Treatment prescription

Where dental hygienists and dental therapists provide treatment under the direction of a dentist, the referring dentist must provide a treatment prescription. The treatment prescription can be simple or complex depending on the level of treatment required. A simple pro-forma can be useful but patient-specific information should be provided along with this. The referring dentist can ask the hygienist/therapist to set the recall interval following reassessment.

Example of a simple treatment prescription for maintenance care.

Treatment Prescription

Please monitor risk factors and provide patient advice as needed.
- Use the Oral Hygiene TIPPS behaviour change strategy.
Monitor plaque biofilm and gingival bleeding levels.
Carry out PMPR where required.
Set risk-based recall interval with referring dentist.

Example of a complex treatment prescription for Step one of therapy in a patient with a diagnosis of periodontitis.

Treatment Prescription

Baseline indices to record plaque biofilm and marginal bleeding; full periodontal charting.
Discuss risk factor control with the patient.
- Use the Oral Hygiene TIPPS behaviour change strategy.
- Discuss smoking cessation.
Remove supragingival plaque, calculus and stain. Carry out PMPR at all sites with probing depths ≥4 mm with bleeding on probing and/or the presence of subgingival deposits.
Use local anaesthesia as required for the above sites (Lidocaine 2% with Epinephrine 1:80000), maximum four cartridges (2.2 ml) per visit.
Review with referring dentist at three months post-completion of treatment.