Dr. Kelly J. Blodgett

	Every dental office is different. Practices specialize in particular areas of dentistry and focus on a number of varied treatments. Yet there is one thing that unites all offices: The desire to help patients understand exactly what is being recommended to them and why. 

Since the day I acquired my practice in 2001, I have been using a patient education system called 

. I have seen no better way to solve this challenge of discussing difficult treatment options with my patients than by utilizing patient education software. 

How can you make sure your patient education is clear and consistent? 

When patients enter my practice, I like to ask them how they best learn. Most often, people report they are visual learners. I then introduce CAESY into the timeline of their visit. 

When appropriate, I will have patients watch videos pertaining to their treatment plan. In so doing, patients are immediately able to have an educated conversation about their treatment options. By using a visual patient education system, patients are much more easily able to understand the options recommended to them. They see the procedure, which makes it real in a way that talking about or drawing it cannot do.

Patient education videos are a conduit for information and imagery that makes understanding recommendations more tangible for patients. Though I use the system daily, I find it most helpful when explaining cases that require something difficult to visualize, such as dental implants or root canals, or when I present more progressive treatments, such as regenerative periodontal therapy using lasers or minimally invasive veneers. After watching a 30-second video of the recommended procedure, the fear, stress and misconception about what the procedure might be like is alleviated.

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Continue to page two to read about the benefits of CAESY...

I integrate the software into my practice by playing CAESY videos in the reception area and on the monitors in my operatories. By doing this, the videos are accessible at all times throughout the office. I have patients every week who ask me about the videos they see in the reception area or in the operatory while the hygienist prepares materials for their visit. The videos act as an opportunity creator in the office, especially when they are customized to the needs of each individual patient. The videos I show help aid our marketing strategy and build our reputation in the areas for which we focus. For example, if you do not do root canals, then you do not have to show videos of root canals. Speaking to patients about the services we provide helps to spark their interest. 

Another aspect I use frequently is the post-operative feature. For example, when someone comes in for a denture, we print out the CAESY PDF documents about dentures for our patients to take home. I’ve found giving patients the printed materials to study at home in addition to discussing next steps in the office adds a great amount of value.

How CAESY Cloud can help increase case acceptance with patients [VIDEO]

I recommend the CAESY patient education system to any dentist because it is an easy way to show patients the areas in which your practice specializes. I don’t believe dentists are out to hard sell patients into making decisions that are not right for them-we just want to accurately inform them and find solutions that best suit each patient. 

Patient education software has undoubtedly increased case acceptance in my office. It is an invaluable yet subtle way of gaining the patient’s trust and encouraging a more personal relationship with him or her. A focus in my office is to have really good synergy between the information we provide with the patient education system while patients are in our office and the information they can subsequently find on our website.  

No matter how progressive your office is when it comes to technology, a patient education system has a place in your practice. By utilizing a few subtle features, you can build better relationships with patients, expand their comprehension of the treatments you recommend and increase your case acceptance rate.

Clinician review: Patterson Dental's CAESY Cloud for patient education

practices in Portland, Ore., as a general dentist. For the past 15 years, Dr. Blodgett has pursued the practice of minimally invasive and holistic dentistry. His particular area of emphasis is on the practical integration of technology and interpersonal communication skills. He was the first dentist in the Portland area to offer minimally invasive procedures, such as VELscope oral lesion detection, LANAP regenerative periodontal therapy and pinhole gum rejuvenation. He enjoys an active lifestyle in the Northwest with his wife and two daughters, is a busy soccer coach and avid cyclist and actively plays music with a couple of bands playing either bass, guitar, keyboard and/or drums. 

Articles

 Every dental office is different. Practices specialize in particular areas of dentistry and focus on a number of varied treatments. Yet there is one thing that unites all offices: The desire to help patients understand exactly what is being recommended to them and why. 

Why patient education is crucial to case acceptance

“With the emergence of new clinical data, health care professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the interrelationship of oral and systemic disease. In this article, Dr. Kelly Blodgett considers the possible connection of different inflammatory diseases,” 

	Given all the talk in the media about the H1N1 virus, chances are your patients are even more concerned than usual about coming down with the flu. But it’s your patients who have periodontal disease who really should be aware of their risk for contracting the flu and the possible complications they might experience if they do.

	People with chronic periodontitis may be more prone to developing complications such as heart attack, pneumonia and stroke after having a major viral illness, such as the seasonal flu or H1N1

. That’s why it’s so important for oral health professionals, who are on the “front lines” of fighting chronic infections, to place a heavy emphasis on managing periodontal disease to minimize other systemic health issues.

	The purpose of this article is two-fold: First, to review the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Secondly, to consider the pathophysiology of an influenza A infection as it relates to the cardiovascular system. Perhaps this will motivate us to help our patients seek appropriate treatment for their chronic oral infections.

	There are studies that point to a relationship between periodontal disease and stroke. In one study that looked at the causal relationship of oral infection as a risk factor for stroke, people diagnosed with acute cerebrovascular ischemia were found more likely to have an oral infection when compared with those in the control group

	Within our profession, we now accept that there is a relationship between periodontal disease and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The oral cavityis an easy place for bacteremia to enter an otherwise sterile cardiovascular system. The incidence of bacteremia following oral health procedures such as tooth extraction, endodontic treatment, periodontal surgery and scaling and root planing is well documented

. It takes less than one minute after an oral procedure for microorganisms from the infected site to reach the heart, lungs and peripheral capillary systems

	Different theories exist to explain the link between periodontal disease and heart disease. One theory is bacteria from the oral cavity can affect the heart when they enter the blood stream, attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries and contributing to clot formation. These blood clots can obstruct normal blood flow, restricting the amount of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly. This may lead to heart attacks

	Another possibility is that inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases intravascular plaque build up, which may contribute to artery swelling. Researchers have found people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.

	The take home message here is patients who have chronic periodontitis (particularly when it is untreated) may have a higher risk of developing heart disease than those who don’t have gum disease.

	Periodontal disease and the pulmonary system
	We also should consider the pulmonary system when talking about the effects of periodontal disease. Bacterial respiratory infections are acquired through inhaling fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain germs that can breed and multiply within the lungs to cause damage. Research suggests that bacteria found in the throat, as well as bacteria found in the mouth, can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract. People with respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, typically suffer from reduced protective systems-making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs. Scientists have found bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease

	New information is coming to light indicating that patients with established cardiovascular disease may be at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke after exposure to influenza

	Influenza is associated with an increased number of proinflammatory, prothrombotic cytokines, and it causes endothelial dysfunction, increased plasma viscosity, tachycardia, and release of endogenous catecholamines. Clinical flu also is associated with psychological stress, dehydration leading to hypotension, and hemoconcentration, hypoxemia and demand ischemia

	These changes in the cardiovascular system may lead to an increased incidence of clots dislodging from their stable plaque. It has been shown that people with chronic cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease are at increased risk of experiencing an acute exacerbation of disease during influenza epidemics

	How does this all tie together? Improved periodontal health may lead to improved cardiovascular health, and patients with better cardiovascular health typically experience fewer complications when they do come done with the flu.

	So how do we use this information to help our patients who have periodontal disease? First and foremost, it is imperative that we do all we can to encourage patients to treat their chronic oral infections. The best place to start is to educate your patients about the value of appropriate treatment. Provide a solid knowledge base from which they can make an informed decision.

	Don’t be afraid to pull at their “heart strings.” Ultimately, your patients will choose to pursue care based on an emotional drive to do so. They will justify this choice with the knowledge you provide them. Sharing a story about a patient who suffered the ill effects of untreated gum disease can be a potent motivator. Emphasize that improved periodontal health may lead to improved cardiovascular health, and patients with better cardiovascular health should fair better when they experience the seasonal flu.

	These changes in the cardiovascular system may lead to an increased incidence of clots dislodging from their stable plaque. People with chronic cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease are at increased risk of experiencing an acute exacerbation of disease during influenza epidemics6.

	It’s also a good idea to encourage your patients to get the flu vaccine-for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus. Because flu vaccination decreases the body’s acute response to seasonal influenza, it is wise for at-risk individuals, such as patients with chronic infections, to get vaccinated. This should reduce the likelihood of an adverse cardiovascular event.

Kelly J. Blodgett, DMD, MWCLI, DWCMID, has lectured extensively throughout the West Coast and Canada. The 2006 World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry “Clinician of the Year” has a state-of-the-art practice in Portland that features lasers, VELScope, CEREC and other technologies.

 The Set-Up  “With the emergence of new clinical data, health care professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the interrelationship of oral and systemic disease. In this article, Dr. Kelly Blodgett considers the possible connection of different inflammatory diseases,” Dr. Peter O. Cabrera, Team Lead