138- What is, and how to do oral bacterial testing with Kerry Lepicek, RDH (Part 2)

Welcome back to the Tooth or Dare Podcast with your host Irene Iancu, as I explore Part 2 of my riveting conversation with Kerry Lepicek, RDH—an esteemed dental hygienist with over 20 years of clinical experience.

This episode is sponsored by our friends at Philips: During this sponsor message, I sit down with

Lindsey Dalley RDH the Professional Education Manager - Canada

We share some tips on communication with patients to set expectations for whitening procedures and pre/post-operative sensitivity management. We discuss some tips to help prevent sensitivity and what the whitening protocol for Zoom should look like in each office. Let's be honest, you've likely taken impressions at the beginning of the appointment then immediately gone into whitening. Well, that isn't a best practice. Tune into this episode to hear more about what the steps to in-office and take home whitening should look like. 

In this episode Kerry and I unravel the technical aspects of periodontal therapy and dental hygiene process of care in regards to bacterial testing and how we should be treating patients with even the smallest amount of bleeding, shedding light on the intricacies of practice dynamics and the pursuit of elevated patient care outside of the "you must floss" philosophy.

Join us as we discuss the meaning of "my practice" and dissect the skills and standard of care that distinguish clinicians within a dental office. Dr. Hygiene, aka Dr. Jim Hyland, makes a reappearance in our conversation, highlighting how he pushed and encouraged dental hygienists to elevate their dental hygiene care, introducing innovative procedures and services for the benefit of patients.

I share my personal struggle from a past practice, where I faced challenges providing the level of care I desired. The lack of influence in purchasing essential tools and feeling undervalued due to productivity-based rewards rather than patient outcomes were significant hurdles. This dynamic played a pivotal role in my decision to leave and ultimately led to the opening of my own clinic.

Kerry takes me on a journey through the history of Oravital, unveiling the merger between the Fresh Breath Clinic and Oravital—a pioneering company in bacterial testing. As Kerry passionately describes, this groundbreaking product is now available in Canada, the USA, and other growing countries. With 28 minutes packed with insights, we explore Kerry's role as the Director of Training and Onboarding for offices, discussing the implementation of bacterial testing, the development of the dental hygiene process, and strategies to enhance patient outcomes.

Don't miss out on our discussion about why gums bleed and what to convey to patients, the revelation that the back of the tongue harbors as many bacteria as the teeth, and our visionary ideas on making this aspect an integral part of the new patient experience.

Watch out for engaging videos on my Instagram as I tackle questions like "Why do gums bleed?" and explore the fascinating fact that the back of the tongue is a haven for bacteria, akin to the teeth. Join me in envisioning how to seamlessly integrate bacterial testing into the new patient experience, setting the stage for a higher level of patient care in dental clinics.

This episode is a must-listen for dental professionals seeking practical insights, innovative approaches, and a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of dental hygiene and patient care. Tune in and join the conversation that goes beyond healthy gums—because healthy conversations lead to healthier smiles.

 

If you made it all the way down here, hit a like and share a comment. Until next time, Peace out peeps! ✌️ _______________________________________

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