Claude CoWork for Dental Hygienists

You are my dental hygiene practice assistant. Here is my context:

<practice-profile>
- Role: [RDH / RDHAP] at [Type of practice: general, periodontal, pediatric, corporate/DSO, independent]
- State: [Your State] (for scope of practice)
- Practice management software: [Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, etc.]
- Common insurance plans: [List your top 3-5 payers]
- Patient population: [General description: families, geriatric, pediatric, etc.]
</practice-profile>

<rules>
- Periodontal documentation should follow AAP classification guidelines
- Insurance narratives should justify medical necessity using CDT codes and clinical findings
- Patient education materials should be written at a 6th-8th grade reading level
- Never generate content for a specific identifiable patient
- All clinical scenarios must use de-identified information
- Remind me to verify clinical details before finalizing any documentation
</rules>

<task>Write a periodontal charting narrative for a de-identified patient.</task>

<clinical-data>
- Patient: 52-year-old male, smoker (1 pack/day x 20 years), last dental visit 3 years ago
- Medical history: Type 2 diabetes (A1c 7.8%), hypertension controlled with lisinopril
- Clinical findings:
  - Generalized 4-6mm probing depths, localized 7-8mm pockets (#3 ML, #14 DL, #19 ML, #30 DL)
  - BOP: 65% of sites
  - Generalized moderate subgingular calculus
  - Radiographic bone loss: generalized horizontal, localized vertical defects at #3, #14, #19, #30
  - Furcation involvement: Class II #3 buccal, Class I #14 buccal
  - Mobility: Grade I #19
  - Plaque score: 78%
- AAP Classification: Stage III, Grade C periodontitis (risk factors: smoking, diabetes)
</clinical-data>

<instructions>
- Format as a clinical narrative suitable for the patient record
- Include the AAP classification with justification
- Reference the systemic risk factors
- This narrative should support the treatment plan of SRP with re-evaluation
</instructions>

Think step-by-step about how the systemic risk factors (diabetes, smoking) influence the periodontal classification and prognosis before writing.

<task>Write an insurance narrative to justify scaling and root planing for a de-identified patient.</task>

<clinical-data>
- CDT Codes: D4341 (SRP, 4+ teeth per quadrant) x 4 quadrants, D4355 (full mouth debridement) prior to SRP
- Clinical findings: Generalized 4-6mm pockets with localized 7-8mm, 65% BOP, generalized moderate to heavy subgingular calculus, radiographic evidence of generalized horizontal bone loss
- AAP Classification: Stage III, Grade C periodontitis
- Risk factors: Uncontrolled diabetes (A1c 7.8%), smoking history
- Previous treatment: Patient has not received dental care in 3 years. No prior periodontal treatment on record.
- Medical necessity: Disease cannot be managed with prophylaxis alone due to extent and severity of periodontal involvement
</clinical-data>

<instructions>
- Write a concise narrative (under 200 words)
- Clearly establish medical necessity
- Reference clinical findings, CDT code appropriateness, and AAP classification
- Use language that insurance reviewers expect to see
</instructions>

<task>Create a patient education handout about periodontal disease.</task>

<context>
The patient was just diagnosed with Stage II periodontitis and has no prior knowledge of gum disease.
</context>

<instructions>
The handout should cover:
- What periodontal disease is (simple explanation, no jargon)
- What is happening in their mouth specifically (explain pockets, bone loss, bacteria in plain terms)
- Why it matters (tooth loss risk, connection to overall health)
- What the treatment plan involves (SRP — explain what it is and what to expect)
- What they can do at home (brushing technique, flossing, interdental brushes, antimicrobial rinse if recommended)
- What happens if they do nothing

Write at a 7th-grade reading level. Use short paragraphs. Be honest about consequences without being frightening. End with an encouraging note about how treatable this is with compliance.
</instructions>

<format>Clear headers and bullet points. Keep it to one page (about 400 words).</format>

<task>Summarize current key topics in dental hygiene continuing education for a hygienist in general practice.</task>

<context>
I need to complete 12 CE hours this year with at least 2 hours in infection control.
</context>

<instructions>
For each topic, give me:
- Topic name
- Why it matters for clinical practice right now
- One key takeaway or practice change to consider
- Where to find CE courses on this topic (suggest types of providers: ADA CERP, state dental hygiene association, university programs)

Cover these areas:
1. Infection control updates
2. Periodontal disease and systemic health connections
3. New technologies in dental hygiene (lasers, AI-assisted diagnostics)
4. Pharmacology updates relevant to hygiene practice
5. Ergonomics and career longevity

Keep each summary to 3-4 sentences. This is for my own professional development planning, not patient-facing.
</instructions>

<task>Write 4 social media posts for our dental practice's Instagram account, focused on dental hygiene topics.</task>

<context>Our practice voice is friendly, educational, and reassuring — not clinical or intimidating.</context>

<instructions>
Post topics:
1. Why bleeding gums are not normal (and what to do about it)
2. Electric toothbrush vs. manual — what the evidence actually says
3. The real reason we measure those pocket numbers at every visit
4. A simple flossing technique for people who hate flossing

For each post:
- Write a scroll-stopping opening line
- Keep the body under 100 words
- End with a soft CTA (not "Book now!" — more like "Ask us at your next visit")
- Suggest 3-4 relevant hashtags
- Note if a specific image type would work well (illustration, photo, infographic)
</instructions>