This educational program will discuss the links between periodontal disease and systemic illness; or what is sometimes called the “mouth/body connection.” Not all researchers and clinicians currently accept periodontal disease and its links with systemic illness as fact. For some, the evidence is compelling. They have accepted the links as fact and modified the manner in which they practice. For others, more research needs to be completed before they form an opinion on the subject. You need to evaluate the evidence and decide for yourself whether or not these links exist. If you do accept them, you need to decide how you will modify your practice to address the issue.

Ineffective communication skills, rushed appointments and/or fear of what the patient may think when presenting a periodontal diagnosis are some of the common barriers that interfere with existing patients being enrolled into non-surgical treatment in the general dental practice. What do you say to a long term patient that has periodontal disease, but it unsuspecting? This course offers solutions for the entire team to create value for periodontal treatment; manage common patient objections; and move a patient from routine prophylaxis into necessary non-surgical treatment inclusive of locally applied antimicrobials, as indicated, and on-going periodontal maintenance.