Meeting the needs of the community

Patient awareness of services available

When a patient attends a routine check-up, they may not be aware of any issues with their teeth unless they have done their own research and are worried about a new symptom, have aesthetic concerns, or have been experiencing pain. It is your responsibility to present them with options for preventative, restorative, and aesthetic options, to help your patients improve and maintain their smiles.ⁱ

Consider the needs of your patient base first. Are they requesting treatments that you do not yet offer? In that case, it may be worth considering investing in the necessary equipment to provide the additional service. Are procedures being spoken about in the dental community which may be applicable to your local area? For instance, do you treat edentulous patients who may benefit from removable or fixed prosthetics? If you are able to offer this service to patients within your practice, this will help you to attract and retain new patients.ⁱ

Benefits to patients

Many of the procedures requested by patients in dental practices are based around aesthetics. Whitening, veneers, and orthodontics are common examples. Often, patients will attempt to whiten their teeth at home, with varying degrees of success. By offering high-quality professional whitening after a conversation with your patient, both they and the practice will benefit. Not only is it expected that patients will return to maintain their results, but whitening is considered an introductory treatment which leads patients to look into further cosmetic work.ⁱ Demand for orthodontic treatment has also increased in recent years, driven by the popularity of clear aligners, with more adult patients requesting the modality.[ii]

Popularity of veneers has skyrocketed in recent years as well, and they are a very useful tool to address a number of common issues. Patients may not realise the versatility of treatment, using veneers to repair and improve the appearance of: chips, cracks, gaps, misalignments, and discolouration of anterior teeth to name a few. In many cases, veneers are a simple, cost-effective and minimally invasive solution which produce excellent results – driving patient satisfaction.ⁱ As a solution appropriate for a range of indications, it could be incredibly useful to integrate this service into your practice, and offer to patients where appropriate.

Benefits to practice

By expanding the range of services that you offer your patients you are able to find new passions, utilise your entire skillset, and improve patient retention. Veneers in particular are an excellent addition to any dental practice, giving you the ability to offer patients an all-in-one solution for a number of aesthetic and structural issues. If patients have issues including tooth fractures, discolouration, malposition, or diastema, veneers could be appropriate to correct these problems all at once and improve the overall appearance of the teeth.[iii] This is beneficial to the patient and the practice, as a time- and cost-effective aesthetic solution.

Delight your patients with a service that does it all

Many patients will be pleasantly surprised that you are able to offer them services they may not have realised are appropriate for them. Finding cost-effective, versatile solutions which are able to transform your patients’ smiles will reflect well on your practice and you as a dental professional. Consider not only ways to repair issues with patients’ teeth, but also to enhance the smile as a whole and boost their confidence. Engage in conversations about each patient’s experiences and address ways in which aesthetic issues could be solved.

The BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ direct composite veneering system from COLTENE gives your practice the ability to offer high-quality aesthetic restorations in just one session. The pre-shaped composite shells are easily customisable and combine the advantages of direct composite and indirect veneering for fast results your patients will love. BRILLIANT COMPONEER™ is a cost effective, versatile solution – appropriate for use across a wide range of indications – and is efficient when compared to direct composite restorations in many indications.

Upgrade your practice and offer your patients an all-in-one solution for highly aesthetic and functional results. Provide your patients with a bright smile which helps them to feel confident – a fast solution achievable in just one session. By offering a wider range of treatment options which are suitable for use across a range of indications, your patients will be satisfied with their outcomes and be likely to return to you for ongoing care.

For more on COLTENE, visit www.coltene.com,
email info.uk@coltene.com or call 0800 254 5115.

Nicolas Coomber COLTENE National Account & Marketing Manager

[i] Dental Economics. Expanding your service mix. (Accessed: 11.11.22) https://www.dentaleconomics.com/science-tech/cosmetic-dentistry-and-whitening/article/16391946/expanding-your-service-mix

[ii] Orthodontic treatment for adults continues popularity. Br Dent J 227, 331 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0777-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-019-0777-6

[iii] Healthline. What to know before you get dental veneers. (Accessed: 14.11.22) https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-veneers#benefits