Dentaltown April 2013 - (Page 109)

hygiene and prevention message board » Periodontal Maintenance t A Townie looks for ways to encourage perio patients to maintain more frequent appointments. Hygienetown Message Board > Etiology and Diagnosis > Periodontal Disease > Periodontal Maintenance sruthe05 Our office has recently been having problems scheduling our perio maintenance patients every three months. Since insurance only covers two regular prophies a year, patients do not want to pay out of pocket for the other two appointments. I am looking for any suggestions on how to bill insurance so that these appointments can be covered. Also, if anyone has any input on how to explain to patients the importance of the maintenance appointments, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! n Shantel RDH Member Since: 09/10/12 Post: 1 of 15 SEP 25 2012 As far as I am aware, there is no way to work the insurance for four perio maintenance appointments per year, unless patients are really lucky to have great insurance. The ADA has a great handout on perio maintenance and it explains why more frequent appointments are necessary. I try my best to get patients on a four-month schedule so that they only have one out of pocket maintenance appointment per year. There are a few who just have to come every three months. It also helps that I express that we can try four-month maintenance and if we see concerns going forward, we can always try to back it up to three months and see how that works. They seem to appreciate that I am aware of, and sensitive to, their financial concerns. We have good compliance with our perio maintenance patients and I think that conversation contributes to it. n catsmeowrdh Member Since: 09/25/08 Post: 2 of 15 SEP 25 2012 I was at an insurance seminar last Friday and learned that companies like FedEx, for instance, have up to 12 different dental plans for their employees, I guess, depending on the rank of the employee and how much they wish to kick in themselves, like a junk store policy and a jewelery store policy. You might mention that getting too loosey-goosey with maintenance appointments could easily lead to perio surgery, which nobody wants to hear. Mention the systemic ramifications of allowing bacteria to circulate the bloodstream and that keeping the gums healthy keeps the entire body healthy. If your patient already has systemic situations going on like heart disease, diabetes, circulatory, certain meds, BP, etc., pull that into the conversation over and over. Keep them aware that oral health supports systemic health. n shazammer1 Member Since: 12/20/00 Post: 3 of 15 SEP 26 2012 I always tell my patients that their brushing, flossing, etc., at home will only reach three, maybe 4mm deep, so any bacteria down in those 5mm and deeper areas will remain, therefore I need to see them every three or four months (as needed) to reach the areas they can’t reach on their own. I explain that if we let those areas go for too long between cleanings, the pocket will likely deepen causing more bone loss and require perio surgery to correct, and that this extra DH visit per year is needed to keep them stable. I work in a perio office where a large portion of my patients have had at least one perio surgery already, so anytime I tell them that I’m trying to keep them out of the surgery chair, they appreciate it. I’ve noticed many insurers often cover a third or fourth PMT per year once they see the patient has had SRP, but again, depending on the particular plan, this is not always the case. n Debbie-The Paleo Hygienist Member Since: 11/17/07 Post: 6 of 15 SEP 29 2012 continued on page 110 109 dentaltown.com « APRIL 2013 http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown April 2013

Dentaltown.com Highlights
Howard Speaks: What Winners Do and Losers Don’t
Professional Courtesy: Three Cheers for IT
Continuing Education Update
Dentaltown Research: Lasers
“Funny Feeling” on Lower Right Jaw
Missing Laterals, Bonded Maryland Bridges, Ribbond or Something Else?
Corporate Profile: Henry Schein
New Products
Office Visit: A Giant in Dentistry
Do-it-Yourself Finance, Part V: Insurance
Two Techniques to Make a Bite Record for a Full-arch Case
Team Strength: What Drives Your Team to Do More?
Living by the Golden Dozen
Diagnosing Aesthetic Disharmonies
Cosmetic Case Presentation
Using Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill to Easily and Predictably Place Direct Posterior Restorations
Continuing Education: Utilizing Laser Procedures for Restorative Access
Product Profile: Imaging Sciences International’s i-CAT FLX
In This Issue: Preparing for the Future
Perio Reports
Ad Index
Profile in Oral Health: The RDH’s Approach to Periodontal Therapy: Past, Present and Future
Perio Maintenance
Dentally Incorrect
Dentaltown Special Supplement
Product Profile: Zimmer Dental
Full Lower – Converted to Immediate Load
Immediate Placement #19 and 20 with BSB
American Academy of Implant Dentistry 62nd Annual Meeting Preview
Raising Your Denture Patient to a Higher Standard
Back to the Future – Extractions and Small Diameter Implants for Overdentures
Continuing Education: Top Implantology Breakthroughs for the GP: Part 2

Dentaltown April 2013