This essay is an expert opinion by 3 clinicians who feel the need for a clear phased approach capable
of integrating all dental therapies for the care of patients suffering from multiple pathologies of the oral
cavity. At the moment, the only guidelines available when treating interdisciplinary cases, i.e., patients
with multiple overlapping pathologies (carious disease, periodontal disease, malocclusion, incongruous
restorations, etc.), are those describing the proper sequence of periodontal therapy. The authors take
inspiration from a method developed in the manufacturing world, the so called "lean management",
and its tools to outline the sequence of therapy phases and the correct placement of the various
activities within these phases. In the "lean healthcare”, it is the patient at the center of the attention and
it is him/her who “pulls” the process with his/her health as the main value.
