When implementing any new technology, especially the dental endoscope, we have to first examine or create our professional Vision. Many of the offices I have helped with creating and implementing a perioscopy program, either do not know what their office “vision” is, or simply do not have one to observe and follow in their offices.
I have found that having a vision is a powerful starting point for a successful Perioscopy program. This vision is kept in mind and helps you to be more focused as you go about the many challenges you will face with your patients and your practice each day, but it’s only the beginning…
In addition to a vision, other key elements to a successful Perioscopy program have LESS to do with “perioscopy clinical skills”, and MORE to do with foundational knowledge and the proper ORDER of proven clinical and administrative steps. When I teach Perioscopy, the professionals are always surprised to find out how much of my program is actually more foundational knowledge, the proper pairing of technologies, and basic clinical and diagnostic skills, rather than just advanced perioscopy skills. When the proper sequence of actions is implemented, the end result is predictably better, and the frustration is minimized and/or eliminated entirely. This creates and instills confidence early, which serves to better enhance the success of the perioscopy program.
Many of the clinicians I teach feel that if they just “learned a faster way to do perioscopy” or if they just “learned to do two-handed perioscopy”; the whole program would be successful. I have to “pull the reins in” with these “eager beavers” and teach them to walk before they can run. Learning to be clinically efficient is very important, but crucial foundational skills and knowledge MUST be in place first before you CAN be efficient. It’s like building anything; you have to have a solid foundation first. Everything else just falls into place after that.
The unique program innovated by PerioPeak Institute maximizes the use of several cutting edge technologies, identifies proper water flow for quick and accurate endoscopic evaluation, simplifies all clinical and diagnostic skills, and incorporates essential verbal and administrative concepts. These skills and concepts can be mastered in a relatively short period of time, and do not require extensive training, only practice…
Anyone can be successful at perioscopy, and all the preconceived limitations of the dental endoscope can be overcome. Clinicians do not need to be intimidated by, or unsure of the value of the dental endoscope in “their hands”. Perioscopy technology can play an essential role in the success of any practice. The future of preventative dentistry and non-surgical periodontics CAN be seen through the tiny lens of a dental endoscope. It starts with a Vision…if you take advantage of the full potential of your dental endoscope, YOU develop to YOUR full potential as a clinician...everyone wins.
Judy Carroll, Periodontal Therapist
Owner PerioPeak Innovations
Published 12/05 DentalView Quarterly Newsletter
> Read Judy's blog about Periodontal Therapy
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