Hygiene Appointment Reactivation | Dental Practice Solutions

Updates For Treating Oral Inflammation

By: Debbie Seidel

September 18, 2023

Periodontal disease, comprising gingivitis and periodontitis, is a common oral health issue affecting millions of people worldwide.1

As dental professionals, we play a vital role in managing and preventing this disease condition.

Our overarching reason for treating patients with oral inflammation, active gum disease, is because when we put a halt to oral inflammation and gingival diseases we can help our patients live a longer, healthier life.

This blog post will explore the latest research findings, treatment options, and effective prevention strategies for periodontal disease, including innovative approaches like Guided Biofilm Therapy and BioGaia ProBiotics.

This blog will also include sequencing of various appointments when treating oral inflammation.

Understanding Periodontal Disease:

Gum disease encompasses various conditions affecting the supporting tissues of the teeth, including gums, periodontal ligaments, and alveolar bone.

The two primary forms are:

Gingivitis:

Gingivitis, a milder form of gum disease, features inflamed, red, and bleeding gums and no alveolar bone loss.
Accumulation of dental plaque, a biofilm of bacteria, and is often the cause of early gum disease.
This early sign of gum disease can also be associated with various systemic diseases as outlined below.
Gingivitis is often reversible with regular dental hygiene preventive care appointments, and proper home care routines.

Periodontitis:

Periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease includes alveolar bone loss.
Often this begins with gingivitis and can be associated with other systemic diseases such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, various cancers, Crohns’ disease and even Alzheimer’s Disease.
The most common risk factor is tobacco use.
It involves more severe inflammation, gum recession, and radiographic bone loss.
Recent research suggests potential systemic health links, such as diabetes, stroke heart disease, etc. See the list of systemic diseases and research website link outlined below.

Latest Research on Periodontal Disease:

Recent studies have uncovered crucial insights into periodontal disease, offering a deeper understanding of its etiology, progression, and systemic connections:

- Microbiome and Dysbiosis: Research has highlighted the role of the oral microbiome in gum disease development. Understanding specific bacteria involved can inform targeted treatments.
- Inflammation and Systemic Health: Emerging evidence suggests the inflammation associated with periodontal disease may contribute to systemic health issues.
- Dental professionals must consider the systemic links to gingival diseases during patient assessments and share this important message to help patients “live a longer, healthier life with optimal oral health.”

Treatment Options for Oral Inflammation:

Dentists and dental hygienists employ various approaches to treat gingival and periodontal diseases, tailored to its severity such as:

Gingivitis Treatment: Indicated for patients with generalized moderate to severe inflammation in the absence of radiographic bone loss.

Scaling and Root Planing: Indicated for patients with radiographic bone loss, and moderate to severe gingival inflammation.

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT): GBT focuses not only on prevention and maintenance of gingival, periodontal and peri-implant diseases in adults but is also the only proven protocol to manage biofilm around orthodontics and in non-surgical periodontal treatment. 2

This therapy utilizes an E.M.S. Electro Medical System.

1.Diode Laser:

Can reduce bacterial load without the side effects of antibiotics. There are clinical advantages for use of the diode laser therapy in the reduction of subgingival bacteria—the etiology of periodontitis. Evidence suggests that lasers can be bactericidal to subgingival pathogens. 3

2. Antibiotics: Dentists may prescribe antibiotics like doxycycline. Dental hyginists may use sub-dose microspheres of Arestin® (minocycline HCl), subgingivally, and/or antimicrobial mouth rinses during home care to manage inflammation and infection.

3. End-Point Therapy/Re-Evaluation:

Every patient who is treated for generalized moderate to severe inflammation, with or without radiographic bone loss will also have a follow-up appointment to re-evaluate the condition of this inflammation.

At the re-evaluation you will complete a comprehensive periodontal exam (CPE). This must include pocket depths, recession, bleeding, mucogingival involvement, furcations, etc.

You will use diode laser, ultrasonics, GBT, scale, polish (No need to polish when GBT is initiated), review of oral-systemic link & perio process ending with an update or continuation of homecare. When there is a halt of the disease process and no active gum disease is present you will determine the interval your patient will return for preventive care.

If your patient returns and active gum disease exists, you will refer to step 1 of this sequence of care.

For a gingivitis patient, you will refer the patient to their PCP for a full blood panel to rule out any systemic diseases; most common may be diabetes, high-cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

The patient will be scheduled to return for re-evaluation in 6 weeks and repeat the above listed protocol. See the above 1st step in treating gingivitis.

In the case of your periodontal patient, who returns with active disease, you will, 1. Re-treat these affected areas (see step 1 of the treatment plan) of active disease and according to each individual’s risk factors and perio status, you will refer to a periodontist for evaluation.

The purpose of this re-evaluation- (Purpose of an “end point” assessment is to be certain there is a halt of the gingival inflammation.

After therapy If we schedule a patient for three or six months without six weeks re-evaluation to check the “endpoint” of the disease, it’s possible that when the patient does return in three months of six months, active disease will progress to a more serious condition which will ultimately affect the patient’s total health and well-being. 4

End point therapy is considered the end of Phase I therapy.

Innovative Treatment Approaches:

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT):

GBT is a cutting-edge approach that uses advanced technology and devices to target and remove dental biofilm more effectively.
It utilizes air-polishing devices to dislodge biofilm from tooth surfaces and below the gumline, improving treatment outcomes.
This therapy is non-invasive, a great way to show patients where they are missing with their toothbrush and floss. You can also disclose to show acidic plaque, etc. Pain Free enamel-safe, plaque removal and a great way to inspire patients to “own their disease.”

Show patients what you see (Biofilm) because “seeing is believing!:”

BioGaia ProBiotics:

BioGaia ProBiotics are beneficial bacteria applied topically to the oral cavity to restore and maintain a healthy oral microbiome.
Research is ongoing, but preliminary studies suggest potential benefits in preventing and managing gum disease. 5

Effective Prevention Strategies:

Preventing periodontal disease is paramount, and as dental professionals we can guide patients using these preventive measures:

Oral Hygiene Education: Emphasize proper brushing, flossing, and the use of antimicrobial mouthwash.
Routine Dental Hygiene Appointments: Stress the importance of routine dental visits for professional preventive care and early detection of gum disease.
Lifestyle Adjustments: Educate and share information about tobacco cessation as necessary, maintain a balanced diet. Share information about systemic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s Disease, which can exacerbate gum disease.

Conclusion:

Periodontal disease remains a significant oral health challenge, but ongoing research and evolving treatment modalities offer hope for improved patient outcomes. Dental professionals must stay informed about the latest developments to provide the best possible patient care.

Innovative approaches like Guided Biofilm Therapy and BioGaia ProBiotics show promise by enhancing treatment and prevention efforts. By working together, dental professionals and patients can effectively combat gum disease and our patients can live a longer, healthier life.

Our overarching message to patients is that optimal oral health leads to a longer-healthier life.

References.

Americans with Perio Disease. https://bit.ly/3PgUuI5 Accessed on September 15, 2015.
Guided Biofilm Therapy. https://www.ems-dental.com/en/guided-biofilm-therapy Accessed on September 18, 2023.
Effects of Diode Laser and mitochondria. https://bit.ly/LBRMitochondria Accessed September 18, 2023.
End Point Therapy. https://tinyurl.com/AAPEndPt See page 557. Accessed on September 18, 2023.
BioGaia ProBiotics. https://tinyurl.com/BIOGIA Accessed on September 18, 2023.

For more information about this consider a complimentary 30 minutes coaching session with Debbie Seidel Bittke, Founder and CEO of Dental Practice Solutions.

Click here to book your coaching session.

Effective Strategies for Dental Hygiene Patient Reactivation and Retention

By: Debbie Seidel

August 31, 2023

Maintaining a steady stream of patients is crucial for any dental practice’s success. One of the most valuable segments of your patient base is those seeking dental hygiene services.

This blog will guide you through effective strategies to reactivate and retain dental hygiene patients, ensuring the growth and profitability of your practice.

1. Segment Your Patient List: Start by segmenting your patient list into different categories, such as active, inactive, and overdue patients. This will help you find the best patients to contact first.
Personalized Communication: First begin with a personal phone call to the patients best contact phone number.

When patients don’t answer your phone call (Which happens often!) do leave a very brief message with your name and office phone number.
- Your message will sound something like this:
  - “Hello (Patient Name), This is Angie calling from ABC Smiles about your dental appointment, please give me a call back at (Your office #). Thank you and have a great day!
- Why this brief message?
  - Your goal is to get patients to return your call and #2 is HIPAA compliance. You don’t want to leave any personal information.
- Next is to text patients who have not answered their phone.
  - People are most likely to see a text message faster than listen to a voicemail message.
- Your text message will appear like this:
  - Hello (Patient Name), please contact our office at your earliest convenience. We miss you and hope to talk to you soon. Then sign your office information and include your office phone number.
When patients don’t respond to your text message do send an email. In your email you should send content that is valuable.
- It works well to send video content. Possibly a video created by the dental hygienist talking about why preventive care is important and then add a message to click a link and call to schedule their hygiene appointment.
- If you have patients who need to schedule for gum treatment find a video message (find this inside your patient engagement software) and add this to your email.
  - In the subject line be sure to add [Video] and a few more words that you believe add value to your patients so they will call and schedule their appointment.
- If you are open to having patients schedule online it will work well for hygiene preventive care appointments to click and schedule.
  - Be sure you have blocked out hygiene appointments that are specific to preventive care on your hygiene schedule.
If all else fails, send a letter to the patient with a place where they can check off why they are not scheduling and enclose a SASE so they can send back a reason why they are not scheduling. Inside your letter have them let you know (add a checklist so they can easily respond) they won’t be returning to your office.
- This has worked well for patients who are overdue by 18 months or more. Some patients will call your office immediately and let you know the exact reason they are not scheduling.
- Many patients will tell you they want their records transferred. This is a great way to eliminate patients in your database that won’t be coming back. Edit these patients and mark them as inactive.

Send Reminders and Offers: Utilize email and SMS reminders for upcoming dental hygiene appointments. Offer special discounts or promotions to incentivize patients to return. Limited-time offers can create a sense of urgency.

This one thing has worked very well to keep patients on your schedule. The entire system helps to add more new patients and will grow your cosmetic cases. To learn more about this, I have added a link at the end of this blog so you can learn more.

Social Media Engagement: Use your practice’s social media platforms to engage with patients. Share oral hygiene tips, success stories, and showcase your team. Share specific incentives here. Encourage patients to follow your accounts for updates and useful information.
Educational Content: Create blog posts or videos about the importance of regular dental hygiene – preventive care visits. Address common concerns and dispel myths. Educated patients are more likely to prioritize their oral health.
Loyalty Programs: Implement a loyalty program where patients earn rewards for consistent hygiene visits. Rewards can range from discounts on future visits to free dental products. Check that link at the end of this blog to learn more about this ONE THING,
Surveys for Feedback: Send out surveys to understand patient preferences and areas for improvement. Use their feedback to enhance the patient experience and show that you value their opinions. Ask patients to give you 5 Star Google Reviews. This will help you with SEO and more new patients will find your office.
Flexible Scheduling: Offer flexible appointment scheduling options, including evenings and weekends. This can accommodate patients with busy schedules, making it easier for them to commit to regular visits. If you’re a new office you will do well if you offer evening and weekend appointments.
Telehealth Consultations: Introduce virtual consultations for dental hygiene advice and quick check-ins. This can foster a sense of care and accessibility, encouraging patients to stay connected.

They say there is a big economic decline ahead of us. We don’t want to run business around fear but there are so many valuable ways to use Telehealth Consultations and in the One Thing (See link below) you can use this via Telehealth appointments.

Showcase Patient Results: With patient consent, share before-and-after photos showcasing the positive outcomes of regular dental hygiene visits. This visual evidence can motivate patients to maintain their oral health. Share these on your social media posts and also have a portfolio on a coffee table in your office to show off case studies and your awesome dentistry!
Stay Updated with Technology: Invest in dental technology that enhances the patient experience, such as digital records, online appointment booking, and chairside education tools. We recommend various apps such as Dental intel to track KPI’s and help the team drive your productivity.

We also recommend patient engagement videos to easily send emails with videos and sms messages. See our list of recommendations at the end of this blog.

Create a Referral Program: Encourage current patients to refer friends and family by offering referral rewards. Word-of-mouth recommendations can significantly boost patient acquisition.

Conclusion.

Reactivating and retaining dental hygiene patients requires a combination of personalized communication, engaging content, and strategic initiatives. By implementing these strategies, you can strengthen patient relationships, foster loyalty, and ensure the long-term profitability of your dental practice.

Remember, a healthy patient-dental practice relationship is built on trust, excellent care, and consistent communication.

Resources.

1.Dental Intel. #1 ranked KPI System. Please contact us here for a discount and One Free Month. In your message write: Dental Intel Info

2. Patient Engagement. Click here and find out more about this #1 rated system

3. Discover your hygiene departments true potential. Schedule Here

Build A Thriving Cosmetic Dental Practice: Understanding Your Patient’s Desires

By: Debbie Seidel

July 25, 2023

A successful cosmetic dental practice goes beyond providing excellent services; it requires understanding what patients truly desire. People are more likely to invest in what they want rather than what they are told they need. By implementing a smile evaluation and asking open-ended questions, dental practices can discover what patients truly want, leading to increased patient satisfaction and the opportunity to grow the practice further.

Read this blog, and explore the importance of understanding patient desires. Learn how enrolling patients into a patient membership/loyalty program such as the Celebrity Smiles Club will significantly contribute to the success of a cosmetic dental practice.

Understand What Your Patient Desires

As cosmetic dentists, our primary goal is to enhance smiles and boost self-confidence in our patients. However, it is crucial to remember that each individual has unique desires and expectations. Using a smile evaluation and asking open-ended questions can help us uncover those desires effectively.

A smile evaluation is a comprehensive process that involves a thorough examination of a patient’s oral health, cosmetic concerns, and overall smile goals. Ask questions to understand what your patient wants. Make it fun when you’re asking your patient what they want their smile to look like.

One fun example. Background: We just had a multi-million dollar lottery.

Scenario: As you are seating your patient, while establishing rapport, getting caught up, with a smile on your face ask:

“Mr. Smith, when you win the lottery this week, what do you want your smile to look like?” Wink.

You are certain to get a smile from your patient when you make the questions fun.

By asking open-ended questions and actively listening to patients, we can delve deeper into their preferences and aspirations.

The Power of Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions invite patients to express themselves freely, giving us valuable insights into their desires. Instead of asking yes or no questions, we can inquire about their dream smile, the aspects they wish to improve, or the emotions they associate with their current dental condition.

This approach not only strengthens the dentist-patient relationship but also enables us to tailor personalized treatment plans that align with their wishes.

“People buy what they want, not what they need.”

Introducing the Patient Membership/Loyalty Plan: The Smile Club

One way to offer patients exactly what they desire is by introducing them to The Smile Club. This exclusive club offers cutting-edge teeth whitening solutions, ensuring patients achieve the radiant smile they’ve always dreamed of. Teeth whitening is one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedures, and by incorporating this into your services, you tap into a significant market demand.

Teeth whitening is exploding since 2020! Never in our history have so many people sought-out whiter teeth. Unfortunately, patients are not buying their whitening products from their dentist. Let’s create a paradigm shift and tap into this simple, easy profit center.

A turn-key system is included when you use Celebrity Smiles Club whitening products. The system will grow your dental practice with more new patients and more patients will schedule cosmetic cases. The turn-key systems included with The Smile Club, when implemented, sustains high productivity in your dental practice for years to come.

No need to see more patients or increase your overhead when you implement The Smile Club web-portal of resources.

Benefits of Your Smile Club Patient Membership

Patient Loyalty!
- - Patients join The Smile Club and pay a nominal fee for a take home whitening kit.
  - No impressions, no trays to fabricate, no added patient chair time.
  - Patients agree to your “change of appointment procedure.” Last minute cancellations and no-shows become a distant memory.
  - Patients agree to pre-schedule and show up for their routine preventive care, dental hygiene appointments.
  - Patients buy more whitening products from your office at a reduced fee. buy and save.
  - You buy your teeth whitening products at wholesale and now you can afford to give away a whitening pen as a reward for pre-scheduling and keeping their appointments.
  - Patients buy and save. You passed along the savings and created more profitability with less overhead!
Quick and Effective Results: The Celebrity Smiles Club patient membership/loyalty plan, uses advanced teeth whitening techniques, delivering fast and impressive results.
Patient Reward
- Free whitening pens at routine hygiene appointments are the carrot used to grow your dental practice new patients, enroll more cosmetic cases and a lot more.
- The Smile Club keep patients returning to your dental office.
- You buy whitening products wholesale and pass the savings on to your patients. You give them a toothbrush and floss and what they really want are whiter teeth! Consider this a win-win.
Fast, effective, no-sensitivity
- Dental grade, no-sensitivity teeth whitening, is highly appealing to patients seeking immediate smile enhancements.
- Ten minutes to a whiter-brighter smile.
- Celebrity Smiles Club uses Carbamide Peroxide + Potassium Nitrate ingredients combined with Cool Light Technology Blue and Red LED Lights mouthpiece.
- * Red LED lights have evidence-based science stating they soothe, comfort and heal mouth sores, canker sores, etc. Great for post-op care! *
  - Think: Photobiomodulation.

** Teeth Whitening is projected to reach 11.6 Billion Dollars by 2030. **

Most people buy teeth whitening online or in a drugstore. What’s wrong with this picture?!

Let’s change this statistic and have our patients get their teeth whitening from their dental office. It’s easy money. No added time to your schedule or more patients in the chair.

Enroll for free and receive access to the resources, the system, included with The Smile Club. Discover how to create a $70,000+ net production profit center in your dental practice annually, and without more patient time or increased overhead when you tap into the sizzle of teeth whitening in North America!

Click the link at the end of this blog and implement the free resources.

Think: No impressions, no pouring models, no need to make whitening trays. No need for patients to return and pick up their whitening trays.

Increase This Simple Service & Profit Center: By offering a very popular and super simple service like teeth whitening using Celebrity Smiles Club whitening products, you will motivate and inspire more patients to consider cosmetic dentistry. Using the Smile evaluation opens the door to additional cosmetic services that both you and your patient may have initially overlooked.

Think: Teeth whitening simplified. More cosmetic cases: more veneers, Invisalign, implants, and crowns, etc.

Grow New Patient Numbers: Members of your patient rewards program, The Smile Club, are more likely to share their positive experiences with family and friends. This is a great way to attract new patients to your dental practice which will increase your reach within the community.
Market the Smile Club benefits everywhere possible: on your website, social media, and your monthly newsletter, etc.
- Use The Smile Club marketing images around your dental office and on your website.
Enhanced Patient Retention: Enrolling patients into the Smile Club establishes a long-term relationship with your patients. Patients are motivated to return for routine preventive care dental hygiene appointments because of The Smile Club benefits.
- When patients enroll they agree, they understand your procedure to change appointments.
- Patients prioritize their dental appointments.
Brand Loyalty: The Smile Club becomes synonymous with quality cosmetic dental care, fostering strong brand loyalty among your patients who enjoy its benefits.

Conclusion

Understanding what your patients truly want is at the heart of building a successful cosmetic dental practice. By completing smile evaluations and utilizing open-ended questions, you uncover your patients desires and craft personalized treatment plans to fulfill them.

The Celebrity Smiles Club plays a crucial role in achieving long-term dental practice success. This loyalty plan offers patients the opportunity to achieve a bright, white smile quickly and effectively. Enrolling patients into The Smile Club, will not only enhance the success of your cosmetic dental practice but also fosters patient loyalty. This is a system that will boost new patient numbers, creating a thriving and satisfying dental environment for everyone involved.

The Smile Club, when all its systems are thoroughly implemented, will not only grow your new patient numbers, but it will increase case acceptance for cosmetic cases and last-minute cancellations become a distant memory.

Enroll today to learn more about the Celebrity Smiles Club system. Start today and all the benefits created for your dental practice here.

There is no cost when you enroll today!

References.

* Photobiomodulation. Accessed July 1, 2023 here.
** Teeth Whitening projected to reach 11.6 Billion Dollars by 2030. Accessed on July 1, 2023 here.
Adjunctive Therapy with Blue LED Lights. Accessed July 1, 2023 here.

The Big Challenge Dentists Face with their Dental Hygiene Department

By: Debbie Seidel

July 19, 2023

Dental hygiene plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health and preventing various dental diseases. Dentists understand the importance of a well-functioning dental hygiene department, as it serves as the foundation for delivering quality dental care to patients.

However, amidst the daily demands of running a dental practice, dentists face a significant challenge in optimizing the efficiency and productivity of their dental hygiene department.

In this blog, we will explore this challenge and discuss potential solutions to overcome it.

The Challenge:

One of the major challenges that dentists encounter in managing their dental hygiene department is maintaining a balance between patient care and operational efficiency. Dental hygienists are responsible for performing a range of preventive and therapeutic procedures, including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and patient education.

However, the time-consuming nature of these procedures can lead to scheduling conflicts, prolonged patient wait times, and decreased overall productivity.

Furthermore, dentists often find it challenging to align the workload of their dental hygienists with the number of patients needing dental hygiene services.

*If you are up-to-date with treating oral inflammation, you will need to expand your number of appointments for hygiene patients. How can you fit in more appointments in a day? Hygienists are not plentiful these days and efficiency becomes imperative to meet the needs of treating the high number of gingivitis and perio patients.

Variations in patient flow, cancellations, and no-shows can disrupt the workflow and result in underutilization or overburdening of hygienists’ schedules. This can hinder optimal patient care and compromise the financial stability of your dental practice.

Solutions:

To address the challenges faced by dentists in their dental hygiene department, several strategies can be implemented:

Efficient Appointment Scheduling: Implementing an efficient appointment scheduling system can help optimize the utilization of dental hygienists’ time. By analyzing patient data and historical patterns, dentists can better anticipate demand and allocate appropriate time slots for dental hygiene procedures. Implementing electronic reminders and confirmations can also reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
- Ask us how to simplify analyzing important data and how your team can have an important role in driving the productivity of your dental practice.
- What you measure, matters, and what matters creates your future success.
- Your team should look at the numbers just like they view the dashboard in their car before they arrive at the office each day!
The Celebrity Smiles Club, a patient rewards, loyalty program will reduce those costly last-minute cancellations. Ask us more about this in the link below or schedule a coffee chat below.
Delegating Tasks: Dentists can delegate certain tasks to dental assistants, allowing dental hygienists to focus on their core responsibilities.

For example: a dental hygiene assistant can seat patients, perform preliminary patient screenings, take radiographs, set up and breakdown treatment rooms, sterilize instruments and set-up the hygiene trays with instruments, etc.

By delegating these tasks, dental hygienists can maximize their time spent on direct patient care.

Technology Integration: The integration of advanced technologies within the dental hygiene department can significantly enhance efficiency.
- For example: Empower hygienists to use various digital imaging systems; digital scanners, to streamline the process of capturing and introducing abnormalities, potential treatment plans and diagnoses that will be made during the hygiene-patient- doctor exam.
  - Help patients see what is happening in the mouth. Bring them into a partnership early in the hygiene appointment.
  - Help the doctor with educating the patient and helping them own their disease before the doctor exam begins.

The hygienist has the ability to take annual digital scans and/or an intra-oral video of the patients mouth. Hygienists’ will give the patient a tour of their mouth and show them what is happening in their mouth.

All data collection and patient communication about potential oral abnormalities should be introduced to each patient by the dental hygienist, and always prior to the hygiene-patient-doctor exam. This saves time with the doctor exam and builds trust with the patient.

The hygienist has a great opportunity to help patients “own their disease.” Patients who see what is happening in their mouth vs. being “told” what they need are 75% more likely to schedule and pay for your care.

“People buy what they want, not what they need.”

Continuing Education and Training: Encourage ongoing professional development and training for dental hygienists. This is vital to stay updated on the latest advancements in dental hygiene techniques.

Note: There are a lot of new advancements and technologies which will enhance patient care and dental hygiene appointment efficiency. Dentists must support their hygienists to attend workshops, conferences, and online courses so they stay at the forefront of their field.

Performance Monitoring and Feedback: Regular 360 performance evaluations and feedback sessions can help identify areas for improvement within the dental hygiene department. Dentists should provide constructive feedback, recognize achievements, and set realistic goals to motivate their hygienists and enhance their performance.

Allow the employees to offer their feedback and suggestions for improvement. 360 degree employee evaluations allow employees to be heard. Empower each employee to become a leader in a specific area of the dental practice.

Conclusion:

The dental hygiene department is a critical component of a dental practice. Optimizing the hygiene department efficiency and productivity is an ongoing challenge for dentists.

By implementing efficient appointment scheduling, delegating tasks, integrating technology, investing in continuing education, and providing performance feedback, dentists can overcome many of their challenges and ensure the highest quality of patient care while maintaining a thriving practice.

Dentists do not need to manage but when they delegate they now inspect, what they expect of their employees. Many employees report that they don’t understand what the dentist expects from them.

Finding the right balance between patient care and operational efficiency in the dental hygiene department is an ongoing journey, but one that is essential for the long-term success and growth of a dental practice.

Dentists and dental hygienists should not feel as if they live on an island. Dental Practice Solutions has various solutions to optimize your hygiene department, streamline systems and grow your dental practice.

Consider a quick coffee chat and discover how you can quickly achieve your next level of success.

Click and schedule here.

Or feel free to contact us here and discover how to upgrade your hygiene department and empower your team.

* Reference. Percent of Adults with Oral Inflammation: https://bit.ly/47percentgumdisease Accessed July 19, 2023.

Boost Your Dental Practice with These Practical Patient Retention Tips

By: Guest Author

February 23, 2023

Boost Your Dental Practice with These Practical Patient Retention Tips

Dentistry is a competitive field, and the goal of any dental office is to get new patients and keep the ones they already have. This blog will share practical tips to keep your patients coming back for more, even during a dental emergency.

Provide Excellent Customer Service

Improving customer service is crucial to making patients feel valued and appreciated. It can be the difference between a patient feeling like just a number and a patient feeling like a valued member of your healthcare community. One method is giving them individualized attention and paying close attention to their needs and concerns.

Another way is to teach patients about their health and treatment options so they can make decisions that are best for them. Also, going above and beyond to make things go smoothly and without stress can make all the difference.

Remember, exceptional customer service builds trust and leads to long-lasting patient relationships. Show your patients that they matter and that their health is your top priority, and you’ll have satisfied and loyal patients for years to come. A few ways to improve your customer service include:

Greet patients warmly and make them feel comfortable
Listen to their concerns and answer their questions thoroughly
Offer refreshments or entertainment options in the waiting room
After the patient’s appointment, check in with them to see how they’re doing

Offer Convenient Scheduling Options

Offering convenient scheduling options to patients is crucial in today’s fast-paced world. With demanding work schedules, busy family lives, and a never-ending to-do list, patients want the ability to book appointments that fit into their busy lives.

By providing flexible scheduling options, you demonstrate your understanding of your patients’ needs and show that you value their time. It can increase patient satisfaction and build trust, leading to stronger patient-provider relationships and higher patient retention rates.

At the end of the day, giving patients the power to choose appointment times that work for them can make all the difference in the success of your practice. To make it easier for patients to see you, consider offering:

Online appointment scheduling
Extended hours and weekend availability
Same-day appointments for dental emergencies

Keep Your Office Clean and Inviting

A clean, inviting office environment can significantly impact the overall patient experience. Simple touches such as fresh flowers, comfortable seating, and updated décor can help patients feel more at ease. Maintaining a clean and sanitary office is crucial for patient safety and satisfaction.

Personalize Your Care

Personalized care is a cornerstone of excellent patient care and integral to building strong and lasting patient relationships. By taking the time to understand each patient’s unique needs and concerns, healthcare providers can provide care tailored specifically to the individual.

It involves a collaborative approach between the patient and the healthcare provider, ensuring that the patient is active in their care and that their needs are met at every stage of the healthcare journey. By delivering personalized care, healthcare providers can build trust with their patients and establish a rapport that will last well beyond a single visit.

Ultimately, this type of care can result in better health outcomes and a more satisfied patient population. Here are some strategies for individualized care:

Get to know your patients and their individual needs
Use technology to make appointments and treatment plans more efficient
Offer patient education and resources to help them understand their dental health
Celebrate special occasions and milestones with your patients, such as birthdays and anniversaries

Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest Dental Trends and Technologies

Staying up-to-date with the latest dental trends and technologies can set your practice apart and show your patients that you are committed to providing the best care possible. Consider investing in:

Advanced dental equipment and tools
Continuing education opportunities for you and your staff
Integrating new technologies into your practice, such as digital X-rays or chairside monitoring systems

Conclusion

Retaining dental patients is crucial for the success of your practice. You can build strong, long-lasting relationships with your patients by providing excellent customer service, offering convenient scheduling options, keeping your office clean and inviting, personalizing your care, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.

By implementing these practical tips, you can create a positive, memorable experience for your patients and keep them coming back for more, even during a dental emergency. Your patients will appreciate the extra effort, and your practice will reap the benefits of a loyal, satisfied patient base.

About Dr. Salwin

Dr. Gary Salwin leads the Glendale Dental Group, Arizona. He and his team treat dental emergencies and perform a whole range of dental services. He has been practicing dentistry for more than 36 years.

5 EFFECTIVE PATIENT RETENTION STRATEGIES TO BOOST PRACTICE GROWTH

By: Debbie Seidel

August 19, 2022

While increasing case acceptance and attracting new patients are essential for practice growth, there’s no better strategy to scale your practice than improving patient retention.

Patient retention is one of the most important aspects of running a dental practice. Let’s face it: People don’t enjoy going to the dentist, which is why more important than not, patients conjure up a myriad of excuses for why they can’t show up to their dental appointments. But by missing dental appointments and neglecting dental preventive and restorative care, patients are negatively impacting, not only your practice — but also their own health.

The ultimate challenge as a dental professional is to help your patient understand the value of their appointment and what it could mean for their dental health and overall health.

Listen to this podcast and adopt a few tactics to BOOST patient retention and provide a better overall patient experience. This is what we discuss in the Raving Fans Podcast!

ABOUT DEBBIE

Debbie Seidel-Bittke, RDH, BS, is a practicing dental hygienist and founder of dental practice solutions.

Click the link below to hear Dr. Len Tau and Debbie discuss how to get new patients in your door, as well as how to reactivate overdue hygiene patients. Debbie will also share her top five patient retention strategies to BOOST your practice growth.

When you listen, you will also learn how to reduce those last-minute appointment changes in your daily schedule and a few tips to improve your current patient experience so patients “want” to return to your dental office.

‍KEY TAKEAWAYS

INTRO (00:00)
WHY THERE’S CURRENTLY A SHORTAGE OF DENTAL HYGIENISTS (02:41)
HOW TO PREVENT PATIENTS FROM CANCELING THEIR APPOINTMENTS (05:59)
THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING AN APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE (14:21)
COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR NEW PATIENT GROWTH (18:31)
HOW TO REDUCE LAST APPOINTMENT MINUTE CHANGES (22:38)
TIPS ON GETTING PATIENTS TO ATTEND THEIR REVALUATION VISITS (25:05)
LIGHTNING ROUND QUESTIONS (39:03)

Tune in HERE to listen now!

Check out the information to keep patients on your schedule and our biggest growth strategy called Lifetime Whitening. All the web portal information is no cost when you use our Celebrity Smiles Teeth Whitening System. Learn more here.

5 Strategies to Keep Patients Returning and These Will Also Grow Your Dental Practice.

Your COVID-19 Recovery Plan: It Takes a Team Approach

By: admin

May 1, 2020

your-covid-19-recovery-plan-it-takes-a-team-approach

The world was hit hard with a global pandemic called Corona Virus aka COVID-19.

Dental offices around the world have been ordered to close except for emergency care.

How Can We Recover After COVID-19?

Two important words that come to mind are:

Communication and
Collaboration

Communicate with your team, with your patients and your community.

Your COVID-19 recovery plan takes a team approach. What has been your norm for communication with your team and your patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?

“No communication?!”

Yes, I hear this answer from most dental hygienists.

Dental hygienists and most of us, feel stressed during this season of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Communication and collaboration are usually led by the team leader: AKA: The dentist however, most dentists did not go to dental school to be a business owner.

Similar to the economic decline back in 2007, dentists usually don’t grab the bull by the horns, no, they feel “stuck” and many dentists during the economic decline said the phrase, “I feel frozen.”

How do the team members respond to no communication?

How does anyone respond to “frozen?” And how does this serve our purpose to create success in 2020?

Team Members, Dental Hygienists Unite

During difficult and challenging times, when there is no communication, many people feel stressed and fear the worst.

It’s human nature. It’s the way we are wired. Us humans, we like to know what is ahead. We want to look into a crystal ball and see what the end looks like.

Hygienists are my colleagues because I am a dental hygienist, not only a dental hygiene productivity coach.

What I hear from dental hygienists is that their dentist has not contacted them. They are fearful for their future.

They have been furloughed and yet, knowing dental offices are about to open for routine patient care, my dental hygienist colleagues, don’t know what to expect.

Some dental hygienists don’t know what to expect when they do return to routine patient care in their dental “home” or what once felt like “home.”

Your Plan of Action

Step 1. “We are all in this together.”

It may seem like your dentist, practice owner is MIA, however, let’s choose to take the lead.

Since we do more than “clean teeth” and, if we believe that our role as a dental hygienist is extremely valuable and, if we are considered to be like a mini-associate, let’s reach out to the doctor-dental practice owner.

Step 2. Take the lead.

Lead with the end in mind.

We spend more time with our dental team than we do with our actual family members so reach out to your doctor and your other teammates if, you have not done that by now.

Reach out to your doctor/practice owner, with compassion, empathy and an understanding.

Imagine what it feels like to have an elephant on your shoulder. Yes, most dentists have an overhead that runs (for many dentists) 60-70% of their total production.

Imagine how it feels to have bills that equal tens-of-thousands-of dollars, more than you have come into your bank account, month after month.

Yes, some of us have a mortgage and other bills, and yes, many dentists qualified for PPP loans, but that money was not there for a business owner with the snap of a finger.

We are all going through our own stress so let’s have understanding, compassion and empathy for what each one of us may be going through.

If you plan to return to your dental office once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, plan now to reach out to your doctor, your teammates and reach out to your patients.

You will most likely not be paid to reach out to your patients you have been seeing for years; but they miss you! These patients you may not have been in contact with for the past six-weeks, are beginning to wonder about you and the dental practice.

These patients, who you consider your friends, are wondering what you will do differently in your office after COVID-19.

Since they have not heard from your dental office it is very possible they are seeing marketing from another dental office in the community sharing what they are doing differently.

Many offices are spending time and money to revamp their office with special evacuation systems and Hep Filters that run throughout the office.

How do you know they will not choose another dentist during this time because they saw or read about the changes with the patient care at this other office?

If you are not in communication with your patients, another dental office IS sharing their message about what they will do differently after COVID-19.

Communication with your patients is a key factor if you plan to have a schedule with paying patients anytime soon.

Reach out to not only your doctor and patients but your other teammates.

Conclusion

There must be a recovery plan in place.

It may not be the doctor who takes the lead to plan for recovery.

Your recovery plan begins today; actually, it began yesterday.

Call, text, and send newsletters to your patients.

Your patients are people you care about. You have a relationship with them.

Dentistry is not a commodity, it’s a business that thrives on relationships. Relationships with humans who have feelings, emotions and have a positive response to kindness and caring.

Now is the time to let your patients know how much you care about them.

Now is the time to communicate and plan with your team.

Communication with your patients means understanding how your patients like to communicate.

This communication does not have to be a phone call however, that is a great start to connecting with the people you care about.

Your communication can be a text message and even a text message or email with a video message about how much you miss them and can’t wait to see them. Tell your patients what you are going to do differently to keep them safe.

When you use newsletters and/or email, patients love and feel emotions when you include pictures and video messages. Imagine how much a simple 30-60 second video message from a team member will mean to your patient.

And imagine the impact of a video message from the dentist- owner of your dental practice.

I am positive that no other dental office in your community has sent patients a video message that appears authentically kind and caring.

When a doctor is able to send a video message to their patients it will make a huge impact.

Your video message can be a generic message and it will still pertain to every patient. This will be one general message but delivered to all patients.

Your message is to let patients know you miss them; you hope to see them soon and let them know to check your website for all the PPE and office changes you have made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When anyone goes to your website you must let everyone know what you are doing differently after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Include your pre-assessment and all office forms on your website so patients can easily complete these. When the patients complete their forms they should be able to easily return to your office and the information is synced with your practice management software.

Use pre-assessments before patients enter into your front door after COVID-19.

Implementing one or all of these suggestions will set you apart from other dental offices in your community.

Why Should a Team Member/Employee Take the Lead?

Your recovery plan may become for the dentist because dentists did not go to dental school to be a business owner.

Now is the time to take the lead and plan to recover.

You can’t wait another day to connect and communicate with your patients.

You may also plan to join one of the hundreds of webinars-trainings as a team and this can help turbo-charge your plan to recover after COVID-19.

This is not a time to wave your white flag and surrender.

Now is the time to get your head out of the sand and create your success plan for 2020!

Without a plan, you will plan to fail.

Let’s do this.

We are all in this together and you got this!

Let me know if you need more information about sending video text messages to your patients and I will share a special eBook with you that outlines how to do this now and then after the pandemic.

Video texting and emails are the way to get your patients attention. Video messaging is the most popular communication method in today’s world.

Email me at debbie@dentalpracticesolutions.com

What does your office have a plan to schedule the backlog of patients you had to reschedule during COVID-19?

Plan to join our training? We have for the doctor and the entire team.

Join us and start to create your recovery plan after COVID-19.

Registration and more information are found here.

This is a webinar-based training. Your tuition includes a ZOOM log in for each paid registrant, handouts, eBooks and other bonuses.

After the webinar series is complete you have access to a website with all of your training information at your fingertips.

Tuition also includes 6 Live CE Credits.

See you there!

Schedule a FREE Profit Boosting Session Here today or call our office to schedule: 949-351-8741

ABOUT DEBBIE SEIDEL-BITTKE, RDH, BS

Debbie Seidel-Bittke, RDH, BS is founder and CEO of Dental Practice Solutions. Debbie is also a former dental hygiene program director. Her expertise is optimizing the hygiene department by taking a total team approach; including the doctor as the leader.

Please check out the FREE RESOURCE on treating the gingivitis patient which also leads to a CE Course on Gingivitis (2 CE Credits). Grab a FREE RESOURCE here today because when you do, you will be one of the first to know about our FREE Training RE: Treating the Gingivitis Patient.

Reactivate Your Overdue Hygiene Patients

By: admin

August 27, 2019

Summer in North America is coming to a close.

The kids are going back to school and family vacations are over.

2019 is more than half-way over and that means you have less months in 2019 to meet your dental practice goals.

What are you doing this month to reactivate your overdue hygiene patients?

In today’s blog I will list a few things you must do today to get your patients on your schedule before December 31st of 2019.

Your To Do List:

Run your overdue hygiene patient report.
1. If you need an easy way to run this report please do reach out to our office. Let’s schedule 15 minutes so I can show you a few easy ways to get this information right now and also each month moving forward. Send us an email to schedule this.
Schedule a time on your daily schedule to make a personal call to the patients who are currently overdue.
1. When calling use words that show you care about your patient.
2. Use words that add value and benefits to scheduling the appointment.
3. Try to think “outside the box” of calling to say, “You are overdue for your appointment.”
  1. Explain the reason they really need to return to see the hygienist.
    1. Use words like, “Overall health, Preventive Care, Your Wellness Exam with Mollie your hygienist and Dr. Smith, Cavity Detecting x-rays to prevent unnecessary money on root canals, toothloss and abnormalities, etc.”
    2. Be creative when you use words to encourage, motivate and move patients to schedule this valuable, life-saving appointment.
Schedule email and text campaigns.
1. This is your most efficient use of your time and you can reach hundreds of patients with the click of a button.
2. Again, if you are not familiar with how to do this please do reach out to our office so I can spend 15 minutes with you and explain a simple way to do this NOW and moving forward, you will do this each week. Send an email to our office to schedule 15 minutes.
WIIFM

This is most important!

People will make many excuses to not schedule their dental appointments. Many years ago I created a system called “Forever White” which allows dental patients to receive tooth whitening for FREE.

It’s human nature for people to ask, “What’s in it for me?” This is especially true with dental appointments so when your patients are overdue know that you must have a very good reason to break your patients away from something they “think” it more important…..i.e. A Dental Appointment.

When patients are in the dental chair you have a captive audience to share the value and benefits of scheduling and paying for treatment. Once patients are not in your dental office, it becomes more important to get your patients attention and “want” to schedule a dental appointment.

Our Forever White program is proprietary. We buy the hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gel from a well-known dental supply company. We are then able to add the gel (you choose which type of peroxide you wish and the percentage) to a customized syringe.

The syringes are 3.1 ml of gel and they are laser imprinted with your office name, website address and office phone number. We add your logo and the laser imprinting is in the color of your choice.

Again, contact our office if you want to learn more about implementing this service for your patients. We will show you how to grow your practice and keep patients returning for the appointments……..on time!

5. THE FREE OFFER

Your free offer, whitening or anything you decide is best for your office to give the patient as a reward for scheduling is communicated in your email/text campaign.

6. Video Engages

We have learned that in today’s world, video is a type of message you provide your patients makes it more likely that patients will actually open/read your email or text.

7. Dental Practice University

I invite you to enroll in our Dental Practice University because the first 14 days are FREE.

Included in the first 14 days is a video training with scripts to send the email/text campaigns.

We will also provide you with our Ebook during the first 14 days to reactivate your overdue hygiene patients.

Get started HERE.

It’s imperative that you work your overdue hygiene recare system every week.

Appoint one person who is your implementer for this dental hygiene patient reactivation system.

Dental hygienists should also be a part of this system. Dental Hygienists are a big help when reactivating overdue dental hygiene patients.

Conclusion

The best way to not work so hard on reactivating your overdue hygiene patients is for the hygienists to always schedule the patients’ next visit.

When talking to patients about scheduling their next visit: Hygiene appointments or restorative, etc., always let patients know the value and benefits for them to schedule the appointment.

Example:

“Mr. Jones, today we treated you for the gingivitis because as you know, we are concerned about your bleeding gums and the inflammation in your mouth today. We know that your diabetes will improve as the health of your gums improves. I want to see you again for preventive care and re-evaluate your gum health in four weeks. I have Tuesday September 24th at 10am available, does this day and time work for you?”

Notice how in this example above, I used the words that were used in conversation during the patients’ appointment.

During the medical history review, I discussed the diabetes condition, medications, etc. We evaluated his gum health (Comprehensive Periodontal Exam. CPE) before determining the type of cleaning Mr. Jones would receive.

The results of the gum exam (CPE) determined that Mr. Jones needed gingivitis treatment today (see our FREE RESOURCE about Treating the Gingivitis Patient here.)

We know that if a patient has bleeding, inflammation and infection, we will do a post-op, re-evaluation visit in the next 2-6 weeks. In this situation above, we want to see Mr. Jones in approximately four weeks to be sure his gums have responded to the gingivitis treatment we provided.

At this next appointment if the re-evaluation of his gums (CPE) shows healthy gums, you will now complete a prophylaxis appointment and determine if he should return in three, four, six or another interval for his next hygiene appointment.

When handing-off your patient to the front desk and whenever you are scheduling a next visit always state the reason for your patient to return.

Now is the time to reactivate your overdue hygiene patients. Do not delay. Time is moving so quickly this year of 2019!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Debbie_Bittke-682x1024.jpg

ABOUT DEBBIE SEIDEL-BITTKE, RDH, BS

Debbie Seidel-Bittke, RDH, BS is founder and CEO of Dental Practice Solutions. Debbie is also a former dental hygiene program director. Her expertise is optimizing the hygiene department by taking a total team approach; including the doctor as the leader

Schedule a FREE Profit Boosting Session Here today or call our office to schedule: 949-351-8741