Refer out, and access a world of resources
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 4th May 2022
Referral is one of the most powerful tools a general practice has. It ensures patients will be treated in the most appropriate setting, by the most appropriate team, returning healthier, happier and satisfied they have received quality care.
Patients requiring root canal treatment, or retreatment, should be referred out to an endodontist to support a good clinical outcome. Unsatisfactory endodontic work is a leading reason for complaints and – surely every dentist’s worse nightmare – legal action. If a patient’s journey is co-ordinated and managed by a team experienced in delivering successful endo, it will be stress-free, fast and as safe as it can be.
The ultimate consequences of not making a referral is that professional reputations as well patients’ health and wellbeing can be compromised. Quality endodontics requires expertise and dedication, as well as the right tools and equipment; referring out means general practices will tap into these resources and more.
To boost your endodontic referrals, you need a strategy. Start by networking locally. Perhaps you have contacted practices in the past and faced some pushback, so it may be a case of addressing their (and their patients’) concerns. A system of efficient referrals is mutually beneficial to everyone involved the process. For patients, their tooth will be saved and restored conservatively with minimal anxiety. They can return to their regular practice, pain-free and motivated in better oral hygiene to ensure their treatment remains stable.
Being referred means they get better value, too. When a root canal is successfully treated, the risk of more lengthy, invasive and expensive dental procedure(s) down the line can be minimised. The distinction between cost and value should be made and understood. If they invest in quality endodontics now, the chances are they’ll save money and time in the future.
For general dentists, an endodontist is an extension of their practice and not a threat. When they refer out, the endodontist will confirm the initial diagnosis, and whether the patient is a suitable candidate for root canal therapy. In certain cases, proceeding may not be the right decision. A general dentist that refers out will therefore find it easier to uphold the principles of informed consent. An endodontist, along with their team, is a rich source of information and education too, and this will also help with managing patients’ expectations.
As an endodontist, ensure local general practices know you enjoy the challenge of root canal therapy! You have the skills for everyday endo and the patience for the most complex cases. If something does go wrong, and no dental procedure ever comes with a 100% risk-free guarantee, a practice that routinely delivers root canal treatments will have protocols in place to rectify the problem, as efficiently and safely as possible. This includes retreatments, should that be necessary. If there is any kind of emergency, as a practice specialising in quality endo, general dentists and their patients can be reassured that the team is drilled in how to respond.
Offer dentists a promise of gold-standard customer service and a commitment to building a good relationship with them. Professional communication and co-ordination mean the referral process can be seamless, with minimal delays, because each team knows how the other works. You will take exceptional care of their patients, who will be left in the expert hands of a practice experienced in handling cases such as theirs, with the tools and technology in place to offer a level of treatment they won’t get anywhere else.
A practice that routinely delivers quality endodontic treatment will have taken advantage of the innovations on the market, which enable better, safer workflows. This is perhaps one of the biggest benefits of referring out. There are tools and equipment available for root canal therapy that are highly-conservative as well as quicker and more affordable then ever. Cutting-edge technology, in the hands of an experienced endodontist, means patients have nothing to fear from being referred out; that their comfort will be optimised and chair time minimised, with zero compromise to the end result. For example, for dentists who want to offer upgraded endodontics is the CanalPro™ Jeni motor, to speed up canal preparation and reduce the risk of file fracture. Available from COLTENE, which manufactures other products for successful, safe and minimally-invasive endo, in a matter of seconds, the Jeni will analyse various parameters like torque and pressure, so you the practitioner knows when it’s OK to advance, like a car-crash notification system.
If you offer quality endodontics, you must promote your service to boost referrals. As part of your mutually-beneficial relationship, ask referring dentists for reviews; this is another way to grow your reputation. An endodontist is a valuable resource, and good relationships with general dentists means a net result of timely referrals. Ultimately, this will lead to greatly improved levels of oral health.
For more on COLTENE, visit www.coltene.com,
email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.
Author: Mark Allen, General Manager at COLTENE
