An interview with DEBRA SEIDEL BITTKE, RDH, BS

1. Role of a clinic website in setting up a recall system:

      Allow patients to request an appointment via your website.

1. Where have you lectured till now?

      All over the USA– about all 50 states even Hawaii as of August 2015! All over Canada except Toronto

1. Do you are rotary stones to sharpen scalers? 

​      Not usually​

1. After how many patients you sharpen your scalers?

​Most hygienist will work with freshly sharpened instruments.​

1. Do you feel that patients who have undergone dental bleaching are less prone to plaque accumulation? 

​      No​

1. How do you motivate patients for dental bleaching? 

​The way that works best to motivate patients to bleach their teeth is to ask them at the beginning of their hygiene appointment, "If there is one thing we can change about your smile, what would that be?" Most patients will answer "I want whiter teeth." Now, you have patient who "may" need old composites replaced return for new composites and they may accept a treatment plan for veneers. This one question will open the door to more high-end treatment.

1. What should be the constituents of a welcome kit for a patient?

​In today's world there is not a need to mail a welcome kit but when a new patient registers online they should be provided with your office mission statement, a letter from doctor – or the dentist they will be seeing.

Patients should receive information about the appointment they scheduled, a confirmation of the date and time of appointment, include a list of your office services, a map to get to your office, medical history, and cancellation policy, HIPAA form (any other office policies should and can be signed electronically once they arrive at your office). When possible have a way to electronically send all signed documents to your office electronically.​

1. Do you feel that a welcome kit should be sent by post to the patient or should be given to the patient in the clinic? 

​Prefer the office electronically send new patients documents to the patient. Its best if the patient can be sent a link to the office website and they complete necessary information before they arrive to the office. This is automatically sent to your office and it can merge with the patients chart.

1. Do you recommend discount coupons to grow the practice?

​Yes, Discount coupons can work. If you do decide to use coupons I suggest you offer Free Whitening to all New Patients. We have a system that is turn-key for dental practices to do this! The bleach syringes can be customized with your office information. Why promote another company’s name when your patients can take home a bleach syringe with your office name and information? Check it out how you can easily implement this system to get more new patients: http://bit.ly/WhiteningOrderform