Biography
Biography: Carol Wells
Abstract
How many people do we see, on a daily basis, in the dental office with gums like this? The gums may appear to look healthy but as soon as you touch the gums they start to bleed.
Does this look healthy?
If any other part of your body bled like this when you touched it would you put a bandage on it and then see your Doctor 3 months later? Of course not. When did this become an acceptable form of treatment for our patients? Yet we do it every day to the majority of our patients. The patient arrives to see the Registered Dental Hygienist, R.D.H. During the evaluation of oral cavity the gums start bleeding. Discussions arise about the bleeding gums. Talks about home care tools, regime and maybe changes to their diet. Then the R.D.H. will proceed to clean the patient’s teeth for them. Another discussion, “When should the next appointment should be”? “Well now because of the condition of your mouth today, your bleeding gums, you should return in 3 months instead of your regular 6 month appointment. “Is that not putting on a bandage on the bleeding gum problem? Why are we waiting 3 months to see what changes have occurred?