Perio Profit Center

Da’Sha Tardy, Myah Young, Jacob de Ward

DHE219 Practice Management

April 23, 2024

 Perio Based Practice

“The more we have to address, the more we can be profitable.”

 Perio Based Practice

● Not every patient will present with the same level of oral health…or oral
disease!
● Being a perio based practice will allow for personalized treatment plans that
confront periodontal disease instead of progressing it.
● Implementation of more advanced dental hygiene treatments.
● Addressing and treating periodontal diseases in our patients will not only
improve their quality of dental care, but also create new opportunities of
financial gain in our dental office!
 Implementation of Diagnosing Disease

In order to better address our patient’s needs, we need to implement a standardized

system to diagnose periodontal disease!

At each new patient appointment and recare appointment, these assessment tools
should be implemented as needed:
● Full mouth perio charting
● Grading radiographs for bone loss %
● Risk factor questionnaires such as tobacco usage ect.
● Periodontal disease diagnosis through Staging and Grading classification system
Diagnosis Tools
Diagnosis Tools
Diagnosis Tools
Ideal Patient Treatment Schedule

Oral Health: Prophy 1110

- Appointment Length: 45 minutes-1 hour

Periodontitis: NSPT 4341 (generalized) or NSPT 4342 (localized)

- Appointment Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, as needed

4-6 Week Re-evaluation 0170

- Appointment Length: 1 hour, provide adjunctive therapies such as Arrestin or chlorhexidine irrigation

Perio Maintenance 4910 for all Periodontally Involved Patients

- Appointment Length: 1 hour

 Perio Based Office: Influence on Production

● By treating periodontally involved patients, we

are opening our horizons to providing more
advanced and specialized dental hygiene care.
● Which in turn will increase our total revenue!
● It is a win win, patients will be treated
effectively, and our production will increase!
We aim to be an insurance driven practice!

● Access to a larger patient population through insurance network affiliations

● Streamlined payment process as insurance companies handle claims

● Reduced patient financial stress, leading to higher case acceptance

● Steady new patient patient flow due to insurance provider-driven demand

****Care Credit Accepted for those with no insurance. With a denial from Care Credit,
per patient request an in house payment plan may be an option but is not guaranteed.
Fee Schedule/ Procedure Codes

● D4341 ( NSPT 4-8 teeth): $350 per quad

● D4342 (NSPT 1-3 teeth): $250 per quad

● D4910 (Periodontal Maintenance): $150

● D9630 (Irrigation with Chlorhexidine Rinse, per quad): $10

● D0999 (Laser Bacterial Reduction): $75

● D0999 (Periodontal Decontamination Therapy, per quad): $125

● D4381 (Arestin placement, per site): $50

● D9230 (Nitrous Oxide Analgesia): $125

● IV Sedation (starting at $800 an hour, subject to change)

 Treatments and Technologies

● Laser Bacteria Reduction (LBR) and Periodontal Decontamination Laser Therapy (PDLT)

● Arestin Adjunctive Therapy

● Irrigation with Chlorhexidine Rinse

● Electric Toothbrush and Water flosser included in treatment plan to ensure patient has the right tools at

home to perform adequate home care

● 3D Imaging to track progression of disease

● Oral, IV and Nitrous Oxide Sedation

ALL of these technologies create more revenue for the practice and also gives the patient a better chance at

reaching therapeutic endpoint!

Oral B Products PRE-SET in treatment plans
 PerioLase

● Reduction in bleeding gums, bacteria, pain and bad breath

● Teeth and smile are maintained

● No stitches are needed

● Minimal pain

● Minimal downtime after treatment

● Minimal recession after treatment

 iCAT 3D CBCT scan

● More detailed imaging – gives us the advantage in providing a more accurate

diagnosis/prognosis

● 3D scans provide 10% less radiation and get better angles

● Patient comfort

● Tracks healing/progression of disease

 Increasing Patient Output and Production

● Increasing the number of hygienists increases the volume of patients able to be seen, while also meeting the demand of

our patients.

● Allows for more revenue from recare visits monthly.

● Active new patient flow allows for more NSPT procedures which increases profit.

● Add- in procedures (whitening, bite guards, fluoride) allows for additional revenue.

Annual gross billings of a solo dental practice with a dental hygienist are 41% or $231,134 greater than that of a practice with

no dental hygienists. Annual net income of a solo practice with a dental hygienist is 31% or $56,102 greater than a solo

practice without a dental hygienist (Smith, 2020).

 Production: Utilizing Products

● Satisfy patient’s need, but also provides great revenue for the
practice.
● Allows for convenience to the patient.
● Provide patients with knowledge about top- quality products
that help improve credibility and rapport with the patients.
● Professional discount pricings
 Introducing Information to Patients

● Implement patient education on periodontal disease.

○ “Make the patient own their disease.”

● Provide information such as brochures about procedures done

and why they are done.
○ Allows for patients to have more insight and helps to determine
alternative treatments.
Office Impact
● In general:
○ Overall collaborate and explore new ideas and processes.
○ “Complete harmony leads to higher profitability.”
● Dental Assistants:
○ Block out assistant days to be hygienist assistants
■ allows for better flow and time management
■ Dental hygiene assistants should be considered since they can increase hygiene profitability
by 30%. Dental hygienists may normally see seven to eight patients a day while those with
an assistant may see 12 to 13 (Smith,2020).
● Dental Hygienists:
○ Become more involved with suggestions and decision making
■ Coming up with the best suitable Tx plan
■ Understanding preventative products to suit the patients oral health.
○ Build rapport and continuing care
● Dentist:
○ Adjust traditional habits accordingly to accommodate for new systems.
○ Support staff and provide what is needed for success
 How do we know it will work?

● Implement monthly patient evaluation check-ins:

○ Helps to determine any adjustments we may need to make along the
way.
○ 4-6 week re-evaluation appointments in order to determine
achievement of oral health among our patients!

● Input from staff and patients:

○ determine what is or is not working as well.
 References

Lazar VF, Guay AH, & Beazoglou TJ. (2012). Economic impact of dental hygienists on solo dental practices. Journal of Dental Education, 76(8),

1045–1053. https://doi-org.ezp.mesacc.edu/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2012.76.8.tb05357.x

McManus, V. (2015, December 15). Can hygiene really be a profit center?. Dental Economics.

https://www.dentaleconomics.com/science-tech/preventative-and-hygiene/article/16389930/can-hygiene-really-be-a-profit-center

Seidel-Bittke, D. (2013, February 22). Six steps to making the Dental Hygiene Department a profit center. Dentistry IQ.

https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/career-development/article/16355072/six-steps-to-making-the-dental-hygiene-department-a-profit-

center

Tanya L. Smith, R. (2021, February 4). Understanding the monetary value of the “essential” dental hygienist. Today’s RDH.

https://www.todaysrdh.com/understanding-the-monetary-value-of-the-essential-dental-hygienist/