By understanding how the brain takes in information and develops new habits, we can accomplish significantly better oral home care routines with our patients. When we deliver home care instructions aimed at memory retention and motivation, using evidence-based behavioral change frameworks, and having knowledge of a broad range of oral homecare tools to recommend, we can truly see the change to healthy gums. This evidence-based approach must involve your clinical judgement, the patient's needs and preferences, and research.

• Identify how the patient's brain processes information during a dental visit in relationship to stress, habit and goal formation, and memory retention.
• Strategize an individualized patient-centered appointment while implementing different behavior change models.
• Deliver individualized home care recommendations based on the patient's needs.

Heather Wong, MSDH, RDH has been the Professional Relations Manager for TePe Oral Health Care for over 5 years. She has over 11 years’ experience working clinically as a hygienist in both periodontal and general practices. Heather has been adjunct faculty at both Pacific University and Pasadena Community College, where she currently serves on the advisory board. She has served and supported the American Dental Hygienists’ Association at both the state and local levels as Treasurer, Trustee, and as a delegate, as well as a member of the CDHA. Heather has presented CE lectures with dental hygiene associations (state and national), Western Society of Periodontology, California Society of Periodontology, ADHA, and many webinars with TePe. Her research is focused on homecare and habit formation.