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Flossing for Fertility

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Following is an article that might be useful for you to post in your reception area or to give to your patients especially if you know they are trying to start a family.

Flossing for Fertility
Pay Attention to Oral Health When You’re Trying to Conceive
By Kelly Burgess
Published by iParenting Media

When a woman is dealing with infertility, how much she flosses is probably the last thing on her mind, but that may be about to change. Recent research is providing some fascinating, albeit preliminary, indications that oral health is impacted negatively by some infertility treatments, and poor oral hygiene may actually be a factor in infertility.

While these studies are in their infancy, the conclusions, added to other evidence about how oral health impacts general health, join a body of research that may lead to a complete overhaul of the way the health and insurance industries view the link between oral health and overall health – including fertility issues. When this happens, good dental health is going to be on everyone’s mind. Continue reading “Flossing for Fertility” →

Influence: Connecting with People By Dr. John Maxwell

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As a train’s source of energy and direction, the locomotive plays a vital role. However, unless a locomotive connects to other cars on the track, it is relatively useless. A train’s value comes from its ability to transport massive amounts of cargo, and doing so requires the locomotive to link up with dozens of freight cars. Traveling by itself, a locomotive would arrive at its destination empty-handed. In that case, its journey would be nothing more than a waste of fuel.

Leaders are like locomotives in that they’re blessed with drive, energy, and vision. However, until leaders learn the art of connection, their influence remains minimal. In isolation, their talents accomplish little, and their efforts are squandered.

Let’s look at practical ways whereby leaders can make meaningful connections with others. Continue reading “Influence: Connecting with People By Dr. John Maxwell” →

Greeting and Seating the Patient

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Situation:

The dental assistant’s role in greeting and seating the patient.

Desired Result:

A patient greeting that is friendly, inviting and lowers any patient anxiety.

How To:

A warm greeting, a genuine smile and a courteous handshake are an important part of the dental visit.  This orchestrated opening sets the tone for the appointment, introduces the team member and encourages an open discussion of the patient’s expectations and fears.

  • The dental assistant enters the reception area and walks up to the seated patient. The assistant looks the patient in the eyes, smiles and using the patient’s name, makes an introduction.

“Mrs. Jones, Hi my name is Kim, I am Dr. Adams dental assistant and I will be working with you today.” Shake the patient’s hand. “It is nice to meet / see you. Please follow me.” Make small talk. “Did you have any trouble finding the office or parking today?” or “The weather outside is frightful, are you staying dry today?”

  • Escort the patient to the clinical area and seat the patient.  While making eye contact, the assistant says to the patient:

“Mrs. Jones, your chart shows that we are doing a crown on tooth — 2 today and a tooth colored filling on tooth — 3.  Do you have any questions about your treatment before we get started?”

  • The patient may have a question or two which the assistant readily answers. Next, she makes the patient comfortable, offering relaxing music, a neck roll or lumbar support and a blanket. Now she can place the protective bib and applies a topical anesthetic to the treatment area.  When the doctor enters the operatory the assistant says:

“Dr. Adams, I have everything ready for the crown prep on tooth — 2 and the composite on tooth — 3, and Mrs. Jones is comfortable and ready to get started.”

  • Then the doctor greets the patient, gives anesthesia, and returns in a few moments to begin the procedure.

Life is like a boat

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Think of your life like a boat. Your belief system acts as the rudder, guiding where you go in your career and relationships. Your actions are the engine — when you follow through and get things done, you leave an impressive wake as you race toward your goals. The flashy paint job on the sides of the boat, well, those are your words. They give a good impression but mean little without the beliefs, commitments, and action. How is your boat doing, is your engine running, are you creating a wake or just cruising along? Is your vision, and your philosophy statement, helping you chart your course? Have you looked at them recently?
Let us know how you are doing and how we can support you !
Have a great week! Jody

Lighthouse PLZ

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At the MidWinter Meeting Linda and I had the opportunity to reconnect with the original creators of PracticeWorks. They have teamed with the people who originally brought you the Caesy patient education system. They are now known as Lighthouse and have a patient contact system called PLZ that will basically run your recall system for you. It also has a direct mail marketing system that is so much less costly than anything else I have heard. It is a really well thought out program and a better value than Demand Force or what Sesame or Televox will do for you. Since Lighthouse’s inception in 2003, they have helped hundreds of PracticeWorks users use the program the way they intended it to be used. A particular specialty is “going chartless” – they have it down to a science. They are really not promoting the PracticeWorks consulting they do but if you have PracticeWorks you get support for the software by using the PLZ system. I have always liked PracticeWorks because of how the program was thought through and how aligned it has been to the systems we traditionally recommend. This program is no different, I am impressed. Continue reading “Lighthouse PLZ” →