This has to be one of the more frustrating aspects of dental school. You have no control over what the patient will do.

Always give the patient an appointment card. If possible remind the patient the night before of the appointment. Record on the chart when the patient does not come in. You can drop a patient who misses three consecutive sessions.

In the removable clinic you can schedule an habitual disappointer after another patient. If the second patient does not come in you can continue to treat the first patient.

If a patient tells you they have to be at work by 9:00, don't schedule them at 8:30. Students usually don't start working until 9:00. Would you believe this situation actually happened.

©1999 by Julius Rosen, D.D.S.