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Unlocking the Future of Periodontal Care: Introducing the Gum Score
For many patients, routine dental visits are synonymous with cleanings—a time to leave the office with polished teeth and fresh breath. However, these appointments hold far greater importance, serving as a cornerstone for overall health and wellness. With nearly half of American adults over age 30 suffering from periodontitis—a chronic inflammatory condition affecting 64.7 million people—dental teams must shift their approach to focus on comprehensive periodontal care.
Transforming Hygiene Visits with the Gum Score
Perio Protect’s innovative Gum Score redefines dental hygiene by introducing a straightforward, impactful metric for monitoring and improving patient periodontal health. Grounded in bleeding-on-probing (BOP) data, the Gum Score empowers dental teams to consistently track gum health, identify at-risk patients earlier, and prioritize long-term care strategies.
This simple yet powerful tool turns routine hygiene visits into proactive health check-ins. By discussing each patient’s Gum Score at every appointment, hygienists can engage patients with a familiar, easy-to-understand health indicator akin to tracking blood pressure or cholesterol. This approach drives early intervention and patient education, helping patients understand the significance of maintaining low Gum Scores for periodontal stability and optimal health.
Maximizing Hygiene Department Impact
For hygiene departments, the Gum Score represents a transformative opportunity to elevate their role within the practice. It allows hygienists to independently assess gum health, provide targeted treatment, and monitor patient progress with minimal doctor involvement. By integrating Perio Protect’s Perio Tray™ therapy, hygienists empower patients to deliver medication deep below the gum line to combat infections that traditional cleaning methods cannot reach. This non-invasive treatment reduces inflammation, pocket depths, and bacterial loads, enhancing patient outcomes while boosting productivity.
Enhancing Practice Growth and ROI
The Gum Score isn’t just about improving patient health—it’s also a strategic tool for driving practice success. When dental service organizations (DSOs) partner with Perio Protect, they gain access to a comprehensive support system built on four pillars:
- Clinical Training and Support: Hands-on training equips hygienists to confidently manage patient Gum Scores and incorporate Perio Tray™ therapy into daily workflows.
- Financial Modeling: Insightful modeling reveals the revenue potential and financial benefits of a high-performing hygiene department.
- Operational Specifications: Streamlined protocols ensure seamless integration with existing practice workflows, maximizing efficiency and minimizing chair time.
- Marketing Asset Integration: Customizable marketing tools help DSOs effectively communicate the value of the Gum Score to patients, fostering engagement and practice growth.
By redefining hygiene visits through the Gum Score, dental organizations can position their teams as essential contributors to overall practice success.
Shifting the Focus from Cleaning to Health
Periodontal disease remains one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in North America, despite its far-reaching implications for both oral and systemic health. Addressing this silent epidemic requires a shift in how dental teams approach hygiene visits. The Gum Score provides a practical, patient-centered solution that combines simplicity with measurable results, enabling teams to:
- Diagnose and treat disease earlier.
- Educate patients on their oral health.
- Improve long-term outcomes with less invasive treatments.
Why It Matters
Periodontal health is foundational to preserving natural teeth, protecting restorations, and supporting overall health. Highlighting these benefits during patient conversations reinforces the value of proactive periodontal care:
- Preventing bone loss.
- Minimizing future scaling or surgical interventions.
- Prolonging the lifespan of dental implants and restorations.
- Enhancing confidence with a healthy smile and fresh breath.
Unlock Your Practice’s Potential
By adopting Perio Protect’s Gum Score, dental organizations can elevate patient care, enhance hygiene department performance, and drive sustainable practice growth. With Perio Protect’s comprehensive support, integrating this transformative tool into your practice is seamless and impactful.
Take the first step today. Schedule a business partner meeting to explore how Perio Protect can help unlock the full potential of your dental organization.
For more information, contact:
Phone: 314.256.0772 or Email: support@perio-protect.com
Read other articles by Perio Protect:
- Perio Protect Teams Up with Dr. Sam Low to Review Periodontal Protocols at Chicago Midwinter
- DSO Focus on Periodontal Disease Raises Case Acceptance and Improves Health
- The Untapped Dental Market in Your Offices