Diagnosing and treatment planning can be subjective, which has affected patient care over the years. This software takes the subjectivity out of it by analyzing 28 bits of clinical information, medical history and lifestyle choices to come up with two scores: the patient’s disease score and a risk score, says Dr. Anthony Stefanou, PreViser’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

The information can be entered at chairside and a report generated in minutes. This gives patients a visual to share with their families. And because patients are assessed at every exam, they can look at the graph of their scores over time to see how their dental health is improving.

“We can give patients a score similar to a credit score,” he says. “They don’t necessarily need to understand everything that goes into it. They just need to know if the number is good or bad.”

The scores help patients and dental professionals see if the prescribed treatment is working. If it’s not, they can move to plan B. The risk score helps determine how aggressive treatment should be.

Maria Cooper, RDH, began using the program a year ago and says acceptance rates have significantly increased. Patients are interested in their numbers and what they mean, and they usually remember them at the next visit.

“As hygienists we have to add risk assessment to be proactive in treating perio instead of reactive, which is the tendency in dentistry,” says Ms. Cooper, who is a certified PreViser consultant.

But the one thing that won’t change is the hygienist’s influence on what’s best for the patient.

“Hygienists play a key leadership role in the practice,” Ms. Jarvi says. “They’re truly the light that ignites prevention in the dental practice. We have the opportunity to be leaders in the practice. There’s always something new to learn about perio, and technology is only going to get better.”