SLIDE 17 Selling the Patient from the Dental Chair - Script
Does the patient show signs of excessive Tooth Wear or Bruxism?
Yes – We have a new test that is performed at your home through the night. This test will give me information as to the cause of this tooth wear and allow me to give you the appropriate treatment protocol to protect your teeth. (approximately 50% of adult patients will test positive for potential airway disfunction and the dentist may intervene and positively improved the patients overall health and dentition)
No – Although you have no signs of excessive tooth wear at this time, we would like to screen you for the
- nset of abnormal parafunctional activity at night. Our office performs this test as a precautionary screen
to insure your teeth stay healthy (approximately 20% of adult patients will test positive for potential excessive tooth wear and the dentist may intervene and positively improve the patients overall health and dentition before damage begins to occur)
Benefits to the patient:
Patient’s dentist can differentiate between dental issues and potential medical issues Medical issues have large potential consequences if undetected and treated; cardiac disease, diabetes, depression,
weight gain, cancer. The dentist may positively impact the overall health of their patient.
Patients gain information about their own sleep wellness, a subject that is in the news and generates significant
- interest. Devices such as Fitbit etc. are increasing the public’s willingness to test for themselves.
Method of discussing with patient
- Mr. Patient. Dentists have been unable to diagnose night time grinding of the teeth until recently. At night,
your jaw muscles can fire at several times the magnitude you can make them fire when you are awake. This can be very destructive to your teeth. I would like to do a simple test on you to see if you are having this problem. With this test you and I will learn if your teeth are in danger of excessive wear or damage and if so, is it because of you snoring or stopping breathing at night, or is it caused by stress or other factors in your life. With this information, I can do the appropriate treatment protocol to protect your beautiful
- smile. (Show report) This is a sample report we will get from the test. This first graph will show us if your
blood oxygen levels are compromised. If so this is a serious medical problem we will discuss, This graph tells me if your are clenching or grinding your teeth at night and how often and how hard. We have therapies that can protect your teeth if necessary. This graph tells me if you snore at night and how much and how loud. If you do we can address that condition also. The test is (FREE OR $50 OR $89) and very easy to do. Would it be ok if my staff shows what you need to do and sets you up with a night study?
