Upgrade Dental Practice in 2022

Upgrade Dental Practice

Upgrade Dental Practice

Upgrade Your Dental Practice in 2022 With Advanced Dental Technology

Technology is vital when it comes to the success of dental practices across the world. So, why not begin the new year with the most advanced modern dental technology available? At Digital Doc, all of our products are designed and manufactured in the United States. Thus, all goods are meant to be the finest in their respective categories. When you pick Digital Doc, you are not only getting cutting-edge modern dental technology, but also the assistance of our Digital Doc team. Today on the blog, we will discuss how you can upgrade your dental practice in 2022 with modern dental technology. 

Upgrade Dental Practice

IRIS X80

The IRIS X80 is the intraoral camera you’ve been looking for in your practice! The X80’s liquid lens focusing keeps everything crisp and clear, allowing you to show patients rather than explain them what’s going on. Our IRIS X80 is affordable and durable. Our team doesn’t want you to have to break the bank to get the premium products your practice and patients deserve. Additionally, we understand how frustrating it is when you invest in products that quickly break. That’s why our IRIS x80, the best intraoral camera, is designed to last long, ensuring you get the most of your investment. 

LūM Transillumination

This is a sub-enamel lighting technology that allows dentists to identify dental abnormalities without discomfort by shining a high-intensity light on the affected tooth. Our transilluminator enables dentists to detect and cure cavities in their early stages of development, so avoiding future pain and anguish. Dr. Hobfoll, pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City, shares thats  the Lūm serves as your second pair of eyes.

Below, one of our territory managers, Julie, shares the advantages of the IRIS x80 and Lūm Transillumination.

XTG Handheld Dental X-Ray

Handheld dental x-rays with low radiation are a convenient and rapid approach to deliver exact and immediate pictures of a patient’s jaw, mouth, and teeth. The XTG Handheld x-ray enhances efficiency by eliminating the need for the patient to be carried down to radiology for an x-ray.

This innovative high frequency portable dental x-ray was created to provide high-quality x-rays for both digital and film sensors. The gadget provides the following advantages:

  • Crisp, clear images.
  • It is portable.
  • It has low radiation.
  • The XTG Is simple and safe for all technicians to use. 
  • It requires no installation. 
  • It comes with a rechargeable battery. 

Below, Julie discusses more about our XTG.  

Blū

Digital Dental Sensor Blū is the most recent Digital Doc product on the market. Unlike our rivals, our digital intraoral sensor is intended to provide crisp digital pictures. It is compatible with over 25 software suites, available in two sizes, and is patient-friendly. Blū also comes with an extended warranty and Digital Doc support. Furthermore, using this dental sensor into your business is straightforward!

Contact Digital Doc Today For Advanced Dental Technology

At Digital Doc, we create high-quality equipment that not only make your job as a dentist simpler, but also make your patients feel more at ease. Our devices have excellent image quality and are simple to use. Contact Digital Doc now to set up a free virtual demonstration!

Pediatric Dentists Need Advanced Technology

Pediatric Dentists Need Advanced Technology

Pediatric Dentists Need Advanced Technology

Why Pediatric Dentists Need Advanced Dental Technology

Pediatric dentistry is one of the most interesting field of dentistry! It cares for newborns, children, and adolescents. Dentists provide a wide range of treatments, including those for baby teeth, secondary teeth, and various oral and gum issues. Treatments also include assistance with dental trauma, cavity treatment, and newborn oral health screenings. Pediatric Dentists need advanced dental technology in their practices so they can deliver top-of-the-line dental care.

What Is the Importance of Pediatric Dentistry?

How frequently do kids fall off their bikes and get their teeth hurt? Or have they suffered damage to their mouth as a result of something else?  While there are several benefits to working with children, it is not without challenges. Children despise being given injections. Often, they dislike the taste of fluoride. It’s almost as though they’re already aware of the ups and downs of dentist appointments!

The good news is… technology can save the day by making the dental experience either for both the dentist and the patient. 

Handheld X-Rays in Pediatric Dentistry

With the aforementioned issues in mind, technologies are being developed to make the duties of pediatric dentists easier and easier. The use of handheld x-rays is a great example. Below, our client, Dr. Juan Yepes, shares his experience with Digital Doc’s Handheld X-Ray. 

Many practitioners employ digital X-rays on children.One clear benefit of modern X-ray heads and digital radiographs is that our sensitive tiny patients are exposed to less radiation.

Another advantage is that radiographic examinations may be obtained at a younger age. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 are frequently unable to get radiographs taken and acquire lesions in their mouths as a result. This is typically the case since not all practices have smaller plates or sensors. Size zero or one are the most appropriate. Dr. Ari Hobfoll, pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City, shares that before, he was unable to view youngsters without sensors of this size. A combination of proper size sensors and experience will aid in the early detection of carious lesions. This will help lower the cost and length of therapy for parents.

Intraoral Video Cameras

Our Intraoral camera displays a picture of a child’s teeth on a monitor. As follows, everyone can see a magnified version of the problem and how to fix it this way. The X80’s liquid lens autofocus keeps things sharp and clear, allowing you to show patients rather than explain them what’s going on. Additionally, these cameras detect cracked teeth or flaws in fillings that traditional X-rays cannot. They are designed and sized similarly to dental mirrors. They enable parents to make more informed decisions about their children’s oral health and dental care. Thus, pediatric dentists need technology like an intraoral camera to better serve their young patients. 

Contact Digital Doc Today For Advanced Dental Technology

Ready to upgrade your practice’s technology? Contact Digital Doc today. We’re proud to have incredible products that dentists all over the country stand by. 

Dental Practice Management Tips

Dental Practice Management Tips

Dental Practice Management Tips

Dental Practice Management Tips 2022

Managing a dental office generally entails juggling staff and patient happiness. If you own or manage a dental office, this is a problem that you will undoubtedly be familiar with. How can you maintain a high level of the patient experience while also managing your employees and scaling and developing your dental practice?

Fortunately, technological advancements allow for a more simplified and automated procedure. This allows your employees to focus on what is most important—your patients.

Today on the blog, our team at Digital Doc, creators of the best intraoral camera, discuss how dentistry is evolving in 2022. 

Patient-Centric Values and a Strong Company Culture

First, strong company culture with patient-centric values is everything. Your whole staff should be on board and share the same ideals when it comes to workplace ethics and patient interaction. Our advanced dental technology experts explain that this creates a sense of belonging in a firm. Thus, this is critical for reducing employee turnover.

The COVID-19 epidemic had a significant impact on labor management. Most significantly, it revealed a need to delegate greater authority to your employees. Employers are realizing that they aren’t paying for seat warmers, but for a job well done.

Daily Operations That Have Been Automated and Digitized

Our first recommendation for keeping your employees happy is to stay up to date on the newest workforce management tools. There are several technologies available to help your employees focus on patient care by automating monotonous administrative activities.

The objective behind workforce management automation and digitalization is to limit the chance of human mistakes and create a more agile and efficient dental office where your team can focus on providing excellent patient care rather than paperwork.

Next, rather than filling outpatient registration forms in person, you may implement digital forms that your patients can fill out and submit on your website before coming in for their appointment. This will cut down on reception wait time and keep the waiting room from becoming congested.

You may also automate appointment reminders and follow-up emails or text messages. These reminders will assist you in avoiding no-shows, but sending them out is a time-consuming chore best left to technology.

Dental Practice Management Tips

Invest in the Dental Technology

Investing in the right dental technology not only improves your employee’s jobs but also your patient’s experience. At Digital Doc, we offer: 

Ongoing Staff & Patient Education

Don’t underestimate the value of lifelong learning. Investing in your employees through seminars and training will enhance employee satisfaction and decrease job turnover. As a result, your recruitment and onboarding expenditures will be reduced, saving you money in the long term.

Emergency dentist Easton PA, College Hill Dental, explains that quality personnel will desire to grow not only vertically within your dental office, but also in terms of their talents and future prospects. Give them the opportunity to do so.

However, it is not only staff education that is important. It is also critical for your dental business to educate people in a language that is approachable and easy to grasp. Patient education is one of the most effective strategies to remove fear from the “going to the dentist” experience. Creating useful material is the best approach to provide value to your patients.

Conclusion

Given these considerations, we believe it is necessary to discuss patient and staff safety as an issue that is not new but should be emphasized today more than ever.

The health and safety of your patients and personnel should always be your top focus, from following COVID-19 guidelines to sterilization and completing patient histories.

Hopefully, you can now discover that sweet spot and design your dental business in such a manner that you get the best of both worlds—happy employees and delighted consumers.

Get Patients to Use Dental Benefits

Get patients to use dental benefits

Get Patients to Use Dental Benefits Before Expire

Getting Patients to Use Their Dental Benefits: Tips From Our Intraoral Camera Team

A new year offers us a fresh start and limitless potential for transformation. For dental clinics that have contracts with dental insurance, the new year means that patients’ benefits have been reset. Thus, they are ready to face dental procedures that they either postponed or couldn’t afford last year.  As the year comes to a close, many dentists are faced with the issue of convincing patients to accept and finish dental treatment in a use it or lose it fashion. Today on the blog, Digital Doc, creators of the best intraoral camera, discuss how to get patients to use their dental benefits before they expire. 

Education of the Patient

Your team should be educated to educate patients on the dangers of postponing treatment. Additionally, it’s great to educate your patients about their dental insurance.  Because dental problems seldom improve with time, we should encourage patients to undergo treatment as soon as possible. This is in order to avoid additional painful, lengthy, and costly therapy. 

As a result, when patients are taken to the front desk to check out, the front desk must be informed of each patient’s treatment plan, coverage information, and remaining yearly limit. Our handheld dental X-Ray team suggests that each person at your front desk is educated enough so that they can:

1) First discuss their insurance benefits with patients and explain what happens if they don’t utilize them.

 2) Then, they can describe what might happen if dental care is delayed.

3) Finally, they can schedule the appointment on the spot. 

Use It Or Lose It Communication

Also, sending a newsletter to patients keeps them up to date on the basics of their dental insurance. 

This allows you to reach out to a wide number of patients and educate them about the benefits of finishing treatment as soon as possible. Additionally, it allows you to encourage them to use their benefits before they expire.  Most patients are unaware of their dental insurance advantages. Thus, it is the obligation of dental clinics to inform them that if they do not use them, they will lose them.

Get patients to use dental benefits

FSA/HASA Accounts

Reminding patients that they may utilize their unused FSA benefits is important. They can use these for treatment in addition to their dental insurance benefits is key. This is a terrific method to motivate patients to complete pending treatment. Make your patients know that they will lose their flex spending dollars if they do not utilize them, just as they would lose their dental insurance benefits. This is essential in convincing patients to accept pending treatment regimens.

Offer Same-Day Treatment

Dr. Ben Kacos, Shreveport dentist, implements offering same-day treatment to encourage patients to use their dental benefits. During his team’s morning huddle, he focuses on patients with unused dental benefits and ongoing treatment plans. We agree with this strategy. Make this known to your patients and urge them to stay. One strategy to persuade them to remain is to tell them that doing the therapy now would not only save them an extra visit, but will also allow them to use their insurance benefits before they expire.

Also, inform people who have reached their yearly deductible and still have treatment to finish that this deductible will be applied to treatment next year because it will reset with their coverage. This information will be useful to your patients. Also, utilizing top-quality dental technology like our transilluminator can be a helpful tool to show patients the dental work they need. 

Maximize All Communication

Prepare to communicate the benefits of having the therapy done this year to patients who have long treatment plans. They will be able to use the unused benefits and save even more money the following year when they resume their treatments. Maximizing communication in your office by effectively discussing this with patients is key to getting them to use their benefits. 

Hygiene and Treatment Presentation

Hygiene and Treatment Presentation 2021

Hygiene and Treatment Presentation 2021

Understanding Hygiene and Treatment Presentation

Periodontal disease and dental caries are bacterial diseases of the gums and teeth that are infectious. Although these illnesses are distinct, they have a common source: mouth biofilms. Both are classified as inflammatory disorders. Similarly, inflammatory illnesses have an influence on our overall health and contribute to the aging process. The frequency of dental caries and periodontal disease is growing, yet it can be difficult to persuade individuals to seek treatment for painless pathologies. Clinicians can gain from using more methods to detect, expose, and persuade patients to seek treatment.

Although disclosing dyes is conventionally used for revealing biofilm accumulation, it is a messy and an archaic process. Various new technologies have surfaced in the market, improving our ability to detect biofilm, inflammation and, dental caries. Digital Doc has a high-performance intraoral camera, which can show dental plaque, gingival inflammation, and is helpful in enamel-dentinal caries detection. This camera is friendly to use for the dentist and hygienist, and can also connect to any image management program. Intraoral cameras have proved to be useful in various clinical situations for years. We have been using this transillumination camera for years to evaluate biofilm, caries, and gingival information.

Through this article, we will describe the protocol for the routine use of dental technology during the prophylaxis appointment.

The Basis

We now live in the digital age. This affects the way people behave and also changes their decision-making when considering treatment. Deciding to take the treatment is no longer only reliant on relationship building. Our friends over at College Hill Dental, Easton PA dentist, explain that they see this, too. Many patients appreciate a trusting relationship with dental offices and undertake prophylactic “check-up” visits to ensure prevention. However, their behavior has changed according to their changing culture. Fifty-seven percent of people claim they prefer talking online than they do in real-life (in higher-earning households). Online research now determines decisions regarding service providers and purchasing for people despite getting personal recommendations.

To serve patients in the best possible manner, it is important to develop an integrated, comprehensive, and user-friendly platform to allow communication and cater to patient preferences. The intraoral camera provides visual communication to fit neatly in this digital consciousness.

Implementing Dental Technologies

Begin with a supplementary (non-threatening) approach:

  1. Directions should be given to patients informing them of the process. We recommend reassuring them of their involvement in their own dental health decisions,
  2. Next, use the Digital Doc intraoral camera.
  1. Move to Doctors examination.
  • Do not begin by asking the patient about their problem.
  • Greet the patient first.
  • Ask hygienist/assistant to update you on the preliminary assessment.
  1. Hygienist/Assistant should inform Doctor about patients medical. history/blood pressure
  2. Recommend when the patient should visit next or follow up at home
  3. Review the information you have gathered

After consistently using this standard process, you will find it to be a reliable, comprehensive and efficient method which supports oral-systemic health, preventative health, and early disease detection.

Hygiene and Treatment Presentation 2021​

Application

  • Communication: Intraoral cameras facilitate fast and effective communication of the treatment process to the patients. Projection of the intraoral images to a large screen allows patients to co-discover the treatment process. It helps both patients and doctors in the treatment decision process.
  • Homecare evaluation: Prophylaxis appointments are the gateway to patient motivation and education. Dental teams need to descriptively portray the existing problems to the patients. The intraoral camera allows clinicians to highlight the existing problems to the patients and encourages them to be proactive in treatment and homecare.

Early Lesion Detection and Evaluation

Early caries lesion detection and prevention of subsequent invasive treatment is made possible by light-induced transillumination. Color-coded guide to risk assessment allows patients to identify caries marked in red through the Digital Doc device. Preventative measures can be taken for suspicious grooves rather than resorting to invasive methods. Cervical lesions can be assessed to decide on appropriate treatment (preparation versus fluoride varnish, remineralizing pastes, etc.). Presence of active caries can be detected by observing proximal fractures in real time.

In conclusion of Hygiene and Treatment Presentation

Digital Doc’s leading IRIS LUM camera help show patients their oral health status. They facilitate the co-discovery process, suitable for today’s digitally aware patients. It allows for efficient detection of carries and inflammation and also streamlines doctor-patient communication.

Implementing this latest dental technology can also be used to boost reputation online through social media.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in March 2019 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

How to Maximize the Use of Intraoral Cameras

How to maximize the use of intraoral cameras - digital doc

How to Maximize the Use of Intraoral Cameras

H2 Different from title but including focus keywords

How to Maximize the Use of Intraoral Cameras

It is one thing to acquire intraoral cameras like the IRIS X80 Intraoral Camera for your dental practice and another to maximize its benefits. In this article, our Digital Doc team discusses how to maximize the use of intraoral cameras in your practice. Doctors worldwide have seen astonishing results using advanced dental technology. 

Optimize the Installation

Some dental practitioners often wonder about which intraoral camera would be suitable for their needs. Without getting into the details of the different leading intraoral cameras available, the first thing is to ensure that you can actually use whatever camera you have. One way to use your intraoral camera is to install it where it is easy to access during any stage of the treatment process. Make sure that the intraoral camera is within reach in your operatory. In this way, you or your staff will not find it bothersome to access and use that equipment. The good thing about IRIS HD intraoral cameras is that they are portable and come with rechargeable batteries, so it is easy to integrate them in the routines at your dental office.

Let Your Assistant Use the Intraoral Camera Before You Assess the Patient

One of the best ways to maximize the value that you get from the IRIS USB Dental Camera for Windows is by asking your dental assistant to take several images during the hygiene visit. Your dental assistant can take close-ups of the areas before you come to examine the patient.

In this way, you will be able to reduce the time needed to diagnose the patient since the dental assistant has already provided you with what you need to diagnosis your patient.

Make It Facilitate Co-diagnosis

Another way to maximize the use of intraoral cameras like the IRIS Intraoral Camera for MAC is by giving your patients a ringside seat during their examination and treatment. Beam each image that you take on a large monitor so that the patient can see what you see. Next, discuss any problem areas that you have observed and ask the patient for their input regarding the specific images showing what you are referring to.

This collaborative effort will increase case acceptance because there will be no doubt in the mind of your patient regarding the issues that need to be fixed. A bonus of this approach is that patients will be more likely to take greater care of their dental health because they’ve witnessed the severity firsthand.

Let the Camera Make the Case for Follow-Up Visits

As already mentioned, the images taken using an intraoral camera can transform your case acceptance rates a great deal. In addition to that, those same images can address the issue of patients not returning for follow-up visits due to a misconception that such visits can wait.

Your patients will start coming for follow-up visits if you use your IRIS X80 Intraoral Camera to capture images of developing or suspected problems that require monitoring before a decision is made regarding what can be done. The progressive images will show how the suspected problem is developing, and those images will give the patient motivation to come for those follow-up visits as advised.

 

Use Them When Filing Insurance Claims

Many dental care treatments and procedures are covered by insurance. Therefore, your administrative staff will file claims for payment once patients with dental care insurance policies visit the practice.

The images taken using intraoral cameras should be sent together with the documentation submitted to the insurance company. Those images will expedite the processing of your payment claims because the insurance company will see the proof of the issues or the treatment received by a policyholder. Consequently, you will save the time and effort that would have been lost in back and forth communication with the insurance company over pending claims.

As you can see, we have just touched on a few aspects of the treatment process where the intraoral camera can be instrumental to your dental office. Use the suggestions above as guidelines for implementing dental cameras into your practice. Soon, you will see results in your patients’ treatments and your practice. Contact Digital Doc today to schedule a virtual demonstration and learn everything you need to know about our products.

 

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in February 2019 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

National Dental Hygiene Month

National Dental Hygiene Month - Digital Doc

National Dental Hygiene Month

Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month

October is National Dental Hygiene Month. This entire month dedicated to our dependable and caring hygienists. National Dental Hygiene Month is sponsored by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and Colgate, aims to express gratitude to all hygienists and recognize their dedication to keeping patients healthy. To help celebrate, our Digital Doc team would like to highlight some of the things dental hygienists perform. Also, we share a few ways you can make them feel appreciated this month. Join us in celebrating National Dental Hygiene Month!

 

What Are the Duties of Dental Hygienists?

 

Many patients believe that hygienists are simply responsible for cleaning teeth. The truth is that they do a lot more. In fact, it is not uncommon for patients to see and spend more time with their hygienists than with their dentists. While laws and rules vary by state, and a hygienist’s specific duties may differ accordingly, there are some common things that many hygienists do on a daily basis, such as:

 

  • Personalization – When you initially begin seeing a new dentist, the hygienist will normally begin by examining some paperwork that contains the patient’s dental health history and overall health history. They will update this information at each appointment to ensure that you are receiving the finest care possible for their mouth and body.
  • Cleaning Teeth – We all know that a dental hygienist’s primary responsibility is to clean teeth and remove any plaque or tartar buildup. Many hygienists will also screen you for oral cancer, efficiently take x-rays using the XTG Handheld X-ray device, and measure the patient’s gum pockets to check for gum disease.
  • Preventative Dentistry — While cleaning the patient’s teeth, the hygienist is also paying particular attention to any regions of their mouth that may require a closer examination by the dentist. Dental hygienists may also apply fluoride or sealants to teeth to prevent acids and germs from causing tooth damage or to alleviate tooth discomfort.
  • Educating Points – During the cleaning, the hygienist will use advanced dental technology to explain more of the state of the patient’s oral health. This is an ideal time to talk to your patient about the state of their oral health. Many patients will say yes to treatment because they can physically see the problem when using the IRIS X80 Intraoral Camera.  

How Can We Make Dental Hygienists Feel Appreciated?

 

As you know, dental hygienists are the glue that holds dental practices together. All team members will go the extra mile for a dental clinic that values their work, attitude, and involvement. Recognize their contributions to the practice’s success. Below are a few ways you can make your dental hygienists feel appreciated for National Dental Hygiene Month!

 

  • Personal Note – Each team member should write a thank you card recognizing the dental hygienist’s (or hygienists’) superpower.
  • Decorate the office –  Patients are invited to participate in the festivities.
  • Appreciation post on social – Posting a sweet appreciation post highlighting your RDH team is something that any practice can do. 
  • Sweet Treats – A yummy breakfast or lunch for the RDH team. So, bring lunch into the office to celebrate with the entire crew.
  • Gifts – If you’re feeling generous, National Dental Hygiene Month is the perfect time to give gift cards, flowers, or even a new toy for the office. 
  • Advanced dental technology. – So, if you have an outdated intraoral camera, dental sensor, or x-ray device, you should schedule a virtual demonstration. Simply to see if your RDH team could benefit from new equipment. So, contact us today to schedule!

Celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month All Year Round!

 

Throughout the year, recognize your team members and pay special attention to each specialty’s daily, weekly, or monthly recognition. Inform everyone about their impact on your dental practice, your patients, vendors, and referrals. Everyone contributes to the bottom line of the dental practice. So, take time this month, and every month, to appreciate your dental hygienist for everything they do to keep your practice up and running.

Before Starting a New Dental Practice

before starting a dental practice - Digital doc llc

Before Starting a New Dental Practice

Tips Before Starting a New Dental Practice

Starting your first dental practice is an exciting chapter in your career. Creating a successful dental practice requires dedication and the right team. Most will tell you that it’s harder than it looks. Below, our Digital Doc team has gathered some tips to consider before starting a new dental practice. Finding the perfect space for your new startup can be difficult. You’ll want to consider a few things before signing a new lease on your office.

Office Size & Shape

You’ll want to ensure that your new dental practice has enough space for your patients and staff. Something to consider is the shape of the office. The more oddly shaped it is, the harder it will be to furnish. Give yourself room to grow as well. Avoid signing a lease on something that is too small.

Parking

A landlord will typically allocate three parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of office space in leased buildings. However, this is insufficient for a dental practice. A minimum of five parking places per 1,000 square feet of office space is usually sufficient to accommodate patients and workers.

Utilities 

Before signing a lease, ensure that the space has adequate utilities, particularly adequate power service. The average dentist practice requires 400-500 amps of power. Many new buildings require solar power now, so if you’d like to save money on electricity, consider finding a newer building.

Floor Space and Columns

Examine the quantity and location of columns that will be installed in the leased space. This information is crucial for your architect to have when drawing up floor plans so that columns don’t interfere with the positioning of dental chairs or other equipment, or otherwise disrupt the flow of the room. Remember that older buildings have even more columns in a multi-story arrangement, so keep that in mind. Furthermore, columns in the clinical zone must be spaced appropriately apart from the outside walls to allow for proper depth for the operatory and clinical corridor. As a general rule, for each column in your leasing space, add 50 square feet to your floor design space requirements.

Irregular Permiters

Asymmetrical areas can be difficult to work with. If the perimeter is uneven, it will be impossible to put all dental chairs equidistant from the wall, resulting in a staggered configuration. The alternative would be to arrange seats in a treatment hallway, but this would require some room to be sacrificed. As a general rule, add 50 to 75 square feet to the area required for each irregularity.

Building Regulations

Choose an architect who is familiar with local building codes, particularly fire standards. Ensuring code compliance when planning the floor layout will aid in obtaining permits to expand out the area. For example, fire codes mandate a separate auxiliary exit from the patient entrance. Some fire regulations include extra criteria such as the use of specific building materials and/or the installation of a fire sprinkler system.

Signage Is Available

It is advantageous to have your leasing agent negotiate the inclusion of outdoor signage in the lease to help boost exposure for your business. A seasoned leasing agent is worth his or her weight in gold. They can review the entire agreement and negotiate on your behalf.

Local Competitors

 A common mistake new dentists make is not doing research on local competitors. The last thing you want to do is sign a 5-year lease next to your biggest competitor in town. Dental offices are everywhere, so do your due diligence before saying yes to a contract. If there are other buildings or offices available near you, find out if anyone plans on moving in soon.

Technology

The logistics of a new dental practice can be overwhelming if you do not have the right tools. Advanced dental technology is one aspect of your dental practice that can help bring revenue to your practice. In fact, doctors who use Digital Doc products see anywhere from a 10-40% increase in revenue. Our products are an investment, but they do get patients to say yes to treatment. Interested? Schedule a virtual demo with one of our Digital Doc representatives. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to hear from real doctors using our Digital Doc products.

Scaling Your Dental Practice

Scaling Your Dental Practice - Digital Doc LLC

4 Things You Should Keep in Mind When Scaling Your Dental Practice

A time comes when every dentist has to scale his or her practice. This may be because the patient load has increased and you can no longer handle it on your own. Scaling your dental practice may also be necessary when you notice that fixed costs like rent and salaries are growing rapidly, so you need to scale up in order to stay profitable. Keep the following factors in mind when scaling your dental practice.

Attract and Retain Key Employees

You cannot scale your dental practice if you are short on the human resource side of your practice. Scaling can also be hard if you keep losing the employees that you hire. Your first task in scaling the dental practice should begin with mapping out how you will get and retain A-team members.

One way to do this is by offering them an ownership stake in the practice. Clear standards should be established regarding the processes/deliverables that can earn the employee an equity stake in the practice. Such measures will get those performers invested in the dental practice and they will no longer feel the urge to leave and start their own dental practice.

Systemize Your Operations

Another challenge will emerge once you start hiring extra dentists or related professionals to work in your dental practice. How do you get rid of that uneasiness that they will not do things in the exact way that you would like them to?

The answer to this lies in systemizing your practice. Create systems that make it possible for the practice to stay functional and profitable even without you.

For example, you can start by recording how you perform each procedure so that the new hires can follow those same steps to perform those tasks. Mentor them and answer all their questions so that a point is reached when you no longer have to go over what they have done to confirm that it was done correctly.

Another way to systemize is by rethinking how patient appointments are scheduled. A clever way to get more done within a typical day is by scheduling similar procedures close to each other. For example, you can schedule dental fillings in the morning hours then root canals or other complex procedures in the afternoon.

Get the Right Technology

The third key component of scaling your dental practice is by acquiring technology that will enable the practice to become more efficient and profitable.

For example, the XTG Handheld X-ray machine can reduce the time needed to move a patient to another room in order to have diagnostic tests done. Similarly, the IRIS HD USB 3.0 dental camera can allow you to take detailed images of the dental structures of the patient when that patient is sitting in the dental chair.

Such technologies can make your staff more productive since less time will be spent attending to each patient. The patients will also greatly appreciate that all their dental work can be completed in one short visit.

Know Your Numbers

Two key metrics need to be considered by anyone attempting to scale a dental practice. First, at what rate is your revenue growing? Uncontrolled growth can kill! For example, you may choke on payroll costs if the rate of revenue growth doesn’t match or exceed the rate at which your fixed costs are growing.

Secondly, you need to know the rate at which your income is growing. Always aim at income growth rates that are higher than revenue growth rates. The acquisition of the cutting-edge dental technologies discussed above is one way to increase the profitability of each employee since more patients will be attended to each day. Scale your dental practice once you are sure that your income is growing at a rate that surpasses the rate at which revenues are growing.

Scaling a dental practice can be a challenging process since it entails giving up some of the control you have always had. However, the process can be rewarding once you have the right team in place and work together to realize the shared vision of the dental practice.

Effective Principles of Practice Management

Effective Principles for Practice Management

Effective Principles for Practice Management

The Most Effective Principles for Dental Practice Management

Is it possible to have a multi-million-dollar dental practice? The short answer is yes. If you are a business owner, you know how difficult it can be to become this successful. Keep in mind that every successful dental practice, big or small, started somewhere. So, how do you achieve this? Consistently follow these effective principles for practice management

Invest in Quality Dental Practices

Now we live in a high-tech world. Therefore, patients expect advanced dental technology at their dentist’s office. One of the biggest ways you can increase revenue in your practice is by putting a quality intraoral camera in every operatory. Hygiene should be using this device on every patient. They should be showing patients the pictures captured with the dental camera. This will allow patients to physically see the problem instead of having to trust your judgment to start treatment. With Digital Doc technology, you and your patients are able to see more, do more. 

Make Your Office Beautiful & Professional

There is nothing more appealing to potential clients than a dentist’s office that is both professional and aesthetically built. Patients love to see businesses go above and beyond. Our friend Dr. Wade, a dentist in Pinellas Park, FL, is a great example of a dental office that is both fun and inviting for all ages. Their office is beautifully made to match their branding. An office like this will get more referrals than an average office. 

Create a Dream Team

Practice owners should polish their leadership abilities and spend time finding the ideal match for each position because an effective team goes a long way toward advancing their dental practices’ success. Training, mentoring and coaching your employees will help them develop a personal stake in your practice.

Other things that will help include developing a vision statement and goals, empowering your team members by distributing responsibility, investing in career development, conducting frequent evaluations, hosting team activities, and other events designed to inspire cooperation. It may take a while for you to find your dream team, but there are plenty of resources online for hiring new employees.

Enhance the Patient Experience 

In addition to a professional-looking office, outstanding customer service that wows new patients will go a long way toward increasing recurring business. Prepare a script for new patients that shows them how important they are to you, beginning with a warm welcome that eases their fears and ending with a comprehensive oral health examination and treatment plan. Many dentists today are recording welcome videos and post-op videos explaining expectations for treatment. 

Incorporate Problem-Solving Techniques 

Effective problem-solving techniques should be staples in the arsenal of any practice owner. Keep facts in mind at all times. If you can locate someone to help you solve a problem, do so – but keep your budget in mind. Take the appropriate precautions to avoid a recurrence of the condition. Once you’ve solved it, don’t think about it again. Our Digital Doc team is happy to assist you in your journey to success. We’re happy to schedule a virtual demonstration to discuss how our dental products can help you increase revenue. Contact Digital Doc today!