a new version of our classic program, the Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp.

If you’re interested in being the first to know when we launch the new Perio Protocol Online Bootcamp in 2023, sign up for our waitlist at www.periobootcamp.com.