Dentaltown November 2021 - 60

Once you identify what
may get in the way of
implementing a solid,
obstacles that prevent a team from fully
implementing a program. Once you identify
what may get in the way of implementing a
solid, consistent perio program, enrollment
and treatment protocol are next to come.
When people face obstacles, the path of
consistent perio program,
enrollment and treatment
enrollment and treatment
protocol are next to come.
protocol are next to come.
In my experience, fully implementing
and maintaining a periodontal care program
in a GP practice requires a few core mindset
principles to be shared by the entire team:
* A belief in our obligation to
identify and provide solutions
for the treatment of active
periodontal infl ammation/infection.
* A belief that treating the
infl ammation or infection will
have a positive impact on the
patient's overall health.
* A belief that implementing an
effective perio care system is
worth the effort, changes and
learning that's required.
Starting with the large body of evidence
pointing to the oral-systemic link helps teams
stand fi rm to standards they've committed
to. When these beliefs are coupled with clear
systems and calibration, there is enormous
potential for growth in this area.
Which obstacles are you facing?
While mindset is the fi rst step down the
path to developing these systems to address
disease in your patients, there will likely be
lots of obstacles. I've never met a dental team
who intentionally neglected their patients'
periodontal health. It's usually a result of
least resistance is the easiest choice. We've
all been there, right? Often, avoidance is
simply a symptom of wanting to stay in
our comfort zone or not knowing the way
through the obstacle. We observe this every
day with the teams we support.
One of the most common obstacles to
a periodontal care program is the schedule
itself. Creating a sense of urgency for treating
an active infection is easy when you use the
communication tips in this article, but that
sense of urgency will be lost if the patient
discovers it will be eight weeks before that
infection can be addressed. If you went to
the ER for an infected toenail, would it make
sense to wait for eight weeks to debride and
treat that infection? Of course not. You'd
expect it to be addressed right away.
When there is no time reserved for
periodontal care, it reduces the value of
care for the patient and the provider. It's
so easy for hygienists to get stuck in the
" prophy trap. " It negatively affects their
career satisfaction, their productivity and
their patients' health. Hygienists want to
deliver care that will improve their patients'
health. If there aren't systems set up to
reserve time for perio care, hygienists will
often take matters into their own hands
and do the treatment within a prophy. This
snowballs into issues like running behind,
not meeting profi tability goals, and patients
and teams who believe everything can be
handled with a " good cleaning. "
Other obstacles to look out for:
* Lack of confi dence to present
treatment to long-standing patients.
* Inadequate time in hygiene visits
to properly complete periodontal
assessment and educate patients on
the appropriate care.
60 NOVEMBER 2021 // dentaltown.com
http://www.dentaltown.com
Dentaltown November 2021

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