Practice Management Tips

Especially for Treatment Coordinators...

Retainer Quiz

Our office has been working hard at clearly communicating retainer information. Following the deband appointment we give the patient our retainer information sheet. We tell them that there will be a quiz at the retainer delivery appointment. After taking the quiz, we record their score and keep it in their chart. This has dramatically reduced the number of lost or broken retainers. We have been able to add humor to lost or broken retainer situations by asking “how could this happen? You scored a 6 out of 6 on your quiz?”

Here's the quiz........

1.)     How long should you wear your retainers full time?                     

A) 3 months   B) 6 months  C) 1 week  D) 1 year                                                  

2.)  How long is the bonded lower retainer ideally left in place?                

A) 1 month  B) 5 years  C) 7 years  D) 15 years

3.)Can teeth move if not wearing your retainers? Yes or No                   

4.)  How should you clean your removable retainers?                 

A) hot water  B) denture cleaner  C) toothbrush/toothpaste with  cold water

5.)  What are the common reasons retainers could be lost/broken?

A) thrown away at meals  B) pets (dogs)  C) hot water  D) all the above

6.)  Is there a cost for a new retainer if lost or broken?     Yes   or  No

Post-it Pad

Our pearl is used specifically by our Treatment Coordinators.  We designed the following 3x5 inch “post it” pads to be used for follow-up on exam patients that don’t start immediately at the exam appointment.  It is used when you need to contact the parent about finances, appointments, insurance, etc. but don’t want to tie up the patient’s chart.  We find it very useful when mom wants a day or two to go home and talk to dad before making a decision, or needs to check the child’s activity schedule, etc.  You can write down any first impressions or gut feelings you may get from them. 

Marketing Tip...

Every year in September when our new patient flow slows down, we have two members of our staff deliver a new Yankee Candle (scented) to our referring offices.  We have done this for several years, and the offices look forward to their new candle every year.  The first year we did this, we included a candle warming device, which heats the candle so its aroma can be smelled without lighting the wick, as many offices don’t like “burning” candles due to the smoke.  This is one of the ways we make consistent contacts with our referring dentists.