De-Coding the Periodontal Care Plan

Dental hygienists routinely find themselves in a complex web of understanding ethics in periodontal diagnostics, updating themselves on changes to periodontal classification systems, maintaining optimal patient relationships, developing a dental hygiene diagnosis alongside the treating doctor, supporting the dental billing team with appropriate documentation to validate their clinical decision making and creating communication strategies aimed to acquire case acceptance.

Additionally, doctors maintain the burden of diagnosing an evolving chronic disease, treatment coordinators work to discern clinical decision making, the dental billing team attempts to interpret clinical notations, and the patient ultimately focuses on dental insurance compliance. As a result, the struggle for appropriate diagnostics in alignment with maximization of insurance coverage remains a common challenge in dental offices across the United States, and this common challenge not only impacts all members of the dental care but also influences the outcome of clinical decisions made by dental providers.

Join Katrina M Sanders as she reviews the clinical observations that aid in the identification of various levels of periodontal disease. She will workshop an optimal system for gathering the correct documentation to best demonstrate activities of while providing guidance in coding, narrative suggestions for informed refusal, and templates for appeals to support advanced coverage by third-party payers.

Objectives

  1. Review clinical decision-making modalities in non-surgical periodontics as they align with the American Academy of Periodontology guidelines
  2. Examine the various CDT codes as they relate to non-surgical periodontics
  3. Identify clinical parameters necessary for optimal usage of specific periodontal CDT codes
  4. Optimize documentation workflow aimed to improve compliance with submission and subsequent reimbursement for non-surgical periodontal procedures

CE Units: 2

Ms. Katrina Sanders

Ms. Katrina Sanders

A clinical dental hygienist, author and international speaker, Katrina is passionate about elevating the dental profession by creating an undeniable movement that educates, encourages, and empowers the profession to rise in its power. Known as the “Dental WINEgenist™,” she pairs her desire for excellence in the dental industry with her knowledge and passion for wine. She is the Clinical Liaison, Hygiene Excellence & Innovation for AZPerio, the country’s largest periodontal practice where she works alongside Diplomates to the American Board of Periodontology in the surgical operatory. She is the founder, CEO and keynote speaker for Sanders Board Preparatory and has been published in various publications including RDH Magazine and Today’s RDH and is an advisory member for Modern Hygienist and the Dental Academy of Continuing Education. Recently, Katrina proudly received the Denobi Award for Clinical Excellence and Innovation, the University of Minnesota Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2024 Sunstar Award of Distinction. Her philanthropic efforts include dental humanitarian work in developing countries, supporting abused and homeless animals and spreading awareness about the benefits of organ and tissue donation. To be a part of the mission and movement, please follow Katrina on Instagram @TheDentalWINEgenist.

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