Dos and don'ts for hygiene: The importance of recare

Practices must reinforce the fact that maintaining excellent oral health is a continuing process throughout a patient's life. Recare appointments are the key to improving the overall oral health of your patients.

Remember that recare appointments are important for patients' oral health. By developing an understanding of the value of consistent hygiene visits, patients form a partnership with the practice. The results of this partnership are complete satisfaction by the patient and a long-term relationship with the practice.

Don't be pessimistic. Many dentists claim they have tried scheduling them before they leave the office and "it doesn't work." These practices simply haven't built value for the hygiene appointment. In fact, when patients are properly motivated and understand why they need to keep recare appointments, preappointing works very well.