Technology is changing the face of dentistry. The way we connect with patients, run our businesses, and more are all being transformed by the innovations that technology is bringing to our industry.
The ability to connect with patients via email and text message has allowed us to be more responsive, offer better customer support, and communicate more effectively than ever before.
Let’s see how technology changes dentistry!
Shaping the Future of Dentists
In this age of technology, it’s hard to imagine any other industry not embracing the change. The dental industry is no exception. In fact, there are many innovative technologies that are changing the way dentists do business and handle patients.
-Analytics – Since practice management software has become essential, analytics is becoming a key element in decision making for all businesses, especially dentistry practices. Analytics can help you understand your market trends, as well as your patient retention and acquisition rates over time.
-Advertising/marketing – Technology makes it possible for dentists to reach and target specific audiences through digital marketing efforts such as social media campaigns or even by using their own websites as marketing tools with content-rich blogs that showcase their services and expertise in the field of dentistry.
-Patient engagement – There are many platforms which make communication between dental offices and patients easier than ever before! With text messages being sent out daily reminders about upcoming appointments or even just general information on good oral health habits like brushing teeth twice per day instead once per week (yes people) will help educate them on how important it’s really supposed to be done regularly not just when they have something wrong going on inside those mouths!
Engaging the New Generation
Businesses can effectively engage the new generation by:
- Using language that resonates with them. Millennials enjoy conversational, casual tones. They respond to humor and approachability.
- Building on the content types and topics that interest the new generation. This includes crafting your writing in an easily-digestible format, using social media to share it, and using video, audio, visual elements and tools to amplify impact.
Artificial Intelligence
AI systems are capable of analyzing data, providing support for decision-making, and performing routine tasks to enhance your efficiency as a dentist.
As an example, processes such as dental treatment planning may become faster with AI software. Machine learning algorithms can learn from the experience of many dentists and use this knowledge to recommend treatment plans based on a patient’s medical history and oral health condition. This will help you focus on other important aspects of your patients’ care, such as diagnosing new cases and managing difficult cases that cannot be handled by the software alone.
AI systems will also enable you to automate your workflow by eliminating administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, billing insurance companies, filing insurance claims and responding to calls from dental labs.
More Predictable Outcomes
Just like any other technology, the use of CAD/CAM in dentistry will give you more predictable outcomes. By using this digital dentistry, dentists can see how the final restoration will look like before even starting the treatment. In addition to visualizing the end result, this technology also allows you to show patients what their teeth will look like after the treatment.
Patients have control over their treatment and results as they can also make adjustments to their desired tooth shape before it is created. It will help them decide whether or not they are satisfied with the end result even before starting the treatment.
Virtual Reality in Dentistry
Virtual Reality is a computer-generated environment that allows a user to interact with a three-dimensional image or computer-generated environment. It provides the user an experience of being in Virtual Reality through sensory feedback such as video, audio, and other physical sensations. VR is used in the dental industry to provide a more interactive experience, more relaxation, and reduce pain and fear.
VR headsets are commonly used by dentists these days because they enhance coordination between surgical team members, patients can visualize their treatment outcome before beginning dental procedures, patients can be distracted from pain with movies or games, etc.
More Effective and Efficient Digital Record-Keeping
Current dental technology allows patients to fill out forms before they come into the office. These forms are then automatically uploaded to their records, so less time is spent passing that information between staff members. This also ensures that patients get the right treatment every time because their records are at hand for reference when they’re in the dentist’s chair.
More Targeted and Accurate Diagnoses Thanks to 3-D Imaging
3-D imaging provides dentists with incredibly detailed images that allow them to diagnose problems faster and more accurately even without an x-ray machine!
It also allows for easier, less invasive procedures because dentists have more information about what’s going on with each individual tooth.