Establish a clear rationale for referrals, to boost your patients’ options
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 19th October 2022
When introducing a more complex treatment such as implant therapy, the first question a patient often asks their dentist is, “Will you be the one doing it?”.
The referrals process is a familiar one in medicine, routinely used to ensure an individual receives the correct diagnosis and appropriate care for their needs, from the correct person. The relationship between the professionals involved is “cyclical… where the generalist and specialist repeatedly engage in interaction” for an improved outcome.[1]
In dentistry, referring out can achieve the same, but there tends to be more reluctance to refer/be referred. For the general dentist, not wanting to lose a patient may be a reason; another is not knowing if, or at what time to refer. For a patient, they may be unaware that the practise exists at all, or feel uncomfortable about having to go somewhere new, particularly if they are anxious or phobic. They may also be worried that there will be additional costs if they are placed in the care of an expert, which they won’t be able to afford.
A clear rationale for referrals can ensure the process is not only streamlined and efficient, but will establish a means by which you can offer a wider and more comprehensive range of treatment options. The counterpoint to patients who are resistant to trusting a different team with a portion of their care is that there are many others who are doing their own research about the dentistry they want to invest in. They are educating themselves, setting out the criteria for their decision-making and their expectations are high. They may have spoken to other general dentists, who did not mention referring out, and ask why you have this protocol.
When a treatment is outside your scope of a general dentist’s practice, referring out is in the best interests of everyone involved – now and in the long term. Rather than giving anything away, you will actually be gaining so much more, growing your reputation and building trust and relationships. Telling a patient that you are recommending they be referred to a clinician who is a specialist in their field, is giving them the opportunity to receive gold-standard care. Timely, appropriate referrals represent good value too, an efficient use of resources and a commitment to raising standards of oral health.
Implant therapies, when delivered by a specialist, can be life changing, improving quality of life as well as restoring oral function and aesthetics. As the next best thing to natural teeth, they are a highly desirable option to fixed prostheses, and this is why demand is high and growing year on year. An implant dentist will be skilled, confident and proficient in both the surgical and restorative aspects of treatment. They will use cutting-edge equipment, techniques and materials, as well as their extensive knowledge and experience to deliver a predictable result, safely and comfortably. They will know how to manage the risks in this challenging area of dentistry, and also that implant success requires synchronicity and collaboration between the specialist and general practice teams. Before treatment begins, the general team may need to work with the patient to help them improve their oral hygiene; afterwards, they will support them in good daily care of their implant, along with encouraging them to attend regular professional cleans and inspections. This joined-up approach can minimise the threats to the implant’s stability; fewer problems, means fewer appointments.
Put effort into finding the right referral practice for you, one that will help you enhance your reputation, and that shares your ethos and values. Choose one that believes in communication that is transparent and frequent, as this will enable you to build your own knowledge, as well as gather more information for the delivery of tailored, patient-focussed care plans. The Ucer Clinic is a Centre for Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Implant Reconstructive Surgery, offering renowned and specialised treatments. Working with the latest technology for the best experience, referrals are accepted for even advanced and complex cases, including the use of zygomatic implants in situations where there is not enough bone volume density to support more conventional therapies.
Referring out enables general dentists to offer inclusive, comprehensive and continuing care for all your patients. A professional and ethical means to expand your services and build trust, you also gain the benefits of the cutting-edge technology and materials found in specialist practices. It is an efficient and modern way of practising, to optimise precious resources like time and people and ultimately elevate levels of oral health in the population. It is how your patient can access the highest standard of quality care – and appreciate how you want them to receive the very best.
For more information visit https://www.ucer-clinic.dental/ and use the referral from online or call 0161 237 1842 for more information.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002065392100191X
