Ahead of the Guided Biofilm Therapy Summit in London this September, speaker George Cheetham shares insight into how and why he and his team have made hygiene appointments a priority within the practice workflow.
Why did you bring air flow and guided biofilm therapy (GBT) into your practice?
I’d heard about it from other practices that were using the protocol. Everyone spoke positively about it. From their perspective, it offered a superior clean, but they also talked about patient comfort.
We live in a day and age where it’s not just the superior treatment that a patient wants, but also the superior experience. When you have something that allows you to show a patient where they are going wrong, how to improve, and experience a more comfortable clean, the patient’s going to keep coming back.
And, of course, healthier gums are going to help every other dental procedure a patient needs or wants. Plus you have the growing body of evidence regarding systemic health.
So, in terms of looking after my patients and from a business perspective, it’s a no-brainer.
How does it fit within the practice’s workflow? Why is it important?
If we go back to gum health, it is the absolute first port of call for any form of dental treatment. When a patient comes to me for any treatment, from general to complex, including full-mouth work, implants, braces, bonding, veneers, and so on, there’s no point even discussing moving forward until the patient’s gum health is on point.
Clearly, any treatment is so much more likely to fail, or you’ll end up with a compromised result, if gum health is not addressed adequately. So, it’s all about trying to get our patients into the habit of seeing the hygienist.
Gum health is the number one priority here. It’s the gateway to everything else, and that’s why it is so important within our workflow.
What do patients think about hygiene appointments being a fundamental part of their journey in your practice?
It really is all about the experience. Of course, finances are important for everyone, especially now, but when patients understand the value of our hygiene appointment, the cost matters less. We have found that they’re happy to pay a bit more for GBT.
When we started our squat practice, we said we were not going to schedule any hygiene appointments that were less than 45 minutes’ duration, unless it’s an extremely well-maintained patient or a child.
At first, you think, is that going to work? Because the patient’s probably used to a half-our appointment and they are now going to have to pay more for the chair time? But when they see the better service that they get with this type of treatment, they are happy. We haven’t had any complaints and, actually, we are getting incredible reviews on Google.
Essentially, I think people are a lot more aware of their health now and the way that their gums can affect their systemic health. I think, especially after the whole Covid pandemic, people are a lot happier to spend a little bit more on preventive health care. That works well for us as we strive to provide the very best care possible.
The Guided Biofilm Therapy Summit
The Guided Biofilm Therapy summit is coming to London on 16 September 2022 from 9am – 4pm.
Taking place at the Royal College of Physicians, London, delegates can earn 5 ECPD hours
As part of an international series of congresses, the GBT Summit in London will bring together leading international experts and clinicians to share information about preventive dentistry and modern therapies to support existing GBT users and those looking for new ways to elevate their skillset.
The summit is ideal for anyone who is focused on the delivery of front-line oral health for patients, including hygienists, therapists, dentists, periodontists, and any other dental professional who would like to increase their knowledge to support their team’s preventive efforts.
The exciting line-up for the day is as follows:
- Victoria Sampson – The oral microbiome – what is it and why is it so important?
- Faye Donald – GBT clinical case study
- Alfonso Rao – My implant full arch went really well… but what to do after surgery
- Anna Middleton – Using GBT to build direct access
- Celso Da Costa – Why invest in prophylaxis?
- Jolene Pinder – GBT clinical case study
- George Cheetham – Making hygiene appointments a priority within the practice workflow
- Benjamin Tighe – GBT clinical case study
- Reena Wadia – Periodontal therapy
- Lottie Manahan – GBT clinical case study.
To register and book your place, simply visit www.dentistry.co.uk/shows/gbt-summit/
Places are limited, so don’t delay!
