Hygiene Protocols
Successful dental practices institute and maintain hygiene protocols and systems throughout the life of the practice. This requires ongoing communication through staff meetings and hygiene team meetings to understand and reinforce the doctor’s philosophy of care. The role of the hygienist should be an ambassador. They spend a great deal of time in one-on-one conversations with patients to support the dentist’s recommendations while empowering the patient with healthy hygiene habits. Over time, trust and loyalty are established, and you will find your patients look forward to their dental visits.
Draft a periodontal philosophy of care statement to allow the hygienist to quickly understand your goals. Support this philosophy through published articles and resources you share with your hygiene team. Once the philosophy of care is established, continue to monitor the success of implementation by evaluating the program quarterly. Keep a list of downtime priorities for the hygienist when there is an opening in the hygiene schedule. Use the following sections to create healthy systems and provide resources for your hygiene team.
Resources
Periodontal Philosophy Meeting Agenda
Reference Articles
Periodontal Disease Fact Sheet. American Academy of Periodontology.
CDC: Half of American Adults Have Periodontal Disease. American Academy of Periodontology.
Prevalence of Periodontal Disease, Its Association with Systemic Diseases and Prevention. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
