Dos and don'ts for practice production: Maximize your hygiene department

The importance of the hygiene department

Recare is the continuous maintenance of a patient's oral health. You must reinforce the fact that maintaining oral health continues throughout a patient's life. The hygiene department serves as the engine that drives practice production.

Emphasize the value of regular hygiene visits. Many people have some sort of periodontal disease, whether they are aware of it or not. What they may not realize is that unchecked periodontal disease has been associated with heart disease and diabetes. They need to understand that regular hygiene and preventive care improves their overall health.

Don't allow the hygiene department to underperform. If your hygienist isn't producing at least 25% of your practice's gross production, then you are not maximizing your hygiene department.