Dental Treatment Planning 101 - The Initial Exam

Have you ever invested ninety minutes with a new patient exam to find both yourself and the patient completely over-whelmed and not knowing where to begin treatment? We have - and that's why we wanted to share what we feel is valuable information and easy steps to help your new patient exams flow smoothly into the treatment planning process. Amber and I have found that for most patients that are going to have a very involved treatment plan, it's often best to bring them back for a formal consultation to discuss their needs and treatment options.  Remember, you don't want to scare your patients on their first visit and most will only retain some of the information you presented to them. 

It's critical to be able to "read" your patient and know what is important to them.  Ask questions to find out what motivates them or prevents them from scheduling treatment. Is it fear, time restrictions, financial concerns, or lack of education and value?  Once you obtain this information about your patient, it will help you adapt the way you present treatment and communicate with that specific individual.

The Initial Exam
Amber or Gina will welcome our patient to the office, go over his or her medical and dental history and take a full series of xrays. Once Dr.Cockley has completed her comprehensive exam, she will briefly discuss any concerns that she sees with the patient.  Then she hands the remaining time of the appointment over to Amber or Gina.  This is our time to shine!  As a dental assistant, you are knowledgeable and fully able to explain in more detail what treatment Dr. Cockley has recommended.  We often use Caesy patient education software to help with our explanation, use the intraoral camera for photos, print and explain treatment estimates, and schedule the patients for their next appointment.  If your patient's treatment is more involved, and a formal consultation is needed, our next post- "Composing Your Treatment Plan" will discuss the steps you should take with your doctor to prepare their treatment options. 

Remember-throughout your patient's first visit, your goal is to build a relationship of trust and help them feel at ease. It is a privilege that our patients choose to come to us and it's important to thank them for doing so by providing them with exceptional customer service!

February was Dental Health Month!

To celebrate Dental Health Month we traveled to Freedom Valley School in Gettysburg, PA to talk to the kids about the importance of caring for their teeth. We showed videos and taught them the proper way to brush and floss.The children also learned about plaque control and the process of how teeth decay. We demonstrated proper brushing and flossing techniques and used trash bags and silly string to show them how to remove the plaque on their teeth. 

Using silly string to show how plaque forms on teeth

Cavity Creep

 Cathy dressed as the Cavity Creep and we discussed how cavities form and how to prevent them.  The kids' loved the treat bags we left them filled with dental supplies.



Amber and Gina demonstrate how to floss

Show Someone You Care

We see patients daily in a professional setting and take care of the needs of their mouth, but do we take the time to listen to what's going on in their lives or see how they are feeling after they have had treatment in our office? Making a quick phone call during down-time or sending a card to a patient really makes them feel good and let's them know you care. 

Here are just a few ideas on how to take your patient care to the next level:

1. Make a call to a patient 2 days before a lengthy appointment-

• prepare them for what will take place
• ask them to wear comfortable clothing
• tell them to eat something before the appointment
• have them bring an I-Pod (if you do not provide one)

This call helps to put them at ease and not stress so much the night before.

   2. Call the same patient after that long appointment or the next

       day to see how they are feeling.

   3. After scaling/root planing-call patient to see how they are feeling and

       stress the need for the re-eval appointment and review oral hygiene

       instructions.

   4. If the patient has lost a loved one in death, had a baby, had surgery, etc.

      Send them a card signed by all the staff members.

   5. If the patient had to be referred out of the office for a root canal

      or extraction-call them 1-2 days later and see how they are feeling.

These are just a few ways to show your patients you care. Rather than viewing this as just another thing you have to try to fit into your busy day "share the love"-this is an activity that the whole staff can share in.  

Welcome to the "Real World"

Congratulations Gina on completing 120 hours of didactic in-classroom training and achieving a 4.0 GPA in the expanded functions dental assisting program! She will now perform 80 hours of clinical externship in our office under the supervision of Dr. Lori Cockley. Gina will have the opportunity to apply her skills on "real" patients instead of her typodont model. She is excited and nervous but ready to take on a new challenge. Look for future posts about her experiences in the weeks to come. 

Newsflash!

Cathy - Congratulations on your engagement! We wish you and Dwight a happy life together and

wedded bliss!

(Check out that bling! Cathy is six months new to our team and we're very lucky to have her as part of our team at East Berlin Smiles)

Setting Up For Success

We recently sat down for a Q & A with our EFDA extern, Laine Watson.  Laine has been completing her 500 hours of  assisting and EFDA duties in our office since October of 2010, and will be finishing in January 2011.  It's been great having her as an extern at East Berlin Smiles.  We have seen her develop her assisting skills and increase her confidence through patient communication.  

Diva's: Laine, what attracted you to the dental field?

Laine: I think a person's smile is very important in the way they feel about themselves. So I want to help someone feel good about themselves.

Diva's: We agree. That is definitely a perk of dental assisting. Did you ever consider a career in dental hygiene? If so, why did you choose to become a dental assistant?

Laine: I initially considered going to school for hygiene but thought dental assisting would be a great opportunity to get the experience and knowledge of the dental field. In the future, I may go back to school for hygiene.

Diva's: We're not bias or anything, but we think you picked the right field! That is a great goal to have. Tell us more about your recent schooling.

Laine: My schooling was a full-time, 15 month EFDA program at Keystone Technical Institute in Harrisburg, PA. I learned all the basics of dental assisting like charting, chair side procedures, identifying different instruments and passing them.  Since it was an EFDA program, I also had training in placing and finishing amalgam and composite restorations. Everything I learned was very helpful, but I do wish there was a little more hands-on experience.

Diva's: Now that you are doing the extern portion of your training, how does the "real" office compare to what you did in school?

Laine: The "real" office is very different than school. First, I'm actually working on "real" patients not models which is a huge difference. Some of the materials used in Dr. Cockley's office are different from what we used in school and that makes procedure steps a little different from what I was taught. Digital x-ray sensors are placed differently in the patients mouth than traditional film.

Diva's: It certainly is easy to work without the distractions of a tongue and saliva! What has your extern experience been like?

Laine: My extern experience has been great! Everyone in the office is very knowledgeable and helpful. I have learned so much and I am very thankful to be at such a great office that is willing to work with me and explain things to me.

Diva's: What have you learned here that you will take with you and apply to your new job?

Laine: Everything that I have learned while on extern I will take with me and apply to my future career. You two are great at what you do-watching and listening to you interact with patients has taught me how to feel more comfortable talking and explaining things to patients.

Diva's: Thanks Laine. You are doing a great job. What would you like to see on our blog that may be helpful to other assistants?

Laine: I think it would be helpful for new assistants to read about what to expect in an office-knowing what to look for in a potential office, helpful interview tips, and what a doctor might expect from a brand new assistant. Tips on procedures and lab work would be nice, as well as tips that might make something easier or faster that you have figured out over your years assisting. Also, what doctors look for in a cover letter and resume that will make you stand out from the rest.

Diva's: Those are some great topic ideas and we will definitely include them in future posts. Now that you are almost finished your externship and are going to be looking for a job, what are some key things you will be looking for in an office?

Laine: I will be looking for a team that is very knowledgeable and that truly care about their patients. A practice that is up-to-date in procedures and equipment and that are consistent with continuing education.

Diva's: Thanks for sitting down with us. We know there are alot of assistants out there in your same position or someone who may be considering dental assisting as a career and your candid answers will be helpful to them.  

We Want to Hear From You!

Our goal in starting this dental assisting blog was to  network with other dental assistants, and post feedback, helpful hints, and discussion topics that are important to you.  We would like to meet our readers and want to extend an invitation to you to become a "follower" of our blog. If your a member of blogspot it's-easy just click the "Follow" icon at the top left hand corner of our blog. If you are not a member go to the bottom of the page and press "Follow". You can also, email us your questions, comments, and discussion topics. We will also post your great ideas and pearls to share with other assistants.