The Art of Re-Evaluation: Measuring Success in Periodontal Therapy
NEW DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2025
Featuring the guest presentation
“How Successful Is Your Treatment? Evaluating Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy”
by Trisha O’Hehir, MS, RDH
Establishing health goals that are mutually agreed upon by both patients and clinicians prior to initiating non-surgical periodontal therapy is critical to treatment success. These shared goals provide a foundation for meaningful post-treatment reevaluation and long-term oral health outcomes. This course explores strategies for setting collaborative health goals, assessing risk factors, and adapting treatment plans to support both clinical success and patient-centered care. Participants will also reflect on the importance of behavior change, both for patients and for clinicians, in achieving sustainable improvements in oral health.
In addition, Dr. Peter Fritz and Dr. Luisa Schuldt will share their perspectives on the re-evaluation process and highlight the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving long-term success.
Course Objectives:
1. Reflect on the extent to which both patient-defined and clinician-defined health goals have been achieved.
2. Determine the root causes of periodontal disease in individual patients based on risk assessment.
3. Identify opportunities to modify treatment plans in response to post-therapy outcomes.
4. Apply strategies to support health behavior change for both clinicians and patients.
Presented by:
Trisha O’Hehir, MS, RDH
Dr. Peter Fritz
Dr. Luisa Schuldt
We’d love to see you in person! For those living out of town, a virtual option is available. Please email us at [email protected].
Speaker
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Trisha O'HehirMS, RDHTrisha attended the University of Minnesota, receiving degrees in Dental Hygiene and Higher Education. Five decades as a dental hygienist have included private practice in the United States and Zurich, Switzerland and faculty positions at the Universities of Minnesota, Washington, Arizona, Louisville and O’Hehir University.
She was an RDH Magazine, senior consulting editor for 23 years; authored 26 years of Perio Reports research summaries, Compendium of Current Research textbook; contributed to the texts Comprehensive Dental Hygiene Care, by Irene Woodall, and Comprehensive Periodontics for the Dental Hygienist; and fir 10 years was the Editorial Director for Hygienetown. Her articles have appeared in Hygienetown, RDH, JDH, JPH, Access, BSDHT, JDR and JADA.
In 2012, she and two colleagues founded O’Hehir University, where licensed dental hygienists from around the world complete a BS Degree in Oral Health Promotion in a six-month, online program. She also completed training in Myofunctional Therapy and Buteyko Breathing, expanding the range of preventive services for dental hygienists.
