Why calibration in periodontal care matters

Calibration?? What does that word even mean?! If that’s what you’re thinking, this is for you! And even if you’re not, you will surely find some new tips in here that will help you implement calibration in periodontal care!

Let’s define calibration: to standardize (something, such as a measuring instrument) by determining the deviation from a standard so as to ascertain the proper correction factors.

Standardizing your patient care creates consistency for your team and your patients. When a team can come to expect something, rather than second guess, wonder or be shocked by a diagnosis, they are able to walk around with less stress and chaos leaving room for the “crazy” that a day can unpredictably become! Periodontal standards of care are a key piece of ensuring that patient care is top notch and top priority!

So how do you get there?! Consistency!

And I mean consistency in everything: meetings, calibration and diagnosis/ implementation!

Here are some easy ways to ensure your team is and stays calibrated:

• Schedule routine meetings to review your periodontal protocol and diagnosis of recent patients (quarterly, if not monthly).
• Document your systems and processes! Make it easy to find and easy to understand.
• Train new team members on your ways before they get set on their own.
• Discuss findings often and when you or someone else on the team is unsure of what something should/ could be, don’t be afraid to ask one another!
• Take courses together and share ideas!
• Call each other out when you’re out of alignment! Confrontation doesn’t have to be hard, but anything left unchecked for too long can become more difficult than it started out as!

What are you doing now for your periodontal calibration with your team? Are you aligned and doing routine meetings? If so, KUDOS!! Is there something new that you and the team can learn from each other or implement next?! If you’re not meeting yet, that’s OK! Schedule a meeting with your hygiene team and doctors to get initial alignment in place and stay consistent from there!

Want to go into more detail? Meet with us!