At the end of each dental visit a closure is needed to leave your patient with a WOW! feeling. A five part, one minute DEBRIEFING.

Such a communication, while the patient is still in the treatment room will produce the following benefits:

 and some scripting suggestions

(One example)

 1. WHAT WAS DONE TODAY:    “Today we did a complete exam. We took a lot of  measurements and recordings.”
2.  WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TODAY’S VISIT:    “I will sit down and dedicate some uninterrupted time to study these results. Then I’ll develop a course of treatment.

 3.  WHAT WILL BE DONE AT THE NEXT VISIT:   “At that time I’ll present you with a plan of treatment that will be based on your needs and on the desires you told me about.  I need to see you back in a week to ten days and we’ll  review my findings. At that time we’ll also give you costs and alternatives for payment.”
4.   WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PATIENT TO RETURN:  “This plan is only effective at this time. Conditions in the mouth change rapidly, etc.”  “If we let this situation continue past that time……………can happen.”

5. “WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE TODAY?”  [We need to be certain that the patient is not leaving with any questions.]

Add some words of encouragement and enthusiasm:  “I feel good about what we can do for you. I’m excited about getting started on this. Next visit I’ll show you some great results we had in other cases just like this, and what your results will look like.”

Another example

1. WHAT WAS DONE TODAY:    “Today we shaped three teeth for your cosmetic porcelain bridge. We took impressions and a lot of measurements  and recordings. We placed temporary crowns on those teeth”
2.  WHAT TO EXPECT FROM TODAY’S VISIT:    “When the anesthetic wears off in a few hours, you may have a little tenderness. Here are some written post-treatment instructions.”

 3.   WHAT WILL BE DONE AT THE NEXT VISIT:   “In your next visit I will try in your finished bridge, and if everything is perfect I will cement it in place.”

4.   WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PATIENT TO RETURN:   “We’ll make you an appointment for 2 weeks from now.” “If the bridge is completed before your next appointment, may we call you to come in sooner?” “Conditions in the mouth change rapidly and we don’t want the teeth to shift, etc.”

5. “WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE TODAY?”  [We need to be certain that the patient is not leaving with any questions.]

This debriefing can be done at the end of every dental visit. The patient can receive this closure from the dentist, the chairside assistant, and the administrative coordinator, each in his or her own style.  The objective is to have every patient leave the office ENTHUSIASTIC, and eager to tell the first person they see about their great dental office experiences.

Do the occlusal surfaces of the posterior teeth show evidence of bruxism? Are the incisal edges of the anterior teeth worn down? Does your patient have acid reflux? TMJ pain? A severely receded (retrognathic) chin?

And in your interview with your patient do you learn that your patient has daytime sleepiness, often dozes off while watching TV or at the movies, and even worse, feels sleepy while driving?

 

Were you informed that the patient’s spouse complains about loud snoring?
Do you see an overweight patient with a large diameter neck?

Listen to the alert!
These are some of the more common signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. They are so easy to see. These warning signs are sitting right there in the hygienist’s field of operations and they are screaming out, “Notice us. We are here to destroy your patient”. “We can cancel out all the good that you do for this patient.”

For a diligent Hygienist to miss these warnings would be to surrender a great opportunity to help patients enjoy a better quality of life and, in fact, to save lives. The rewards to you, your practice, and your patients are considerable- both emotionally and financially.

Learn more about incorporating Dental Sleep Medicine into your practice, by attending a lecture with Sleep Group Solutions. Be sure to bring your key staff personnel with you when you attend our 2-day dental sleep medicine lecture!