Modernising your dental practice
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 19th May 2021
The dental industry has undergone a number of significant changes in the last decade alone. Products have evolved and become more reliable, while technology has ushered in a new digital era that has completely transformed how dental practices operate. Indeed, from how patients are checked in to how cases are diagnosed and treatment is performed have all undergone noticeable changes, meaning that the patient journey and how professionals approach care are completely different from before.
However, fast-paced innovation in the industry has meant that it’s difficult to know where to begin when you want to take your practice to the next level. You not only need to think about being at the cutting-edge, but also how patient demands have changed and what this could mean for your practice as a business. In other words, to modernise you need to think broadly and outside of the box.
Why modernise?
According to a 2020 survey, the vast majority of patients prefer dental practices with modern services and technology.[i] In a way this makes sense – people are far more likely to be drawn to a cutting-edge and convenient practice where their needs are met, rather than one that does not offer them the convenient treatment and services that they require.
As such, modernising your dental practice is a smart move if you want to draw in new patients and expand your books. It’s also worth remembering that modernising certain aspects of your practice will bring a number of other benefits too, such as streamlined care, better insight into your practice as a business and more.
Technology first
If anything signifies change, it’s technology. By investing in cutting-edge systems, you can completely transform the way that you offer care. For example, say that you need a new imaging system – by investing in a powerful, modern unit you could begin to expand your treatment offering for patients as you will now have a piece of machinery that supports a more dynamic set of treatments and offers greater predictability.
New technology can be expensive, but modernisation doesn’t have to occur all at once. Think about what technology that will be the most beneficial to you and your patients, or perhaps look at the computer systems you have and see if these can be improved. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, but any change is progress.
Track the trends and understand modern mind-sets
However, modernity is not all about flashing lights and innovative tech – it’s also thinking about what the modern patient wants. A good way to do this is to track treatment trends so that you can understand the needs of modern day individuals seeking care and what treatments they are most likely to want.
For example, now that we are living in an age where appearances matter more than ever, more patients of all ages are seeking cosmetic dental treatments.[ii]
You also need to take into account the latest innovations in treatment, not only with the solutions you use but also the types of treatment you’re offering. Is there room to expand and be more cutting-edge? Could you update your composites to the latest generation products? Maybe you could expand your treatment offerings to include more options that will appeal to a new demographic of patients? Offering popular treatments is a great way to boost your modern credentials, just make sure you market them appropriately on your social media channels and website to draw in the most traffic.
A more holistic way to work
As dentistry evolves, it has become clear that a more holistic approach is necessary for practices to really flourish. Practice management, for example, has become so much more than balancing the books. Now practice management should also include digital security for patient records, the ability to enhance treatment for professionals and patients alike, as well as a way to get deep insight into the very foundation of your practice and how it works as a unique entity.
Sensei Cloud practice management software from Carestream Dental is the definition of state-of-the-art practice management. Not only does this unique software allow perks for professionals such as anytime, anywhere access to patient files for a more modern approach to tackling cases, but it also includes cutting-edge business analytical tools that can be used to assess business models of any size.
Plus, the software is user-orientated and updates weekly based on user wants and recommendations, meaning that as your practice evolves, your practice management will too.
Today’s dentistry
The dental industry puts innovation at the forefront, so in order to attract new patients and keep up with the times it’s a good idea to modernise where possible.
Invest in new technology, take time to understand modern patients and what they want, change your approach to practice management: this way you will ensure that your practice remains an attractive option for patients who prefer a modern approach.
For more information, contact Carestream Dental on 0800 169 9692 or visit www.carestreamdental.co.uk
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @carestreamdental.uk
Author:
Cheryl Hayes
DPMS Regional Product Manager
Europe, Middle East & Africa
[i] Dentistry Today. Patients Prefer modern Dental Practices. Link: https://www.dentistrytoday.com/news/industrynews/item/6224-patients-prefer-modern-dental-practices [Last accessed February 21].
[ii] Dentistry Online. Are We Seeing A Boom Time for Cosmetic Dentistry? Link: https://dentistry.co.uk/2020/09/24/seeing-boom-time-cosmetic-dentistry/ [Last accessed February 21].
