Blog Category: Dental Equipment

Boosting Profitability in Your Dental Practice in 2020

All You Need to Know About Boosting Profitability in Your Dental Practice in 2020

One of the best goals you can set for your dental practice in 2020 is to boost profitability. Improved profitability will not only mean that you can afford to attract and retain the best staff, but you will also be able to create the dental office of your dreams. Boosting profitability can take two forms. One is to grow your practice by attracting more patients. The second way is to optimize every aspect of the dental practice to get maximum value from all the resources at your disposal. Consider some of the following recommendations on how to boost profitability in your dental practice.

Emphasize Same-Day Treatment

You can increase case acceptance and profitability by making same-day treatment plans available to your patients. For example, seeing a patient who comes in for their routine dental cleaning and then deep cavities. This patient can be given the option of getting a filling that same day.

The advantage of same-day treatment options is that they negate the need to make future appointments. Appointments always come with the possibility of cancellation or postponement. Therefore, profitability will be boosted once patients are presented with the option of having a dental problem dealt with immediately.

Use Pictures, Not Words

Case acceptance can also be boosted by taking the approach of saying fewer words and using more pictures during case presentation. In this regard, the best intraoral camera from Digital DOC can go a long way in providing high-quality images that can be displayed on HD flat screen T.V’s in the office. The crystal-clear images will show the patient the extent of their dental problem. When a patient sees the extent of tooth decay, then the patient will be more willing to accept the treatment plan recommended. Using Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras allows you to See More, Do More.

Give Everyone an Appointment

Profitability can be improved when patients leave the office with their next visit already scheduled. The best way to pull this off, especially when faced with patients who don’t have any specific dental problem, is by having the front desk staff explain why it is important to schedule regular visits to retain peak dental health. The staff member can then proceed to recommend two appointment options from which the patient is encouraged to select the one they prefer. In this way, you will have eased the appointment-setting process while giving the patient autonomy to select the best timing for that appointment. If handled successfully, profitability will start to improve as those appointments kick in.

Improve Your Appointment Confirmation Process

A significant portion of productivity (and potential profitability) is lost to canceled appointments and no-shows. By having an effective appointment confirmation system, a lot of this lost productivity can be avoided.

For example, research has shown that text messaging produces better results than sending voicemail messages. To start, send a message the same day the appointment is made. Then follow up with another message requesting confirmation two weeks before the appointment date. Next, send another message 48 hours before, then 24 hours before and lastly 2 hours before the appointment. This way, any patient who cannot make their appointment will let the office know, and that time slot can be allocated to another patient. This way, profitability will be boosted because the entire workday will be fully utilized.

Provide a Variety of Payment Options

Some people are hesitant to accept recommended treatment plans because of the needed treatment’s price. You can overcome this barrier by providing as many payment options as possible. For example, you could start by accepting all insurance plans in addition to credit and debit cards.

Payment plans (for those without insurance) and payment offers for those who can pay in advance can also increase case acceptance and boost profitability.

Remove Patients’ Fears

A number of patients may be reluctant to accept treatment that you propose because they are apprehensive about the dental procedure. You can forestall these concerns during the case presentation by using simple language to describe the procedure.

For example, use the words basic, simple, or routine when talking about the dental procedure. If the procedure is a complex one, inform the patient that you perform it frequently and that he or she shouldn’t have fears. This way, the patient will be put at ease, and they will be more likely to accept the treatment proposed. With improved case acceptance comes increased profitability for the dental office.

Upgrade Your Equipment

Upgrading your dental equipment is arguably one of the best things that you can do to boost profitability. When you get the best dental camera, the best handheld dental x-ray device, and other digital dental equipment from Digital Doc, you are in a good place to present cases. Presenting this way will put the patient at the center of advocating for treatment. With the best equipment, you will be able to take efficiency to a higher level, which will translate into profitability for the office.

As you can see, there are many things you can do to boost profitability come 2020. Use the tips above to get creative and engage Digital DOC as your partner on matters of dental equipment, especially for the best dental cameras, handheld x-ray devices, transillumination devices, and all their accessories. We are ready to work with you to make 2020 your best year ever, so contact us today to schedule a virtual demonstration of our Digital Doc products.

Fresh Start in the New Year

Get a Fresh Start in the New Year

The new year has officially begun! As we kick off 2020, you may start to think about how you can achieve your dental practice’s new goals. If 2019 wasn’t your strongest, you may take this as an opportunity to start fresh. Either way, we want to help you make 2020 your best year yet. So, how can you make this year top all the rest? We recommend upgrading your dental equipment. There are so many benefits to upgrading to the latest dental technology. Here are some of the key reasons why it is wise for practice owners to set a goal to update their dental equipment this New Year.

Increased Productivity for the New Year

Increased productivity at the dental practice is the first benefit of updating your dental equipment. For example, when you update your intraoral cameras, they will integrate seamlessly with your office management system. The captured images will be sent immediately to the digital files of the patient. Digital Docs IRIS X80, the best intraoral camera on the market, offers plug and play capabilities. You no longer have to worry about how to use your intraoral camera. It’s ready to go when you are. This improved productivity can allow you to grow your dental practice and serve more patients each day as a result of the time freed when most processes are automated. You can work less and have more free time without having to let go of your current patients. New technology truly allows you to See More, and Do More.

Reduced Equipment Failure Risks

Updating your dental equipment eliminates the risk that work will be interrupted by equipment malfunctions or failures. Outdated digital equipment stands a higher chance of failing. This is because its complex operating systems will struggle to cope with the demands placed upon them. In contrast, updated equipment works effortlessly since all its systems are primed to deliver peak performance.

Attract New Patients

A big selling point for new patients is the aesthetics of your dental office. If a patient walks into your office and everything is outdated (including your equipment), they’ll think that your skills are outdated too. When you upgrade your dental technology, your patients will appreciate that you are investing in your business and they’ll also like the fact that you keep up with the latest trends.

As you can see, investing in new dental technology will pay off. Patients will always choose an office that’s updated over an outdated office. Our Digital Doc team is happy to help you in this process. Contact us today and schedule a virtual or an in-office demo!

The Importance of Dental X-Rays

The Importance of Dental X-Rays From Digital Doc

A visual examination of your mouth isn’t enough for dentists to start the necessary treatment. Consequently, dentists utilize an array of diagnostic tools, such as radiographic images. Dentists rely on these x-rays to look at what lies beneath your gum-line, such as the roots of your teeth and the surrounding bone. So, when you see your dentist using the XTG Handheld X-Ray machine from Digital Doc, you’ll know that they’re doing everything they can to provide the best treatment possible. In this article, you’ll learn the importance of dental x-rays, how often you should have them taken, and their level of safety.

X-Rays Are Invaluable During Diagnosis

As already mentioned, dental x-rays allow your dentist to take a look at what is within and between your teeth, something that isn’t possible with just the naked eye.

Dental x-rays aren’t only useful during routine dental checkups to ensure that you don’t have any dental disease; they are also immensely helpful during the diagnosis of various diseases. For example, HD x-rays taken using the XTG X-Ray device can be instrumental in helping your dentist see impacted wisdom teeth, abscesses, cysts, and many other issues.

Many people rarely see their doctor, but they visit the dentist regularly. This situation has made dental x-rays important aids in diagnosing overall health problems, such as osteoporosis. Digital Doc’s handheld digital x-ray will show whether or not you are losing bone dentistry in your jaw or other surrounding areas.

Dental x-rays also play an important role when dentists, orthodontists, and other dental care professionals are creating a treatment plan. For example, when you are due to undergo dental implant surgery, the dentist will use the x-ray images to plan the surgery and select the best placement for the implant.

How Often Should X-Rays Be Taken?

No two patients are alike, so it isn’t easy to make a blanket statement regarding how often you should undergo dental x-rays. For that reason, it is prudent for you to talk to your dentist so that he or she can assess your dental health and recommend how often you may need dental x-rays.

For most patients, several types of dental x-rays, such as panoramic x-rays, periapical x-rays, and bitewing x-rays will be taken if you are a new patient at a dental office so that your first exam can give the dentist a clear picture of where you stand in terms of your dental health. Thereafter, the x-rays will not be as comprehensive as the first set since there will be a baseline upon which future exams and treatment will be based.

Dental X-Ray Safety

Every patient and parent is concerned about x-ray safety. After all, radiation exposure carries some risks, and that is why patients are given lead aprons and lead collars to protect delicate body organs from radiation. Most modern equipment is designed to limit radiation exposure, and dentists only order x-rays when the situation warrants such images, so you should have no worries on those few times when these images are required.

Nevertheless, some dentists have taken patient safety a degree higher by switching to handheld digital x-rays, such as the XTG. This device hugely reduces the radiation to which you are exposed, so you have nothing to fear if your dentist uses this chairside device. The odds of getting the best diagnostic and routine checkup images increase significantly if your dentist is using the XTG Handheld X-Ray from Digital Doc since the images captured will be crystal-clear. So, the next time you visit your dentist, ask him or her to use this digital device for reliable x-rays upon which your dental health can be determined.

Do HD Cameras Matter to Patients?

Are you putting off investing in HD cameras for your practice because you think that they may not be of great value to your patients? What if you polled the next 100 patients that came into your practice and asked them how big of a television what watched at home? If more than 70% said, HD would it help your decision to upgrade your televisions in your operatories to 55” TV’s and invest in IRIS HD? In this article, you’ll discover how your patients can benefit when you start using HD cameras, such as the IRIS HD Intraoral cameras, at your dental office.

Patient Education is Easier

The superior image quality of HD cameras like the IRIS HD USB 3.0 gives you an important tool to use during patient education. For example, you can print out the HD image and circle the areas showing the cavities in the teeth of the patient. This clarifies to the patient the magnitude of the problem and leads them to accept the treatment that you want to provide.

If the patient cannot make decisions on their own about the treatment, you can let them take the printed images home so they can discuss treatment with their loved ones.

Alternatively, you can beam the images on a video screen inside the operatory. These HD images taken using your IRIS Intraoral Camera for Mac or the IRIS HD USB 3.0 will loom large on the screen and put the point across that immediate treatment is necessary.

Processing Insurance Claims is Easier

Getting insurance claims accepted in a timely manner is another benefit. You can even get reimbursed for Images taken. Use the following: IO Camera code D0350 and D0600 for any transillumination images. We had a dental practice receive over $1,800 in insurance reimbursement for IO camera images alone in five months.

The situation is much different when the insurance claims include HD images taken by IRIS HD 3.0 Dental Camera or the xtg2go handheld x-ray. The images make a strong case and expedite the successful processing of that claim.

They Portray a Positive Image of Your Practice

The dental technology you have in your office can influence whether a patient stays with you or finds dental services elsewhere. For example, when patients see that the equipment you use to conduct diagnostic tests is very old, they may wonder whether it is still safe and they will switch to dental practices or doctors’ offices with newer equipment.

When you upgrade to IRIS Intraoral cameras, your patients see your practice as one which keeps with the times and utilizes the latest technology. This positive impression takes on an even greater role in patient recruitment and retention when you show those patients how that technology helps you to provide better care to them. As you know, happy patients and caregivers translate into benefits on your bottom line.

As you can see, HD cameras do have many patient-side benefits which you shouldn’t fail to harness. Those benefits will then be magnified by the benefits on your side as a dental care provider, such as smoothening workflows and expediting diagnosis. So, what are you waiting for to upgrade to HD cameras?

Adopting Portable X-Rays Into Your Practice

adopting portabl x-rays into your practice - digital doc

Adopting Portable X-Rays Into Your Practice

If you haven’t incorporated portable handheld x-rays into your dental practice, you are missing out on a lot of benefits that these devices bring. In this article, you’ll discover how adopting Digital Doc’s XTG Handheld X-Ray will transform your dental practice.

Employees’ Work Is Eased

Sometimes you don’t realize how much of an asset dental technology can be until you use it. When your employees use the portable XTG Handheld X-Ray frequently, they’ll realize how easy it is to set up and capture images. All that the employees have to do is to power it up, take aim, and start capturing images. No more wasting time walking in and out of the operatory with every shot taken.

As the portable x-ray eases the work of employees, it frees them to be more productive and build rapport with each patient. This increased productively has a direct positive effect on the bottom line of your dental practice.

Patient Experience

The dental industry is more and more competitive today. Are you accepting new patients? Would you like this number to continue to increase? Investing in technology such as XTG hand-held X-ray and communicating this to your patients will improve their experience. Improving patient experience will result in more new patients. People talk about their experiences, both positive and negative. The conversation could go something like this: “Jim, we are always looking for ways to improve your experience. We just invested in hand-held x-ray, which allows us to reduce the time it takes us to take your Xrays by half the time. It is very safe. So much so, I get to stay in the room with you. What do you think?”

Instant Diagnosis is Possible

Traditional x-rays are a time-consuming process for both the patient and the dental care provider. Digital handheld x-rays and intraoral cameras collapse this time because the images captured are beamed onto the screen available in the operatory as soon as the image is taken. Faster diagnosis means treatment can be commenced sooner, and patients can make an informed decision while the image is still vivid in the minds.

Storage of Patient Records is Eased

It is also easier to maintain patients’ records after switching to digital dental technology, such as the LUM sub-enamel illumination device, the xtg2go portable x-ray, and the IRIS HD digital intraoral camera. The images captured using the portable x-ray or the digital intraoral camera can be sent directly to the digital file of each patient. It is therefore easy to retrieve this patient data since it is all stored in one place, and there’s no need for staff to archive records manually.

As you can see, your dental practice can benefit from adopting portable x-ray equipment. Talk to the experts at Digital Doc and learn how you integrate this portable digital x-ray equipment in your practice today. As always, SEE More. DO More.

Portable Dental X-Rays Basic Training

There are so many benefits to portable dental x-rays. Once you’ve decided to upgrade your traditional x-ray machine to an XTG Handheld X-ray, you’ll need to learn how to use it.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray device can capture 150 images a day, and these are more than a typical office will need, so there is no need to worry about the charge on the battery. Use the following steps to get started with your new device so that you enjoy faster setup, better quality images, and reduced radiation exposure of your patients.

Powering Up Your Handheld X-Ray

Take the tower port on the USB cable and plug it into a port on the XTG device. Next, press the power “On” button to activate the unit. The display will show you the status of the battery charge and the current tooth image option you can capture immediately. The settings could indicate “Adult” or “Pedo.”

Selecting/Saving Image Settings

The “S” button on the unit changes the tooth settings to what you require. To make any changes. Press the up or down button next to the “S” button to adjust the exposure setting. Press the “S” button and hold it down for 2 seconds to save the current settings shown on the device’s display screen. For example, the screen may be indicating “Adult,” and you want to save these settings used to capture images of adults. To do this, press down the “S” button for two seconds and the “ready” light will turn on to confirm that you have saved the settings. These saved settings now form part of your preset settings that you can quickly access.

To change from the adult to pediatric settings, touch the “S” button and press it, so it stays down. Next, touch the power button and then touch the “S” button again. The display will change to “pedo,” and you can take x-rays of kids.

To keep it in the pedo position, touch the power button, then the “S” button and the x-ray will show the green ready light.

Switching to Another Preset Setting

To turn back to the adult settings, hold the “S” button down again, touch the power off button, touch the “S” button again and you will be taken back to the adult settings. And that really is all you need in terms of setting up your brand new XTG Handheld X-Ray unit.

Taking X-Ray Images

To capture an exposure, use your right hand to hold the XTG so that it rests in the palm of that hand. Keep your first finger protruding to the front of the device. The exposure button is right there at the right-hand corner at the front. Now move the hand holding the device away from your body so that you don’t feel the weight of the XTG Handheld X-Ray unit. You can take all x-rays using just one hand because the strap over your shoulder balances out the weight. Now point the device, then touch and hold down the exposure button. You will hear three beeps, and the device screen will go back to green showing that you are ready to take another image if you want to.

That is a summary of all you need to use your xray2go. For more detailed instructions on how to set up and use the XTG, search YouTube for XTG by Digital Doc, and you will find an 11-minute instructional video to give you a more in-depth explanation of the steps in this blog post.

3 Essentials for Successful X-Ray Acquisition

X-ray images play a big role in any dental office as dental healthcare practitioners look for caries, impacted teeth, cysts, gum disease or any other dental anomaly. The best x-ray images are produced by the most appropriate x-ray equipment for your dental office. You should, therefore, consider the following factors as you shop for a replacement or additional x-ray machine for your dental office.

Patient Comfort

It can be nearly impossible for you to capture x-ray images of high quality if your patient isn’t comfortable while you take those images. Your first step in the quest for high-quality x-ray images is therefore to find x-ray equipment that will ensure the highest level of patient comfort.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray, also known as the Xray2go, is one piece of equipment that will address your concerns about patient comfort while radiographic images are captured.

This device allows you to get the x-ray images you want while the patient is sitting in the dental chair. The patient is comfortable because they are in a familiar room with a familiar person (you). The patient will remain relaxed while you capture all the different images you need to make an accurate diagnosis.

Equipment Quality

As you may know, any craftsman is often as good as the tools that he or she uses. The same applies to dental health professionals. You cannot expect to capture high-quality images using poor quality equipment.

So, you should be on the lookout for high-quality equipment as you shop for new x-ray equipment for your dental office. Consider manufacturers who have a history of availing reliable equipment that can serve for the stipulated service life without a drop in the quality of the images captured.

The Xray2go is one of the portable x-ray machines that will attract your attention when you rank the different pieces of equipment on the market in terms of their quality. This portable x-ray will come in handy to confirm any suspicions that you may have after viewing a patient’s oral structures with the help of the LUM sub-enamel illumination device.

While you evaluate the x-ray equipment quality, don’t forget to assess how many images you need to take each day so that what you buy can cope with that load. For example, the XTG Handheld X-Ray can capture at least 150 images before the battery power drops and you have to recharge it. This capacity is more than sufficient for most dental offices, so the x-ray can work all day and be recharged at night.

Workflow Optimization

Dentistry has progressed to a level where dental care professionals don’t have the luxury to take days or weeks before giving a patient diagnosis or even performing the necessary procedure. For example, same-day dental restorations (crowns, for example) are becoming the norm due to the availability of modern equipment.

You should consider how the x-ray equipment will ease or complicate the workflow at your dental office before you procure that equipment. Confirm that the software upon which the equipment you want to buy operates can be integrated with your patient management system.

The XTG Handheld X-Ray is superb in this regard because it can easily export the images captured to the digital patient files. All this is possible due to the compatibility of this equipment’s software with nearly all patient management systems available.

As you can see, the process of acquiring x-ray equipment for your dental office should be systematic so that you will be in a position to weed out the equipment that isn’t suited to the specific needs of your dental office. You can further smoothen the acquisition process by involving the supplier as early as possible so that the transition can be properly planned. Be sure to train your staff on how to use the new x-ray equipment, as well as any complementary technology like the LUM sub-enamel illumination device.

The Remarkable Story of Dr. Tuyen Nguyen

When you visit Dr. Tuyen Nguyen’s state-of-the-art dental practice in Rush City, Minnesota, you cannot help but be inspired by his story. Dr. Nguyen migrated from Vietnam to start his version of The American Dream. Dr. Nguyen’s story inspires anyone to believe that if they dream big, put in long hours of work and never give up, they too can live the life they’ve always hoped for.

Born towards the end of the Vietnam War, Dr. Nguyen, grew up when the Communists took over the country. They rigorously enforced their system upon the people and punished anyone who got in their way. Any form of money or power was considered a sin. People went so far as to throw money in the river so that they could avoid being punished.

Dr. Nguyen came from a family who valued skills and education. His parents worked very hard to become schoolteachers to earn a good living. After the Communists took over, his parents were only making ends meet. To increase their income, Dr. Nguyen’s mom ran many businesses from their home. She purchased peanuts in bulk, processed them, added value, and then sold them. She did the same with other items like oil, sugar, and rice. Later, she started a sewing business to make clothing for exporting companies.

Dr. Nguyen helped out in the family businesses. But he was a determined young man who had the desire to better his circumstances in life. Dr. Nguyen rode a bicycle 20 miles three times a week in order to complete a preparatory course for a Vietnam college entrance exam. Later, he found out that he did not qualify to get into medical school. Dr. Nguyen did, however, get into a physician assistant program. After three long years of training, he qualified for a physician assistant job, which paid $25 a month. Dr. Nguyen could of qualified for a job that paid $50-100 a month if he went to medical school. He decided to go back to Biên Hòaorked to work for his mother’s at-home banking business. Dr. Nguyen told himself that he would one day board a plane and leave for a foreign country where he would get a better education.

His dreams of a better education finally became a reality when Dr. Nguyen found a way to migrate to the United States. He left Vietnam, traveled to the Philippines in 1992 and moved to the United States in 1993. He started his education in the U.S. at a community college. Dr. Nguyen considered nursing, teaching, business, and being a hygienist as possible career paths. Eventually, he decided he wanted to be an electrical technician. He made his way to Saint Paul College to gain the knowledge and skills he needed. Then one of his prime supporters convinced him that he was capable of doing more than engineering. Dr. Nguyen was encouraged by his peers to aim higher in the career field several times.

Dr. Nguyen completed dental school in 2002 and embarked on acquiring his own dental practice, a dream he had in 2005. Dr. Nguyen didn’t just want any regular dental practice. He wanted a comprehensive dental practice with the latest technology, such as 3D cone beam x-ray, hard and soft tissue laser and intraoral cameras. With the latest technology, he could leverage his newly acquired professional skills in order to offer the best service to his patients. That dream of a state-of-the-art dental practice saw the light of day in 2009 when he organized a grand opening for the revamped dental practice he bought years earlier.

Where is Dr. Nguyen now?

Today, Dr. Nguyen’s dental practice has 12 dental chairs, each with its own intraoral camera. He credits a combination of many investments such as the IRIS 2.0 Cameras made by Digital Doc, the facility, the proper number of team members to additional training. Training courses to better serve his patients with Implants, for example, IV sedation, sleep apnea. If you want to grow your production to over $1000 per hour, this list is a great place to start.

How can that be? Dr. Nguyen, explains that the cameras, for example, enable him to SHOW his patients that his dental practice is more thorough in its work when compared to the other dental offices. A new patient who comes in knowing that he or she has four cavities discovers from the images captured by the intraoral cameras that there are seven or eight cavities! By SHOWING the patients the extent of their dental problems instead of merely TELLING them, Dr. Nguyen proves the superiority of his services. Consequently, case acceptance rates have soared, along with his income.

Looking back to the $25 per month at a physician’s assistant back in Vietnam to $1,000 an hour. Dr. Nguyen is truly thankful for how far he has come and he encourages those in his field to go after what they want in life. If he could make it, you can make it too!

The Key to Modern Day Root Canals

The Key to Modern Day Root Canals

The modern dental patient expects their dental care provider to use the latest technology, deliver better outcomes, and be willing to schedule procedures at the convenience of the patient. Dental care providers are scrambling to improve the way they deliver their services in order to meet these expectations of their patients. This article discusses five essentials that can help to deliver modern-day root canals that meet all the expectations of patients.

XTG Handheld X-Ray

If you’ve used Digital Doc’s XTG Handheld X-ray, you’ll wonder how you managed to perform root canals in the past. This Xray2go allows you to remain in the operatory and take radiographic images of your patient while they are in the dental chair. Root canals are one of the procedures that patients don’t look forward to undergoing, but with this tool, you can increase the convenience factor for your patients because they don’t have to be shuffled to the radiology room and then back to complete their treatment.

The handheld x-ray also gives you high-quality images that can help you to deliver treatment outcomes that can only be dreamed about by those using the traditional x-ray machines.

An IRIS Intraoral Camera

While endodontists largely treat patients who have been referred by dentists, the records sent along with the referral may not provide an accurate depiction of the patient’s tooth before the root canal treatment is undertaken.

It is therefore helpful for you to have an intraoral camera like the IRIS USB 2.0 Chair Dental Camera so that you can take high-quality images to complement what has been captured by the XTG Handheld X-Ray.

Effective Communication

It is one thing to communicate, and it is another thing to communicate effectively. For example, you wouldn’t use the same diction that you use when communicating with a referring dentist to talk to a patient, would you?

It is important for you to communicate effectively with all parties, such as your patients, the specialists and referring dentists if you want to deliver better root canals.

Luckily, modern digital dentistry equipment like the LUM and XTG Handheld X-Ray make it possible for all parties to be on the same page. For instance, you can take images with your IRIS Intraoral camera and show the patient what exactly you are going to fix during the root canal treatment. The same images can be used if you need to communicate with referring dentists so that everyone is kept in the loop during each stage of the treatment.

Knowledgeable Staff

Another important factor for endodontists who wish to perform modern-day root canals that meet all the expectations of patients is knowledgeable staff. Your staff should be conversant with the workings of all your modern equipment, such as the Xray2go. They should also be familiar with how that equipment delivers outstanding outcomes for your patients.

Such mastery can only happen if you, the endodontist, set the example and arrange to have your staff trained each time you introduce new technology or methods of delivering patient care. Your staff will then convey their expertise to the patients, and the net result will be superior root canal outcomes when compared to other offices.

Once you have all the essential components above in place, there will be nothing standing in the way of delivering modern root canal treatments. As you may know, word of mouth spreads fast, so your practice will grow as a result of all the positive reviews made by any patient who undergoes root canal therapy at your office.

The Safety of Portable Dental X-ray Machines

Dental X-ray devices are extensively used in dental treatment just like the LUM Sub-Enamel Illumination device. In order to serve patients well, clinicians should be aware of and prepared for the hazards of using x-rays. X-rays emit radiation, which can prove to be significantly risky for patients if not used appropriately. Operating an x-ray machine is not as simple as pushing a couple of buttons, technicians should train themselves properly to use x-ray devices. The same is true for portable handheld x-ray devices.

Digital Doc XTG is an excellent portable x-ray system. It is a high frequency, advanced dental x-ray device. With a 60kVDC and 2mA tube current, it is built to produce high-quality x-ray, for both film and digital sensors. The devices can also be mounted on an optional tripod or on arms. Aside from improving efficiency in patient diagnosis, it is safe and easy to use the device for clinicians. The rest of the article will outline the key guidelines and safety precautions to follow while using the device.

Check the X-ray Device Package

First things first; as soon as you get the device open and assess all the components provided in the packaging for damage. The standard device packaging will consist of the device, power cable, the long cone, user manual, backscatter shied, the remote control switch (optional), and battery charger.

You must carry out the following preliminary checks:

Check if the device has serialized device label (usually on the back)
Inspect Collimator Cone and Backscatter Shield for any shipping damage
Check if Exposure Switch is functioning freely
Ensure that Device Housing has no cracks or fractures

You should also keep the following important points in mind:

Do not open the housing (enclosure)
Warranty will be rendered useless if you disassemble the main apparatus
Only trained personnel should repair the device
Gather information from an authorized distributor only

Dental X-Ray Radiation Prevention

Not only should you register properly and comply with all applicable regulations, but you should also consult the relevant state, provincial, and local regulations which govern radiation protection and use of x-ray equipment. The operator of the device should carefully follow all enforced regulations in relation to pregnant or expecting to be pregnant women. Operators of the device should also be completely familiar with the industry safety recommendations and permissible doses. To ensure optimal radiation backscatter protection you should:

Position the backscatter shield at a correct angle to the operator
Keep backscatter shield close to the patient
The patient tilts their head when required to do so
The operator stays immediately behind the permanently attached backscatter shield, in the Significant Zone of Occupancy

Only begin using the XTG when you are sure there will be no interruptions, putting other people under risk of being exposed to radiation. The assistant should also wear proper protective gear. In using Position Indicating Devices (PIDs), models allowing the operator to position the unit at the correct angle should be preferred. The depressed trigger can be used to end exposure at any given point. Low-class image detectors should not be used.

Duty Cycle and Usage of Dental X-ray

Xray2go has a maximum duty cycle rating of 1:60, and is designed in a manner to avoid overheating from excessive use. However, the device should not be used in an area with flammable material. The optimal battery voltage level for using XTG is 22.2 VDC, and it should not be operated on low voltage levels.

Proper Cleaning of Handheld X-ray

Before cleaning, you should ensure that the battery charger is unplugged. Keep the power of the device off while you clean it. To clean the device you can use non-alcohol based disinfectant wipes, a cloth with disinfectant liquid, or spray. The device is not water-proof, so care must be taken to not dampen it with any form of liquid. XTG should also not be sterilized.

Storing and Transporting the dental x-ray

For long term storage, the device should be stored in a place which is not affected by air pressure, temperature (cool), ventilation, humidity (dry), salt, dust, sunlight, etc. Be sure to avoid dropping or hitting the device while transporting or storing it.

Regular Maintenance on XTG Handheld X-ray

A technician should make an annual maintenance check on the device. You should also be wary of the accessories you use; if non-recommended accessories are used, they may damage the device.