Using Perio Exams |
Perio exams are usually performed by the hygienist.
To create a new Perio exam, go to the Activities menu and click Perio Exams.
All perio exams created in the program are listed here. There are two search fields to help you locate the exam you want. Set the Search by field first, then use the Search field to limit the records shown.
To create a new exam, click New Perio Exam.
Choose the patient. The Provider field will automatically populate with that provider assigned to the selected patient.
The Date field reflects the current date. If the exam was made yesterday, change the date.
The Movement field can reflect the same manner in which you moved through the mouth making your initial examination. The default setting is B,L 1-16, then B,L 32-17. With this set, you can enter values and the program automatically moves to the next tooth in the specified order.
There are eight different measurements and identifications that can be recorded in this screen: Placque, Mobility, Bone Loss, Probing Depth, Gingival Margin, Clinical Attachment Level, MGD, and Furcation Grade. By default all are selected. To remove unneeded measurements and identifications, right-click the screen and remove the check marks next to those you don't want displayed. You will notice that corresponding fields in the middle of the screen are removed as well.
Probing Depth To enter probing depth values, be sure the radio button in the middle of the screen is on PD (this is the default).
Click on tooth 1 and use the keyboard keypad to enter values. The cursor will immediately move to tooth 2 after entering 3 digits. Notice that if you enter a number greater than 3, the number is shown in red to show a significant problem.
Furcation Grading To enter furcation grading, manually click the area on the specific tooth and enter a digit on the keypad, or click the keypad provided on the right of this screen (numbers 1-15, but you'll only use numbers 1 through 4). Tab to move from one furcation area to the next in a particular tooth. Click the next tooth to continue.
Bleeding and Suppuration If a tooth needs to be marked for bleeding, select the correct box and click Bleeding (in the middle of the screen) or type the letter B.
The box now shows red, making it easy to identify these spots at a glance.
If suppuration (pus) is present and needs to be marked, follow the same procedure as for bleeding except click the Suppuration field or type the letter S. The box is shaded in yellow.
If a spot is both bleeding and suppurated, the color in the box is a mixture of red and yellow.
Gingival Margin To enter GM values, click the GM radio button.
Then click on tooth 1 and move through the mouth in the same manner as described for probing depth above. The numbers appear higher in the screen, corresponding with the GM label on the left of the chart.
Clinical Attachment Level To mark the CAL for each tooth, click the CAL radio button.
Again, follow the procedure outlined above for probing depth and GM. These numbers appear just below the GM numbers.
MGD, Placque, Bone Loss, Mobility The values given for MGD, Placque, Bone Loss, and Mobility are entered tooth by tooth, one value for the entire tooth. For MGD, click the MGD box (far right of the center section). For placque and bone loss, choose from the drop-down lists. The values are color-coded for increased visual identification. For mobility, enter a value from 1 to 3.
Viewing Perio Exam Graphs When you finish entering all values, you can view a graph of the exam. Click View Graph. This is a visual depiction of the probing depth, gingival margin, and/or MGD. A field at the bottom of the graph lets you indicate which values to show. This graph is very helpful in educating the patient, also. See Perio Exam Graph to see a sample. Copying Exams Once a perio exam has been performed on a patient, if the next exam is close to the original or preceding exam, you can copy the previous exam and tweak the changed values.
To copy a previous exam, after opening the Perio Exam screen and selecting the patient, click Copy From Previous Exam.
A list of previous exam dates pops up by the cursor. Choose the date of the exam you want copied. That exam is presented on the screen and you can make the minor changes and save the new exam.
Printing Exams The perio exam can be printed and sent with claims. Click Print Exam, designate the print destination (file or printer), choose the Perio Exam format, and click Print.
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