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It’s tempting to focus growth strategies on new patients – historically, 60-65% of US adults visit the dentist regularly [i] – but you can expand your productivity significantly by establishing clear treatment protocols for the patients already in your practices.
Periodontal protocols offer immediate opportunities. Chronic periodontitis affects 64 million American adults, with tens of millions more Americans with chronic gingivitis. Using clear protocols to focus on data collection, diagnosis, treatment planning, and maintenance provides significant benefits to patients and to you as the practitioner.
And it is so important that patients receive this care to keep their dentition and to relieve the chronic low-grade burden that gingivitis and periodontitis place on patients’ immune systems. Treatment for periodontitis has been associated with improvements in systemic health outcomes for patients with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and COVID -19 complications.[ii]
Much like crafting a strategic business process, established protocols within a dental setting fosters consistency and excellence in patient care.
A periodontal protocol that begins with assessment and diagnosis can catch periodontal disease in the earliest stages, when it can be reversed, and also transform a cycle of inadequate prophies into needed periodontal therapies.
Protocols focus teams, minimize distraction, and simplify treatment plans for easy presentation and acceptance. Guidelines that are written down and followed encourage treatment that is otherwise overlooked. They also decrease confusion for all – from the team to the patient – by providing time saving guidelines and consistency in care.
Once guidelines are in place, they establish a standard for clinicians and the organization, building confidence that patients are being diagnosed with a treatment plan. These first steps of diagnosis and treatment, need to be followed by effective disease management.
Toothbrushing, rinsing and interproximal cleaning are not enough, as is clearly indicated by the high rates of disease across the US. Adding Perio Tray™ therapy from Perio Protect to your protocols for patient homecare significantly improves patient health – reducing bleeding on probing, inflammation, pocket depth and halitosis[iii] – and significantly boosts practice productivity.[iv]
Periodontal protocols available here offer templates to show how easy it is to incorporate periodontal medicament carriers into your practice.
DSOs offering Perio Protect benefit from turn-key implementation strategies for operational and clinical teams, a dedicated DSO liaison, CE opportunities, and continual onboarding support. See www.perioprotect.com/DSO for more information.
In a landscape where time is a luxury and precision is the standard, established protocols are not just prudent—they are profitable. By adopting clear procedures, you streamline your operations, ensuring that each movement is both deliberate and fruitful. This pivotal shift toward efficiencies not only heightens your team’s performance but also guarantees that the care provided to your patient is timely and precise.
Patients benefit. Clinicians benefit. Organizations benefit.
Written by Samuel B. Low, DDS, MS, M.Ed. Dr. Low is Professor Emeritus, University of Florida, College of Dentistry; Advisor Member of the Pankey Institute. He is past President of the American Academy of Periodontology and the Academy of Laser Dentistry. Dr. Low provides periodontists, dentists and dental hygienists with the tools for successfully managing the periodontal patient. He was selected “Dentist of the Year” by the Florida Dental Association, Distinguished Alumnus by the University of Texas Dental School, and the Gordon Christensen Lecturer Recognition Award. He is a Past President of the Florida Dental Association and past ADA Trustee. His website is: www.drsamlow.com
[i] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/data-finder.htm?year=2020-2021&table=Table%20DentAd#citation
[ii] Herrera, David, Mariano Sanz, Lior Shapira, Carlos Brotons, Iain Chapple, Thomas Frese, Filippo Graziani, et al. “Periodontal Diseases and Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, and Respiratory Diseases: Summary of the Consensus Report by the European Federation of Periodontology and WONCA Europe.” European Journal of General Practice 30, no. 1 (2024). doi:10.1080/13814788.2024.2320120.
[iii] www.perioprotect.com/research
