DentaltownUK July 2018 - 21

Agreed. We now book NPs 15 minutes before the hour, so a 1 p.m. appointment is scheduled
for 12:45. This way if patients run late or do not fill out the paperwork off our website, we can
still treat on time. ■

Richy
Member Since: 30/3/10
Post: 12 of 31

15/2/2018

Yes, thank you. I will have the conversation tomorrow. I asked her for any additional scalers
or tools so that we can have extra ones in case we don't have time to run sterilization.
And, new patients are typically on my column. She doesn't come to perio probe; I do that. I
think the bonus system with base pay will work out better. She is not really engaged when I talk
to patients at the checkup appointment.
Just a quick question: How do you (or any practice owner) keep track of things? I get slammed
with my own column patient care, dealing with admin stuff and doing notes. No OM here. ■

Ridin'Shotgun
Member Since: 15/10/11
Post: 15 of 31

15/2/2018

It's been my experience that hygienists are the least apt to change their ways when it comes
to dental staff. Long-term staff get used to one track of thinking and get very comfortable with
'the way it is.' They are also the most highly paid-sometimes overpaid-for the work they do.
Give them an opportunity to move toward your business model, but be ready to cut ties if need
be. I find it's easier to hire people you want on your team than change people you inherited.
I do 45 minutes for prophies and my staff never complains. We are digital, which makes things
flow. I refer most perio so as to maintain efficiency and for simplicity. Sixty minutes in the era of
PPO dentistry is crushing to your bottom line. In a high-end FFS practice I think it can work, but
I don't have that kind of practice. Even in an FFS practice, I think 50 minutes is plenty with the
advent of digital X-rays and charts, which cuts down on the time necessary outside the mouth. ■

pietrodds
Member Since: 12/11/06
Post: 17 of 31

16/2/2018

Depending on your demographics and population, 30 minutes is sufficient for a lot of
patients-get out your ultrasonic scaler and get to work. A lot of patients have electric toothbrushes
(people are more aware of their teeth and oral hygiene in a lot of practices) and if they're coming in
every six months-recommend four months if they need it-they really shouldn't have much to
scale or work on, other than #2/15 buccal and the lower anteriors. Get them in and out-especially
if you're a PPO office, because we all know the reimbursements are not enough to be lollygagging.
Also, we just had to have a meeting about this ourselves because our hygienists were slacking.
Our practice has done 45-minute exam/prophies (adult and kids) for more than 25 years. After
the meeting and basically drawing a line in the sand, everyone's back on schedule. ■

drteeths
Member Since: 21/10/12
Post: 18 of 31

16/2/2018

I would be nuts if I had an hour on all prophy patients. I like moving and go, go, go. I like
running two rooms with an assistant, versus one room myself. I don't work on commission;
never have. I just like to be busy at work. Two years ago, I changed my office of six years because
I was seeing eight patients a day, an hour each with some root planing. I was bored. I have gone
complete opposite. I love it. I thrive in a busy, "the schedule may change, can we squeeze in a
prophy?" type of office. I like change, I like being busy. I like doing some assisting, I like getting
patients numb. I like running around. It's heaven to me. I hate being bored. ■

ricky-ticky-tavy
Member Since: 08/11/05
Post: 23 of 31

16/2/2018

Weigh in online!
Search: 'Long Hyg Appt'
Many Townies chimed in to give 'Ridin'Shotgun' some perspective on how long a typical hygiene
appointment should be. Do you agree? To share your thoughts, go to dentaltown.com and
search the message boards for 'long hyg appt'-this conversation will be the top result.

dentaltownuk.com \\ SUMMER 2018

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of DentaltownUK July 2018