Episode 25
25: The Perfect 60 Minute Hygiene Appointment - Dr. Sam Low
Dr. Sam Low is an educator and a periodontist with a private practice. He creates CE content that is applicable and easily understood. He has been an associate faculty member of the Pankey Institute for 20 years. He was also an associate dean at the University of Florida, College of Dentistry. He has many years of practice and education under his belt, and he shares that with us today.
As a periodontist, Dr. Sam Low has a particular interest in the role that the hygeniest plays at his and other practices. He has developed the perfect 60 minute hygiene appointment. He embraces modern technology to get the most efficient and effective treatment practices. He believes in having an assistant for the hygienist, setting roles, expectations, best practices, and time limits. He breaks the entire 60 minutes down into an easy to understand pie chart and shares how to divide the slices on this episode.
You can find Sam here:
Show Notes
[02:22] Dr. Sam Low is a speaker consultant, and he left the University of Florida as an associate dean. He still has his own practice. He is also on the board of several prestigious dental associations. He is a man who has credentials.
[03:14] How the hygienist is an important restorative partner in every aspect of the office.
[03:34] A dental hygienist is such an integral part of the 60 minute appointment their almost like a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant.
[05:06] How practices need to reinforce that the icon of the practices is the dentist.
[06:11] Have dentists need to decide what happens in their practice in each of the rooms.
[06:38] What you're going to do is create categories of patients, because you are managing all kinds of patients.
[07:28] Dividing 60 minutes into a pie.We're going to work on the slices within the pie.
[09:01] The 60 minute recare appointment.
[09:44] The first thing is to meet and greet and seat the patient.
[10:28] We are in a society that doesn't like to wait.
[10:51] The 15 minute rule means you can't leave a patient in the reception area for longer than 15 minutes.
[14:51] The conversations patients have after leaving your practice is what builds relationships.
[15:12] In the first five minutes, be smiling and be on time.
[16:40] Retailer is leads for the restorative dentistry that you haven't done. Know your patient before you greet them.
[19:16] How it's possible to build a build a practice just from the hygiene operatory. Your leads are your existing patients.
[20:35] The importance of loving people and being authentic with them.
[21:08] Tell patients what's occurring in a constructive manner.
[22:35] Baby boomers are on several prescription drugs. We are in a pharmaceutical age.
[23:39] It's important to take a quality medical history. Talk about OTC and supplements too. Take the patients blood pressure.
[25:38] If someone has a cardiac problem bring in the link about perio issues.
[27:58] The importance of consistency. Don't let the white coat syndrome be the catchall.
[29:57] Going from a dental office where you're scared compared to going to a place that is relaxing.
[30:40] Do a quality clinical exam in the next 10 minutes. Make it very methodical. Look at the notes and the things that you have been monitoring.
[33:17] Only 20% of dental practices do a head and neck exam.
[34:16] To the exam and do it right and always tell the patient what you are doing.
[35:35] During this exam we are looking at the areas of concern. Technology and intraoral cameras are very helpful.
[37:05] The exam is completed and the results are recorded in approximately 10 minutes.
[37:42] Look at the oral hygiene but tread lightly when you talk about it.
[38:25] Electric toothbrushes are the way to go. Use things like the Philips Sonicare airfloss and WaterPik.
[41:01] Now it's time for the subgingival debridement. Use ultrasonics. It has to do with microthin tips and how you use them.
[43:45] The biggest slice of the pie is at the chair subgingival. Periodontal debridement is the most effective appointment when it comes to keeping teeth.
[45:59] Glycine air polishing devices.
[48:06] How there's a parking lot of things that need to be done that the patient haven't agreed to do yet.
[49:47] The hygienist should be the encyclopedia of whatever your specialty is.
[50:11] The doctor shouldn't come in until the hygienist has completed the 20 to 25 minutes.
[51:47] What actually happens with the hygienist in the room. The hygienist talks with the doctor before he comes into the room.
[53:24] How some hygienists are reserved about pre-diagnostic conversations. If it's something new the hygienist should talk to the doctor first.
[54:47] There's no reason for hygienist not to talk about things that you've already diagnosed.
[57:37] The hygienist should talk to the doctor and fill him in on what is going on with the patient instead of the doctor having to look at the computer.
[59:18] Making appointments meaningful. It's important to stay on schedule.
[01:01:36] Let the patient know that you are here for them. You understand the financial things and are willing to find a compromise.
[01:04:00] The best thing you can do is bring the patient back on the doctor's book. We like the reappointment.
[01:06:25] Have a dental assistant for your hygienist so that everything can run smoothly. It has to be written down when it comes to who does what.
Links and Resources:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Tweetables:
“Dentistry is my life, my hobby, and my passion. I’m not going to stop anytime soon.” Dr. Sam Low
“I see a hygienist as an integral part of that 60 minute appointment.” Dr. Sam Low
“We can’t keep people waiting. It is just unacceptable.” Dr. Sam Low
