Comprehensive Xylitol Office Integration Plan, Part I:

A Blueprint for Establishing Your Professional Office Oral Health Care Program

Display visual prompts for using xylitol products throughout your office. If practical, make product samples, such as xylitol gum and mints, available along with brochures and informational material that patients and parents can easily access and read in the waiting area. Remind patients and their parents that oral health products sweetened with100% xylitol are most effective.

On your front counter, place a display advertising xylitol products available through your office. Your office logo and contact information should be affixed to all patient literature.

When a new or established patient (or parent) enters the office:

• While welcoming the patient, the office manager or receptionist gives the patient an Oral Health Maintenance System Introductory Letter (see Forms CD) to raise interest and prepare patient for dialogue about xylitol's benefits.
• Office manager or receptionist may also provide the Xylitol & Your Family brochure, explaining that the office has added a new oral health maintenance program which incorporates the use of anti-cavity, anti-plaque xylitol products. Record by a method of your choice that this information was given to the patient.
• Vary this routine to accommodate your office procedures (e.g., some patients may need to complete insurance or other office information forms when they first arrive.) You may choose to include this information in your new patient mailer and confirm that the patient has reviewed it upon arrival.
• Some offices include a complimentary sample of xylitol gum or mints in each new patient packet.

When your patient enters the treatment area:

• Chair side dialogue continues with hygienists, oral health counselors or assistants who answer any questions the patient has about xylitol (assuming your patient has already read the material).
• This discussion may also occur while data is collected for the Oral Health Maintenance Tracking Sheet.
• Doctors and staff should share their enthusiasm for xylitol and the xylitol products made available to patients through your office. Patients will respond positively to your excitement about xylitol's health benefits, and they will naturally want to learn more.
• After completing the patient examination and OHMTS as set forth in the Oral Health Care Systems Manual above, the doctor makes current recommendations to patient, parent, hygienist, oral health counselor, or assistant in a manner consistent with your office protocol.
• Doctor recommends xylitol products and other treatment modalities as indicated, and offers prescriptions as appropriate. ADR recommends the use of pre-printed prescriptions for your convenience and patient ease of interpretation.

The patient is now returned to the front desk or cashier, according to your office's usual check-out routine. The patient is offered a Xylitol Product Manufacturer's brochure and may now purchase products and receive assistance with on-line ordering as he or she schedules follow-up appointments and makes payment or other financial arrangements.