Recaring is easier with Whitening for Life |

Recaring is easier with Whitening for Life

The poorly named dental “check-up” has been bestowed a title more apt to its function, the “recare appointment.” A simple check-up does not do justice to the breadth of scope of a recare appointment. Beyond just checking for gum disease or cavities, a recare appointment is an opportunity for discussion about dental health concerns. Generally it will be a full scale check that will go over the diagnostic, preventative and educational aspects of an appointment. Six month recaring appointments can be easier to set up if a patient is vested in Whitening for Life. Depending on the dental goals of the patient this will be a time to discuss options for their dental health. Patient’s needs should be taken into consideration at this time to try to get a better feel for what they want and what will get them to be a loyal patient. By showing the patient all the care options available during the recare appointment you will open future opportunities to offer care to the patient.

httpvh://youtu.be/w0CsDCgA1E8

Diagnostic

The diagnostic portion of a recare appointment will likely consist of many checks. First, a review of the patient’s past medical history will take place. Next, updates to prescribed medication should be noted, and also any change in physical condition. X-rays may be necessary to detect bone loss, oral pathologies such as cysts and to detect tooth decay. Next a physical examination of teeth to check for decay will take place, followed by an inspection of crowns and fillings for possible wear. After this has been done, the periodontal tissues will be examined along with the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth and the throat In order to get a full perspective of the patient’s oral health. After checking bite patterns, an evaluation should take place to discuss possible cosmetic alterations for the betterment of the patient’s well-being. Whitening for Life patients will likely already have a good sense of well-being.

Whitening for Life

Preventative

The preventative portion of the appointment starts with a blood pressure screening. Since cardiovascular disease is one of the top health issues in America. Next, the patient should be screened for oral cancer. The teeth should then be scaled for removal of plaque and tartar. After scaling, the teeth will be polished to remove all surface stains, along with porcelain crowns and silver restorations. The patient won’t have many stains if they have been using Whitening for Life. Flossing is next with care to watch the periodontal tissue for bleeding. Finally, if necessary, is the application of fluoride to the patient’s teeth. A fluoride treatment is given to help prevent tooth decay. If the patient needs to see a specialist for any special treatment, this would be the time to discuss it.

Educational

To start the educational phase of the recare appointment, patients should be given a tour of their mouth using an intra-oral camera or other similar device. Having an education about their own mouth and what happens inside it and why you as a dentist do what you do gives the patient a calmness do to being more knowledgeable about the procedure and treatment options available to them are. Patients might have questions about what they see and what might have issues with things you don’t even see. Language should be used when educating patients so a decision on treatment can be made with knowledgeable approval. Basic tooth brushing and flossing should be discussed to ensure the patient is fundamentally sound when dental health is concerned. Dietary concerns might arise if the patient has halitosis or bad breath concerns. Many options are available to combat these. Patients might want more plaque-control options as well, and can be walked through those. Next a discussion of the Whitening for Life program can be discussed, as well as the period between the next recare appointment.

It is easy to point out to a patient that a recare appointment has much more value than a simple check-up. The scope of the work being done ensures the health of the patient is a top priority. Making a recare appointment an important part of a patient’s care ensures a bright smile for them and many opportunities to see them in the future. Whitening for Life helps by also being necessary every six months. This is a time for you to shine for your patient and build a relationship with them that will ensure a return visit. The recare appointment should be an opportunity for you to shine a light on your practice to show that it’s not a place to be feared and ignored, but a place of care and great dental hygiene practices. This opportunity to be more personal with the patient should be taken onboard by the entire staff and workforce, as building a loyal patient base is a key to future success. It is proven over and over that people go with services and institutions they know and trust. Gaining their trust during an in depth recare appointment is an opportune time to build your business forward with nothing more than some extra TLC. By enjoying your work and taking an interest in your patients, the enthusiasm will spread and they will enjoy their treatment and experience more. This will lead to more referrals via word of mouth. A buzz can be created about how easy and gentle your recare appointments are.