Opinion
gum disease Rebranding
Hygienist Carol Clark is waging war on periodontal disease at her Direct Access clinic in Tayside and is nominated for the Most Enterprising Business award by the Association of Scottish Businesswomen
I
still get a deep feeling of unease when I pocket chart a patient and discover they have bone loss. Every patient I see, I explain to them that my little probe has one millimetre
divisions allowing me to determine how healthy their gums are. I tell them I can do two types of monitoring. It is a relief to do just Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE). For the more unfortunate patient, pocket charting is a useful tool. How can anyone judge if the pocketing is reducing unless we have a baseline? I tell clients to be patient, this part of the appointment for them is quite boring but it is useful for me. I am the Miss Marple of gum disease.
I am a problem solver and, working with the patient as a team, our joint aim is to control the periodontal disease and not let it control the patient. Pocket charting and printing it out is immensely useful. The videos on my website also serve to refresh the memory. Putting a toothbrush or floss into some-
one’s hands can change their gum health. Small changes give big results. If I had disease in any part of my body that I could do something about, then I would go to town. Information is ammunition. Direct access has changed my way of
working beyond what I expected. My over- heads are less than a dentist and therefore I can allocate 45 minutes of my time to my patient and still keep the price affordable. I spend time speaking to new patients,
asking how they deal with treatment. Recognition of an anxious, phobic patient or patient with sensitive teeth is the first step to healing an experience that the patient has never forgotten. My first introduction to a dentist was a
very tall, gruff man telling me: “This will hurt you more than it is going to hurt me.” I share this with my patients, I am also
“I am the Miss Marple of gum disease. I am a problem solver”
anxious having treatment, and no wonder. As a direct access hygienist, I follow up with my patients. Treatment in a dental surgery puts a patient in a vulnerable posi- tion. If you meet a stranger in a pub and you don’t like them, then you walk away. Control has been lost. Checking in with a patient the following day takes 30 seconds. Generally, all is well. However, today I
had a patient complaining of sensitivity after the scale and I gave her some simple advice. My time is an investment and being interested in my patients may not be fashionable, especially when time is money, but it brings kudos to my business. My only disappointment is that, with more than 15 dental practices in Tayside without a hygienist, only three routinely refer to me. Undiagnosed or untreated periodontal
disease is indefensible. It is one of the biggest reasons a dental professional can be sued. We should all be working towards the health of our patients. The benefit a dental referral gives is that the patient already trusts the dentist’s opinion. It also shows that he cares for his patients’ gum health. Periodontal disease is not a quick fix. Constant encouragement and motiva- tion is fundamental to achieving results. I’m not focused on image, and I don’t
negotiate on someone’s health. I don’t pander to insecurities, I don’t massage egos, I don’t Botox or fill, I don’t straighten or bleach. I am a clinician and I look after my patients’ gum health. I assist my patients to keep their teeth
and my primary driver is clinical excel- lence and not turnover. However, it is my firm belief that with clinical excellence I will achieve a reasonable income. Being a finalist for an Enterprise Award
has not only given my business a huge amount of publicity but, if I win, it will make gum disease something that can be talked about, recognised and hopefully treated in its early stages. Imagine being interviewed by a panel of entrepreneurs, top directors and a business expert as I was during the judging. Did they know anything about periodontal disease? If I don’t win, at least four people are less ignorant. The final judgement is in Glasgow on 3 October. I am passionate about my job, I have
worked with many fantastic practices, particularly the team at Blackhills. I know we need to get more information regarding periodontal disease out there. I had a patient last week asking: “Why me?” Let’s hit it early. Love your teeth!
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Find out more about Carol at
www.gentlehygienetayside.co.uk
Scottish Dental magazine 19
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