Are you feeding the fear of technology? – Stuart Clark
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 3rd December 2018
The majority of dental practitioners have embraced the latest technology in order to maximise profitability and meet rising patient expectations. Yet, there are many other clinicians who are hesitant in adopting new equipment within their practice, whether that be as a result of perceived cost, or a seeming difficulty in integrating the technology effectively within daily workflows. This apprehension among dentists is understandable – after all, technology advances at such a rapid rate that it can be difficult to stay abreast of any and all developments.
Nevertheless, new technology can bring greater value to the treatment experience by improving traditional techniques in a financially feasible way. As such, dentists that fail to utilise technology as part of their professional workflow risk losing patients to competitors who have done exactly this, enabling them to provide a higher standard of care. To overcome this challenge, practitioners must confront their fear of technology.
Cost
Unbeknownst to many dentists is the fact that the initial cost of new dental equipment is far outweighed by the return on investment that can be gained from it. If we look at this idea in terms of cosmetic and restorative dentistry, for instance, the latest CAD/CAM and milling systems can streamline the delivery of supreme-fitting solutions such as crowns and veneers. There is no longer a need to rely on the time-consuming and costly services of a dental laboratory, as technology can be used to fit restorations within a single appointment. Consequently, dentists are able to maximise on valuable chair time by offering a wider range of treatments to more patients.
There is not only a substantial return on investment in terms of monetary profit and generating a more productive workflow, but also in regard to retaining existing patients and attracting new ones. Practitioners are able to put the “wow” back into dentistry by impressing patients with the standard of care they can provide through implementing new technology. In turn, patients will appreciate that you have put effort into improving your services. This can increase the likelihood of them referring their friends and family to your practice, which could help boost business even further.
Usability
Some practitioners are guilty of dismissing new technology out of fear that these systems are far too sophisticated to understand. The fact of the matter is that many technological solutions have been designed to be incredibly user-friendly, complete with automated processes to make day-to-day operations simpler. Practitioners who are in doubt, however, can seek advice and guidance from many experts in the field who have already begun utilising the latest systems in order to enhance various processes within their own clinical practice.
These experienced professionals may offer training courses, which help to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge required to operate new technology to great effect. Practitioners can also seek out a reliable dental equipment supplier, who can not only perform demonstrations of the systems they offer, but also provide additional training and support. This ensures you become truly competent and confident in operating new equipment within your surgery.
Quality
Many practitioners are wary that technology cannot always provide exceptional performance as part of the delivery of various treatments. In the restorative field, for example, clinicians rely on their working relationships with dental technicians, who fabricate highly precise prosthetics. This is an invaluable process that some practitioners believe cannot be replaced by technology. However, with a range of innovative products now available to the profession, dentists can now complete many restorative treatments without having to rely solely on a technician, although they can still be referred to for more complex dental prosthetics.
Dentists are often amazed by the speed and accuracy of some of the industry’s leading solutions, such as the fully integrated CAD/CAM and milling system from MyCrown. Complete with a state-of-the-art intraoral scanner and simple 5-step guided software, this cost-effective system reduces the lab fees required to fabricate a restoration, as well as the costs involved with additional patient visits and traditional impression-taking materials. MyCrown enables you to take digital impressions and design a prosthesis in less than 10 minutes. It can then mill a variety of consistently high quality chairside restorations in as little as 12 minutes. This facilitates the delivery of an accurate prosthesis within a single appointment, thereby improving profitability in regards to the overall treatment fee. Practitioners also reduce the margin of error and minimise valuable chair time, helping to enhance the overall treatment experience for each patient.
Evidently, there is a lot to gain from being willing and able to invest in the latest technology. Practitioners that overcome their fear of the unknown are in a stronger position to deliver faster, more accurate treatment, which can result in higher productivity and even greater patient satisfaction. This enables practices to differentiate themselves from competitors, as patients will be more likely to recommend a dentist for the high quality of their service. Ultimately, this is a valuable return on an all-round wise investment, which ensures you are able to provide the best level of care to both new and existing patients.
For more information call Clark Dental on 01268 733 146, email info@clarkdental.co.ukor visit www.clarkdental.co.uk
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