
TREATMENT PLANNING CO-ORDINATION (TPC)
Designation & Accreditation
(Coming Soon)
It has become clear that a definable new role has developed for staff within the fold of those providing dental services. Recent developments in dental treatment technology and techniques have accelerated the evolving need for a specialist to co-ordinate resources with a patient and their treatment plan. Previous definitions of jobs in the field of dental services have not expanded to adequately encompass the functions of a specialist who coordinates the requirements of a patient's treatment plan with the provision of clinical staff and other resources.

Responsibilities of Treatment Planning Coordinator
-
Presentation using multimedia and examples to patients re: treatment options
-
Follow up with insurance and patient to determine final treatment plan
-
Transfer patient to dentist and assistant for treatment
-
Transfer to front desk staff for billing to insurance company and to collect co-payment
-
Apply fee guides & procedure codes.
Treatment Planning
-
Treatment options i.e. options for missing tooth are bridge vs. implant vs. partial vs. none.
-
options for crowding are ortho-referral, Invisalign or no treatment.
-
options for large restorations are crown, inlay/onlay, resin.
-
options for restoring endodontically treated teeth i.e post+core/crown, crown alone, resin alone.
-
Risks vs Benefits of each option.
-
ie. Consequences of partial edentulism such as crowding or over-eruption
-
i.e for each treatment option., such as single-tooth restoration, amalgams, resins, inlays, onlays, porcelain fused to metal crown, all-porcelain crown, no-treatment.
-
Can use visual aids to explain i.e. software, radiographs, study models.
-
Cost of each option.
-
total cost of each option to include estimated lab fees.
Periodontal Treatment Planning
-
Periodontal examinations & Screening
-
Active Therapy, maintenance, & recalls
-
Risk factor evaluation
-
Relation to systemic health
-
Risks of non-treatment
Informed consent
-
-i.e written or implied.
-
-Should include options and risk vs. benefit for each option.​
Dental Terminology
-
Dental terms necessary to communicate with clinical staff, patients, , and insurance companies.
Pre-determinations and Follow Up- Treatment Planning Coordinator
-
Pre-determinations can be sent, often electronically, to determine the amount of coverage and the patient’s copayment
-
A log or journal can be kept of pre-determinations to follow up with patients or insurance companies
Pathology & Etiology
-
Caries prevention, signs of decay,
-
signs of periodontal disease e.g. bone loss
-
prevention
Payment Plans & Lines of Credit
-
Third-party or in-office.
Intra-oral cameras
-
images captured chair-side can be used for patient dmeonstrations & treatment planning, as well as pre-determinations..