Optimise your orthodontic treatment
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 25th August 2022
Nowadays, differentiating your dental practice from others in the profession can be laborious. You may provide the same or similar treatments, so how can you optimise the orthodontic services that you offer and stand out from the crowd?
These challenges can be overcome by re-evaluating the way that you market and deliver these treatments, as well as the solutions that you choose to invest in.
What do you bring to the table?
Whether a patient presents with a simple or complex orthodontic case, dentistry now provides ample pathways to achieve their desired results. Therefore, it is important to consider your dental practice’s services: do you offer the most up-to-date procedures? Can you cater to a range of needs and requirements? One solution that has risen to prominence in recent years is clear aligners, which has become ideal for patients looking for a discreet, quick and comfortable solution for functional and/or aesthetic corrections. Many dental practices will offer this treatment, so how can you make your practice stand out?
Clear aligners not only provide benefits for patients over conventional methods,[i] but could also boost your practice’s business over time. Adopting just one case per week could grow your practice by approximately £175k a year.[ii] With the demand for adult orthodontics increasing,[iii] you could see a significant growth in revenue by making this service available in your practice.
Market your services
It is important to think about the way you market your clear aligner service, both online and in-practice. On your website, or blog if you have one, dedicate a page to the clear aligner system that you offer; be sure to include answers to common questions that patients are likely to ask. Because patients have a wealth of choice when it comes to an orthodontic provider, offering more educational resources will help to cut out the middle man, and give them the information they need all in one place.
Additionally, displaying ‘before and after’ photos is a good way to help patients visualise their own end goals. For many patients, the condition of their teeth may be a source of embarrassment; being able to envisage what could be possible with clear aligners may encourage patients to undergo treatment with your practice over others. Plus, being able to achieve these results with the added comfort and convenience of a clear aligner[iv] may add further appeal to patients.
Enter the digital jungle
With more treatments and more equipment, you do not want to complicate your workflow and give yourself more work. However, clear aligners can fit seamlessly into your workflow, especially when you integrate digital technologies alongside. You’ll be able to streamline protocols and simplify treatment, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.
In orthodontics, patient expectations are often very high, due to influences from social media and experiences shared by family and friends. In order to satisfy these expectations, many dental professionals have digitalised their workflows for a swifter, simpler and more comfortable procedure. The increased use of intraoral scanners, for instance, has prompted much research on their efficacy over conventional methods, with many professionals and their patients preferring the digital option.[v] Implementing intraoral scanners into your clear aligner workflow will bring added value to the procedure, and some patients may be more inclined to undergo treatment with you as a direct result.
A system that supports your way of working
Much like how there is plenty of choice on the market for patients interested in clear aligners, clinicians are likewise faced with many solutions and systems that they can invest in. Therefore, you must be strategic in your choice; will this system fit seamlessly into your workflow? Will it be an easy transition for yourself and your team? Are there training resources and customer support available? Keeping things simple will give you the freedom to work in your preferred way, aiding you further when delivering exceptional outcomes to your patients.
With a ClearCorrect® digital workflow, clinicians can enjoy a deeper integration with their favourite Straumann Group intraoral scanners, which include the 3Shape Trios and the Medit scanners. Clinicians can also experience simpler integrations and faster submissions with the ClearPilot™ 3.0 software. With new features including an Individual Tooth Movement function, clinicians are granted more control and flexibility over treatment too.
Despite there being much competition in the profession, you can successfully attract patients to your dental practice by making changes to the way you market the services you offer, in addition to investing in solutions that offer you and your patients a multitude of benefits.
For more information, visit www.clearcorrect-uk.com
[i] Gao, M., Yan, X., Zhao, R., Shan, Y., Chen, Y., Jian, F., Long, H. and Lai, W. (2020). Comparison of pain perception, anxiety, and impacts on oral health-related quality of life between patients receiving clear aligners and fixed appliances during the initial stage of orthodontic treatment. European Journal of Orthodontics, [online] 43(3), pp.353–359. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/ejo/article-abstract/43/3/353/5866289 [Accessed 20 Apr. 2022].
[ii] www.straumann.com. (n.d.). Education. [online] Available at: https://www.straumann.com/clearcorrect/gb/en/discover/Education.html [Accessed 20 Apr. 2022].
[iii] Increase in adults seeking orthodontic treatment. (2020). British Dental Journal, [online] 228(12), pp.908–908. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-020-1815-0 [Accessed 20 Apr. 2022].
[iv] Cassetta, M., Altieri, F., Pandolfi, S. and Giansanti, M. (2017). The combined use of computer-guided, minimally invasive, flapless corticotomy and clear aligners as a novel approach to moderate crowding: A case report. The Korean Journal of Orthodontics, [online] 47(2), p.130. Available at: https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1081219 [Accessed 20 Apr. 2022].
[v] Christopoulou, I., Kaklamanos, E.G., Makrygiannakis, M.A., Bitsanis, I. and Tsolakis, A.I. (2022). Patient-reported experiences and preferences with intraoral scanners: a systematic review. European Journal of Orthodontics, [online] 44(1), pp.56–65. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/ejo/article-abstract/44/1/56/6293825 [Accessed 13 Apr. 2022].
