Patient compliance with interdental cleaning is a challenge voiced by many dental hygienists today. Frustration comes from repeating oral hygiene instructions with no observed oral health improvement at subsequent visits. The traditional education model focuses first on toothbrushing and second on flossing and fails to involve patients in the decision-making regarding products, techniques, or plans for implementation. Behavior change begins with asking open-ended questions, listening to patients’ needs and desires and engaging them in making the plan to achieve oral health.
Learning Objectives
After completing this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe why disease attacks interproximal areas before facial and lingual sites.
- Recognize why education alone will not achieve behavior change.
- Apply a simple theory of change to help patients achieve optimal oral health.
- Identify steps needed to help patients make their own plan for behavior change.
