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Beyond the Bleeding – Helping Patients Understand Risk and Take Action Before Disease Progresses
Many patients with bleeding, inflammation, and early periodontal disease still believe they are healthy. Join Mary Hughes, RDH, BS, Tanya Dunlap, PhD, and Lightwave hygienist Kristy Miller, RDH, for a practical discussion focused on improving patient understanding, treatment acceptance, and long-term periodontal outcomes.
✔ 1 CE Credit
✔ Complimentary Webinar
✔ Live Q&A
✔ Practical Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow
This webinar is provided at no cost to Lightwave Dental partner office team members. Educational activity is provided by Dental Education Partners.
Choose the Session That Fits Your Schedule
The webinar content is identical. Select the date and time that works best for you. A third evening option was just added!
Tuesday, July 14
🕐 1:00–2:00 PM
Wednesday, July 29
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
Wednesday, July 29
🕢 7:30–8:30 PM
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Clinical Challenge
Periodontal disease remains one of the most common—and often misunderstood—conditions seen in hygiene. Despite visible signs of inflammation, bleeding, and disease progression, many patients continue to perceive themselves as healthy.
As hygienists, we know that identifying disease is only part of the challenge. Helping patients understand risk, accept treatment, and take action is where meaningful change occurs.
This webinar explores practical strategies that help bridge the gap between clinical findings and patient understanding.
Why Patients Fail to Understand Disease
Patients often:
- Normalize bleeding as “no big deal”
- Associate disease only with pain
- Struggle to understand invisible disease processes
- Feel overwhelmed by clinical terminology
- Delay treatment because they don’t perceive urgency
Learn practical techniques that help patients connect findings to action—without feeling pressured or overwhelmed.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Clinical Perspective
- Current trends in periodontal disease
- Why patients don’t understand bleeding
- Communication techniques that improve treatment acceptance
- Practical approaches to discussing risk and disease progression
Research Perspective
- What current research reveals about long-term periodontal stability
- The Gum Score™ framework
- Patient selection considerations
- Clinical case studies and outcomes
- Adjunctive therapy examples
Lightwave Perspective
- Real-world implementation experiences
- Patient responses and acceptance
- Lessons learned from clinical practice
- Practical takeaways for immediate use
Mary Hughes, RDH, BS
Clinical Educator & Consultant
Mary Hughes is a nationally recognized clinical educator and consultant who helps dental teams improve patient care, communication, and clinical performance. Her practical and relatable approach has helped hundreds of hygienists strengthen patient relationships and improve treatment acceptance.
Tanya Dunlap, PhD
Vice President, PerioProtect
Tanya Dunlap oversees educational and clinical programs for Perio Protect and previously served as the company’s research liaison. She has worked closely with researchers and microbiologists involved in controlled clinical trials and long-term studies evaluating periodontal disease management.
Kristy Miller, RDH
Lightwave Dental
Kristy Miller is a practicing hygienist with Lightwave Dental who has successfully incorporated enhanced periodontal communication and disease management strategies into daily patient care. She will share practical insights, patient experiences, and lessons learned from the clinical setting.
WHY ATTEND
Walk Away With Strategies You Can Use Immediately
After attending, you’ll be better prepared to:
- Help patients understand the significance of bleeding and inflammation
- Communicate periodontal findings with greater confidence
- Improve treatment acceptance through effective risk communication
- Discuss evidence-based approaches to long-term disease management
- Apply practical techniques that improve patient outcomes
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify barriers that prevent patients from recognizing periodontal disease.
- Apply communication strategies that improve patient understanding and treatment acceptance.
- Discuss evidence-based approaches that support long-term periodontal stability.
- Evaluate clinical considerations for recommending adjunctive periodontal therapies.
- Implement practical techniques that improve periodontal conversations and patient outcomes.
REGISTER & ATTEND TO WIN*
Early Registration Prize
Register for either webinar by July 10 for a chance to win a $25 Amazon eGift Card. Attendance required to be eligible.
CE Champ Prize
Register for either webinar date by July 10, attend the live webinar, and complete the CE evaluation for a chance to win a $50 Amazon eGift Card.
*Open to Lightwave Dental partner office team members only. One entry per participant. Winners will be notified via email.
CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
AGD Subject Code
490 – Periodontics
Course Level
Intermediate
Educational Method
Live Interactive Webinar
Continuing Education Credit
1 CE Hour
To receive continuing education credit, participants must attend the live webinar, verify attendance through the webinar platform, and complete the post-course evaluation.
This educational activity is provided by Dental Education Partners.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is this webinar complimentary?
Yes. This webinar is provided at no cost to Lightwave Dental partner office team members.
Will I receive CE credit?
Yes. Participants who meet attendance and evaluation requirements will receive 1 CE credit.
Is this a product presentation?
No. This webinar is designed as an educational program focused on periodontal disease identification, patient communication, treatment acceptance, and long-term outcomes. Clinical examples may include discussion of adjunctive therapies.
Will there be a live Q&A?
Yes. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions during the session.
Who should attend?
Registered Dental Hygienists interested in improving periodontal conversations, patient understanding, treatment acceptance, and clinical outcomes. Registration is also open to Lightwave Dentists and Practice Managers.
REGISTER TODAY!
Every Day, Patients Leave Without Understanding Their Disease.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn practical communication strategies, research-supported insights, and real-world implementation techniques that help patients move from awareness to action.
Join Mary Hughes, RDH, BS, Tanya Dunlap, PhD, and Kristy Miller, RDH for this engaging and practical CE webinar.
Choose Your Session & Register
The webinar content is identical. Select the date and time that works best for you.
Tuesday, July 14
🕐 1:00–2:00 PM
Wednesday, July 29
🕛 12:00–1:00 PM
Wednesday, July 29
🕢 7:30–8:30 PM
1 CE Credit | Complimentary Webinar | Live Q&A
This educational activity is provided by Dental Education Partners™ and made available to Lightwave Dental partner office team members. Tanya Dunlap, PhD, serves as Vice President of Perio Protect®. Perio Protect products may be discussed as part of clinical case examples and educational content. No commercial support was provided for this educational activity.