Contemporary Preventive Dentistry
Marilyn J. Hicks. RDH, MS
Consultant, Speaker

MISSION:

• To develop cohesive, self-directed dental hygiene departments and dental teams which create extraordinary impact on client health, staff and practice success.
  
  RATIONAL:

• In all components of health care today, the emphasis is on disease prevention and protective health behavior along with clients taking active roles in decision making about their own health care. Preventive dental care is a vital component of contemporary dental practice success. The degree that dental practices reflect these values, dental care delivery can be more dynamic, fun, and elevated beyond the ordinary to an extraordinary level of excellence.

MARILYN'S RESUME

Marilyn is an RDH, has a BS Degree in Health Education, a MS degree in Higher Education from OSU. She has had a long career as a dental hygienist and as faculty in dental education. At OSU College of Dentistry, she taught periodontal assessment, non-surgical treatment and long term supportive care of periodontal patients. She also taught dental practice economics, leadership and management; research design and interpretation in health care to senior dental hygiene and dental students. As emeritus faculty, she provides guest lectures and provides clinical instruction to dental and hygiene students in the teaching clinics. Marilyn continues to practice in the Dental Faculty Practice at the College of Dentistry and fill-in for practices in Central Ohio. She is a provider of continuing education courses in periodontal treatment and guiding health behavior of dental clients. Consulting for dental practice success is a natural extension of Marilyn's career.

Preventive Dentistry Development Program

MARILYN'S APPROACH:

The intent of the development program is threefold:

First, to assure excellence and efficiency in all preventive and periodontal clinical care;

Secondly, to organize a cohesive hygiene department that is self-directed, takes ownership of structure, process and outcomes of its department and that establishes practice-enhancing goals;

Thirdly, to assist dental practices in rising above the ordinary in disease prevention strategies and client relationships. Marilyn's approach is to assess, develop and coach the entire dental team in identification of their unique approach to contemporary preventive dental health care and to assist them in achieving maximum potential success.

The comprehensive development program can be implemented over a one year period in larger practices or customized within shorter periods of time for smaller practices. Since each practice is unique and will have some issues that are more urgent than others, analysis and development can be customized to a practice's individual needs.

Following analysis and staff interviews, Marilyn will work with the dentist and dental hygiene staff to prioritize goals, actions and outcome measures. Regularly scheduled on-site coaching sessions may be recommended to implement each component of departmental development. Ultimately, at the completion of the full program analysis and coaching sessions, the entire dental team will have developed a vision beyond providing daily dental procedures. The hygiene department will become standardized, self monitoring and manage itself as a department and lead the practice in implementing its preventive strategies.

Program Components

• Dentist/Practice Philosophy, Current Issues, Needs

• Hygiene Production , Procedures, Manpower Utilization, Patient Pool, Patient Retention, Recall System,

• Staff Teamwork and Communication Skills

• Clinical Standards of Periodontal and Preventive Diagnosing and Clinical Care, Infection Control, Documentation in Client Records

• Efficiency and Quality Assurance Plan

• Organization and Structure of a Hygiene Department that can establish and implement Practice-Enhancing Goals

• Preventive Care with Value Added, a different relationship with clients

• Marketing the Practice

Outcome Measures for each Category will be mutually established by the consultant and the dental team.

If you are interested in our dental hygiene consulting service, please click below to download the appropriate form:

Dental Hygiene Department Self Assessment
>>CLICK HERE*<<


Dental Assessment of Practice Dynamics
>>CLICK HERE*<<

(*these forms require Microsoft Word to view)