Preventive protocols: a lifestyle medicine approach?

Learn how to apply preventive protocols, lifestyle medicine and behaviour change techniques to improve oral and overall patient health.
About this Event

******This event is suitable Hygienists, Therapists, Dentists, Nurse.******

Aims & Objectives

To equip dental hygienists and therapists with the knowledge and practical skills to implement effective preventive protocols in primary dental care, focusing on risk assessment and supporting sustainable patient behaviour change using coaching techniques and lifestyle medicine principles.

By the end of this lecture, participants will be able to:

● Understand the role of preventive protocols within the primary dental care setting

● Be able to identify modifiable risk factors and recognise the link between oral health and wider health conditions

● To provide practical framework for integrating evidence-based lifestyle medicine into periodontal care

● Develop behaviour change techniques to support patient engagement using coaching techniques and SMART goals.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the role and importance of preventive protocols in primary dental care, including their impact on long-term oral and general health outcomes.
• Identify and assess key modifiable risk factors (e.g. smoking, diet, oral hygiene practices, systemic conditions) and describe their relationship with periodontal and wider systemic health.
• Apply a structured framework to integrate evidence-based lifestyle medicine principles into periodontal care planning.
• Demonstrate effective behaviour change strategies by:

-Using basic coaching techniques (e.g. open questioning, reflective listening)

-Formulating SMART goals with patients to support sustainable oral health improvements

• Develop a simple, personalised preventive care plan for a patient scenario that incorporates risk assessment, lifestyle factors, and behaviour change techniques using case studies.

Hosted By

Kate Reading, Dip DH, BSc (Hons) DS, PG Dip OPH, Cert LM.

Kate Reading qualified as a Dental Hygienist in 2004 and has worked across both general and specialist dental settings. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Dental Studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Oral and Positive Health, and a Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine Coaching. In addition, Kate serves as Chair of the Northwest BSHDT Committee.

Having become colleagues at a referral practice in Wilmslow, Lisa and Kate further advanced their shared interest in preventive care by obtaining Certificates in Lifestyle Medicine Coaching. Together, they co-founded PerioLife Align, a social media platform dedicated to educating both patients and professionals on the links between chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease and oral health, through the application of evidence-based lifestyle medicine principles.

Lisa Knowles Dental Therapist, BSc OHS, Cert LM.

Lisa Knowles qualified as a Dental Therapist in 2007 and has since gained extensive experience in both specialist and general dental practices, with a particular focus on managing patients with advanced periodontal disease and dental implants. She also holds a Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine Coaching awarded by Siobhan Kelleher Education.