

Effective Strategies for Managing Periodontal Disease
by Northern Life
Many patients will put off visiting their dentist when they experience light bleeding when brushing or inflammation of the gums. We’re talking, of course, about the seemingly never-ending issue of periodontal disease. The problem with it, as we are sure every dentist and hygienist will know, is that too many patients ignore the early warning signs.
Because there is only so much you can do during an appointment, we’re going to cover everything you can do. In our experience, this type of comprehensive stocktaking exercise allows you to double-check you’re not missing something simple.
Let’s dive into the details and put a stop to periodontal disease once and for all.
Appointments vs oral hygiene advice
Whereas a patient can come to you for a filling and get everything they need during the appointment, periodontal disease is a bit trickier. It’s more of a chronic condition than an acute condition, and this means that you will have to combine in-house treatments and procedures with an attempt to educate your patients. Finding a way to do this effectively is the real battle.
There is a wide range of personal health articles online when you know where to look. The good thing about this is it tells you that a sizeable number of your patients are going to be receptive to the advice you give them. By breaking things down into simple steps and inviting any follow-up questions, you can make them feel like they’re taking control of their health. Precisely what’s needed when you want to be able to cure gum disease in its many frustrating forms.
What should you tell your patients?
While we know that you’re the expert, there’s no harm in a quick recap and a few words of advice on how to make your guidance stick. Having a set of model teeth and a brush that you can use to demonstrate proper brushing of the teeth and gums can make a real difference to comprehension.
Many dental practices recommend a specific brush and have them on sale at the reception desk, so that’s certainly something well worth considering. You can also recommend flossing and stock a selection of different types of floss as a way to sell additional cleaning aids to every patient you treat. If you really want to start making money from other products, interdental brushes and oral irrigators are also good choices.
Start with a simple change every patient can follow
Prescribing an antibacterial mouthwash is often the first port of call because it’s both effective and simple. Asking a patient to change how they’ve brushed their whole life or to buy an irrigator so they can water floss is not as simple as recommending a dentist-approved mouthwash. You will have your preference based on your years of expertise and experience in the industry, and you could stock it to create another revenue stream.
Advice they schedule a professional clean
Scaling and root planning — as you know — will get rid of the plaque and tartar that has built up below the gum line. Without these two procedures, you simply won’t be able to soothe the gums, but you’ll be surprised how many patients don’t know this. Many will think that regular brushing and a bit of high-strength mouthwash are all they need to get on top of things.
The faster you can give each patient what they need, the more they will want to come back
Highlighting the importance of scaling and root planing to their long-term health will help your patients make an informed decision. Many will see these procedures as optional extras designed to create the perfect smile—your job is to show them that they are essential to their health. Varying your approach and language on a patient-by-patient basis is the best way to tackle things here.
Recommend Dentomycin for deeper pockets
Give your patients Dentomycin when the pockets are 5 mm deep or more, and you will be able to do more than scaling and root planning alone. This easy-to-apply gel will fit into the daily routine of many patients without any difficulty, ensuring they take the consistent action needed to make a full recovery.
Finding a trusted supplier will ensure that you always have plenty of stock and can adapt to new waves of patients who may report the same condition. The faster you can give each patient what they need, the more they will want to come back and book a follow-up appointment with you, exactly what you want to hear when you’re looking to build a practice that will sit right at the heart of the local community for many years to come.
Conclusion
If you can combine a dental gel, scaling, and root planning with patient education and a suitable mouthwash, you’ll be able to get to the root of the problem. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can improve average patient recovery rates with a little extra time spent demonstrating and explaining the fundamentals of toothcare.