There is no minimum or maximum referral scope. Some dentists want a diagnosis and plan. Some want one surgical procedure. Others want us to take responsibility for all periodontal or specialist treatment, satisfy and stabilise a challenging patient, then return them for routine annual examinations at the referring practice. All are welcome.
You do not need to define the scope perfectly before referral. Send the concern, even if the whole referral says “perio”, and we can agree the most useful arrangement after assessment.
1. You define the scope
A referral may ask for diagnosis, prognosis, a second opinion, joint planning, a defined procedure, complete periodontal stabilisation or comprehensive specialist care. If you know what you want, tell us. If you do not, ask us to assess and guide you.
We can also support orthodontic treatment with periodontal stabilisation, soft-tissue grafting, canine exposure or complex extractions. Where care crosses disciplines, we coordinate the sequence with you and the orthodontist.
2. We assess and report
The specialist assessment brings together the history, clinical examination, periodontal or peri-implant charting, radiographs and restorative context. We communicate the diagnosis, relevant prognosis, treatment options, risks and proposed sequence.
The report should answer the referral question, not simply restate the examination. Where several routes are reasonable, we explain the trade-offs and identify any decisions that need to be made jointly.
3. We agree who does what
Before active treatment, responsibilities are made clear. Depending on the case, the referring practice may continue caries control, endodontics, extractions, provisional restorations, definitive restorative care or hygiene support while Olaria provides the specialist element.
For interdisciplinary cases, sequence matters. We agree the biological and restorative endpoints before irreversible treatment begins. This is particularly important where periodontal stability, implant position and the definitive prosthesis depend on each other.
Complete care is an option
If you want us to handle all periodontal or specialist treatment, say so. We can carry the difficult phase through assessment, stabilisation, surgery and review, then return a satisfied patient for routine annual GDP checks with a clear summary. Shared or specialist maintenance can continue where useful.
4. You receive meaningful updates
Communication is timed to the decisions you need to make. This may include an assessment report, an update after initial therapy, a surgical report, restorative guidance and a final handover. If treatment changes materially, we contact you rather than allowing the plan to drift.
Reports include relevant findings, treatment completed, the response, residual risks and the next step. Clinical images or radiographs may be shared securely where they help ongoing care.
5. The patient returns with a maintenance plan
The return point is agreed around what you want us to do. This may be after an opinion, after one procedure, after complete periodontal stabilisation or once all specialist treatment and early maintenance are complete. The written handover identifies:
- the treatment provided and the clinical response
- the current stability or residual sites requiring observation
- the recommended supportive-care interval
- home-care priorities and modifiable risk factors
- radiographic or clinical monitoring needs
- restorative considerations and any limits on treatment
- specific triggers for re-referral
Shared maintenance
Stable periodontal and implant outcomes depend on long-term supportive care, but the delivery can be flexible. Some practices provide all maintenance. Some prefer us to provide periodontal maintenance while they continue general care. Others want the patient returned for annual GDP examinations while Olaria manages specialist reviews.
We will recommend a clinically appropriate arrangement and adapt it to the patient and your practice. The division of care is stated clearly in the handover.
When to re-refer
Please contact us if there is recurrent bleeding or suppuration at a previously stable site, increasing probing depth, new radiographic bone loss, progressive recession, mobility, implant complications, restorative difficulty or a material change in the patient's risk profile.
A re-referral does not restart the process from zero. Sending the maintenance charting and relevant interval records allows change to be assessed against the specialist baseline.
What the patient is told
Patients are told from the outset that Olaria is providing specialist care in partnership with their dentist. We explain when they should continue seeing you, what appointments are needed with us and where they should seek help for problems outside the referral scope.
Clear ownership is part of safe care. It prevents duplication, missed maintenance and the assumption that another clinician is monitoring a problem.
Further reading: SDCEP guidance on referral and continuing care and its stepwise approach to periodontal treatment and maintenance.