Blog Category: Iris Intraoral Camera

Digital Doc X80 Autofocus Training

All About Digital Doc X80 Autofocus Training

The Digital Doc X80 intraoral camera has liquid lens autofocus technology, which means capturing images is very easy. In this training guide, we will cover how to hold the camera and capture the 12 images in 2-minute series. We will also cover adding the sheath, disinfecting the camera and technical support. The goal of using the camera is educating patients so they understand what treatment is needed. Remember, patients are consumers, and consumers buy based on emotions and not logic. Image quality and ease of use are key to keeping you motivated to taking images for each patient.

Holding the Intraoral Camera

You can hold the camera in two ways. For the face, smile, and lower arch photo, you can hold the camera in the palm of your hand and lay your thumb on the capture button.

For the upper arch image and all intraoral images, hold the camera like a pencil, with the second finger on the capture button. With every image that you take, make sure to have a firm grip. For our 12 images in two minutes, the first four are elective dentistry photos. Some software programs allow you to save the patient’s photo as the patient identification photo for the dental practice.

For full-face photos, brace the camera against your other hand, center the image until you see the patient’s head, including their hair. You can later comment on their hair when they get it cut.

For full smile images, place three fingers on the chin of the patient in the groove found just below their lips. Brace the camera on your hand, using your hand as a fulcrum.

Lower arch. Right after you finish capturing the full smile, feather your forefingers up and spread your fingers. Think of it as opposites; feather up to shoot down. Ask the patient to open their mouth wide, and slightly tilt the camera toward the lower arch before you capture the lower arch image.

Upper arch. Hold the X80 camera with the pencil grip described earlier. Place four fingers feathered down on the chin and place the camera between your first and second fingers. Have the patient open their mouth wide and stand the camera straight up. If the lips are covering the anteriors, have the patient smile while the mouth is open.

Intraoral images. You may find it comfortable to capture intraoral images by bringing the patient chair back, and you do not need the overhead light for these images. You can take all the images inside the patient’s mouth with two fingers resting on the lower anteriors of the patient and seesawing the camera up and down. For lingual and buccal images, just turn the camera slightly and slide it across your finger

So far in the 12 images in 2 minutes, we have taken face, smile, lower and upper arch. Now with your two-finger fulcrum, we will start with the upper right back lower molar, then move to the first molar and bi. Simply slide the camera across your fingers to then take the upper left molar, then molar and bi on that side. Turn the camera over and repeat on the lower left side, and then move to the bottom right side.

You have finished your 12 images in 2 minutes, and it requires ten seconds to take each image. You will be able to complete these images in under 2 minutes in no time.

One additional image that is popular is the hygiene shot. For this, you will use two fingers. One will go under the camera resting it against number 8 and number 9. Your second finger is placed on the chin and the two fingers are spread like scissors. Here you will tilt the camera and capture the lower interiors to show buildups, stains and to show before and after images once cleaning is complete. These images are popular for building the value of what a dental office does.

The sheath and Disinfecting the Camera

The sheath is primarily used to keep the camera from fogging. Place the camera light side down under the second layer of the sheath. Slide the camera in and then peel the top blue layer. These are designed specifically for IRIS cameras. The optically clear side is on the bottom. Make sure that the camera leans with this side down.

Disinfecting. We recommend that you use Digi Wipes for disinfecting the IRIS camera and cable. This is an ethanol-alcohol product which studies have shown to kill four of the most difficult bacteria. You can also use standard Cavi wipes on the camera and cable; just don’t submerge the camera and cable in any type of solution.

To disconnect the camera, don’t pull from the cable. Instead, hold on the stainless part of the cable with a firm grip and pull the cable from the camera. To reconnect, line up the arrows and push back into the camera.

Warranty and Tech Support

Your camera carries a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty. For any technical support, please contact us at the Digital Doc corporate office located in Northern California. Call 1-800-518-1102. Our Digital Doc team is always happy to help.

Why an IRIS Intraoral Camera is Your 3rd Eye

Why An IRIS Intraoral Camera is Your 3rd Eye

Why an IRIS Intraoral Camera

If you are still on the fence about upgrading to the latest intraoral cameras from Digital Doc, you should know that many dentists have referred to these HD cameras as their third eye. The following are some of the compelling reasons why dental practice owners are heavily relying on the IRIS X80 intraoral camera.

They Facilitate Patient Education

If you’re a dentist, you know how difficult it can be explaining dental terminology and treatment to patients. However, with the best intraoral camera, dentists discover that patient education is a breeze. All you have to do is show your patient the live imagery from the intraoral camera on the monitor. In real-time, your patient can see exactly what you’re seeing in their mouth!

When brought face to face with their dental problems, patients are more likely to agree to the proposed treatment plan. As a result, your case acceptance rates will skyrocket. Without the help of the best dental camera, patient education is a lot more complicated.

Cameras Make Dental Visits Interactive

Patient buy-in is one of the hallmarks of effective dental care. However, this buy-in is often hard to procure since the dental visit tends to be dominated by the dentist or hygienist. Patients are therefore left as bystanders in their own treatment until the point at which the dentist issues instructions about what needs to be done.

With an IRIS intraoral camera, dental visits become way more interactive. Sometimes patients have no idea what is going on with their oral health until the very end of the appointment. However, with the IRIS X80 patients feel more comfortable interacting with their dentist or hygienist because they can see what is going on. Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras will easily increase patient rapport.

Insurance Claims Are Quickly Processed

When dentists say that an intraoral camera is a third eye, they’re not kidding. The high-quality images produced by Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras are remarkable. This makes insurance claims go a lot smoother. There’s no doubt that treatment will be approved once the insurer sees the images from the intraoral camera.

Without the IRIS intraoral dental camera, chances are that your front desk will have to communicate back and forth between the insurance company, trying to convince them to accept claims.

Better Treatment Outcomes and Preventative Care is Improved

A dental office that uses an IRIS intraoral camera provides more accurate treatment plans to their patients. With the best intraoral dental camera from Digital Doc, dentists can look closely at each tooth and take note of the different shades on its surface, the texture, craze marks, translucency and other details of the tooth. Dentists who use the IRIS X80 intraoral camera can also catch dental complications sooner than later. spend less and do Thanks to Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras, you’ll truly be able to See More. Do More.

As you can see, an IRIS HD intraoral camera is indeed a third eye for dentists. If you, too, would like to enjoy the benefits of using a Digital Doc intraoral cameras, contact Digital Doc today and schedule a virtual demonstration.

Watch Dr. Zarah Ali, a dentist from Wellesly Dental Group, to hear why an IRIS intraoral camera is your third eye.

Have You Tried Our IRIS X80?

Product Feature: Have You Tried Our IRIS X80?

In the world of intraoral cameras, Digital Doc’s IRIS X80 is one of the best in its class. If you are a dentist who would like to take efficiency, patient experience, and dental diagnostics to a whole new level, this intraoral camera is for you. In this article, we explore how some of the camera’s most sought out features can work best for your dental practice.

The Features That Make the X80 Truly Remarkable

Liquid Lens Auto Focus. As a dentist who is serious about your work, you want intraoral images that are sharp and clear so that you can make the correct diagnosis. The IRIS X80 gives you just that while taking the extra work of focusing the camera. An internal computer automatically focuses where you point the camera, and all you have to do is press the capture button and bingo, you have crystal-clear images to work with instantly!

8-Point LED Array. The autofocus function of our very own IRIS X80 intraoral camera would probably amount to nothing if this camera didn’t come with other great features like the true white 8-point LED array. This lighting system ensures that the area of the mouth you’re looking at is perfectly lit for the best HD image.

High-Performance Chemical and Impact Resistance. If you want to see the extent to which we take impact resistance, take a look at the unedited video footage below of an IRIS X80 being run over by a car and surviving the ordeal with just a tiny scratch.

As the video shows, the camera works just fine after the rough treatment! The seamless design and the materials we use ensure that the X80, the best intraoral camera on the market, will not be affected by impact and chemical exposure at your dental office.

Plug-N-Play Ease. Any technology will succeed or fail to serve its purpose largely because of how it can be used. With the IRIS X80, you have no worries about ease of use since the device is a true definition of plug and play. All you have to do is unbox the camera, and you can start taking images immediately. No setup, no complicated user manual to learn. There are so many other unbelievable features of this camera that you should experience for yourself during an in-office or virtual demo.

Why You Need the IRIS X80

Today, patients live in a world where they have access to the latest technology, and they expect their dental care provider to keep up with the times as well. The IRIS X80 is the best intraoral camera available today, so it will help you to meet the expectations of your patients.

The IRIS X80 intraoral camera is also great for your dental office in terms of the efficiency that it brings. Its ease of use means that patients can be in and out of the exam room quickly, so it frees you to see more patients on a typical day at work.

The superior images captured by this device are another essential feature that you cannot do without. In dentistry, like in any other medical field, the room for error is almost nonexistent. So, you have to have the best images possible to serve your patients. You can count on the X80 to be the best helper in your quest to provide excellent care to all your patients.

At Digital Doc, we would like to show you how adding the IRIS X80 to your dental practice will transform the way intraoral images serve you and your patients. Just sign up for a virtual demo on our website, and we will happily show you how remarkable this intraoral camera is.

IRIS X80 Intraoral Camera

We are thrilled to introduce X80, liquid lens autofocus HD camera. This camera is plug and play. No training needed. The liquid lens goes from Full Face to Macro and stops on a dime. We live in an HD world today and believe patients know the difference between SD and HD, then expect it. We expect to deliver industry-leading products that improves efficiency and case acceptance. We call it SEE More. DO More

Liquid Lens Auto Focus

The IRIS X80 intraoral camera comes with a Liquid Lens Auto Focus capability that means that you or your dental assistants will no longer have to press any buttons to focus the camera before capturing an image. The autofocus feature takes care of all this. All you have to do is press the capture button to have crisp, clear images of your patients’ dental structures. This is made possible by an internal computer that monitors the image that you would like to capture, and this internal computer adjusts the focus automatically whether you would like an image of a micro area or a wide-angle version.

Dual Capture Buttons

The fact that most people are right-handed has caused left-handed users a lot of grief because they have been compelled to adapt to using tools that aren’t designed with them in mind. You won’t have to worry about this thanks to the IRIS X80 intraoral camera. This exciting new digital camera comes with a capture button on either side so that you or your staff can use the button which corresponds to their preferred hand for performing such tasks. For those who are comfortable using both hands, the IRIS X80 now allows you to alternate the side you use to engage the capture button!

Ease of Use

Digital intraoral cameras just got a whole lot easier to use with the introduction of the IRIS X80. Users simply take the camera out of its box, plug it in and start capturing images right away! No need to tinker with multiple settings or read through a whole manual. This ease of use is a true time-saver in a busy dental office.

Impact and Chemical Resistant Body

Digital Doc is familiar with the different chemicals and chemical cleaners used in dental offices, as well as the likelihood that equipment will bump against surfaces from time to time. For this reason, the IRIS X80 intraoral camera has been designed to be highly resistant to impact and chemicals. Additionally, the body is seamless, further protecting the internal components from exposure to body fluids (blood and saliva, for example) and cleaning solutions. You can, therefore, be sure that your new IRIS X80 dental camera will serve you for years to come without easily succumbing to the effects of accidental bumps or chemical intrusion.

USB 2.0 Compatibility

The IRIS X80 intraoral camera will not require you to modify your present setup of the operatory, nor will it require you to buy any additional accessories so that you can use it. This new camera can be used with the standard USB 2.0 protocol so that it will fit seamlessly into your workflow.

The IRIS X80 comes with a load of other great features which you can experience for yourself by scheduling an in-office or virtual demonstration with us at Digital Doc. With the IRIS X80 intraoral camera, you will be able to SEE MORE and DO MORE!

HD Quality Dental Images with Dr. Delwin Hemingway

HD Quality Dental Images with Dr. Delwin R. Hemingway

We recently spoke with Dr. Delwin R. Hemingway about his experience with intraoral cameras. Dr. Hemingway has been in the dental industry for over forty years now. His experience goes way beyond the average dentist. He started out as a dental lab technician and eventually became the successful dentist he is today. Throughout his journey, Dr. Hemingway was an associate dentist, a partner in a group practice, the owner and CEO of a large practice which employs several dentists, and a Fortune Executive Coach. Dr. Hemingway has earned the “Best Designed Dental Practice of the Year in 2006” and “Best Integration of Technology into a Dental Practice in America in 2006.” What’s his secret? His ability to provide quality care to his patients using the latest dental technology.

The Best Investment For Your Dental Practice

Dr. Hemingway’s best return he’s ever made was on an intraoral camera. He started using his first intraoral camera back in 1988 when DentaCam first came out. Today, Dr. Hemingway says, “The state-of-the-art intraoral camera is the IRIS intraoral camera from Digital Doc. We use it every day on almost every patient. We have eight operatories. We have one of these in every operatory so you don’t have to go find it, you don’t have to wait for it, you can pick up the camera and take your pictures. I find this as one of the best, if not the best, source for showing patients what’s going on. They understand what needs to be done. I couldn’t practice dentistry without an intraoral camera and IRIS gives me the clarity in the image that I’m looking for.” Dr. Hemingway continues to provide the best patient care using Digital Doc’s IRIS intraoral camera. For questions about our IRIS intraoral camera or any other Digi Doc products, contact us today to schedule a FREE demo!

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!

Things to Remember About Intraoral Camera Maintenance

Intraoral Camera Maintenance - Digital Doc

Things to Remember About Intraoral Camera Maintenance

All dental offices know how important it is to take every step necessary to ensure infection control. That same zeal also needs to be devoted to taking care of and preserving the condition of the costly dental equipment which facilitates accurate diagnosis and treatment. The IRIS HD USB 3.0 Dental Camera, the XRay2Go or XTG Handheld X-Ray machine and the LUM sub-enamel illumination devices are examples of diagnostic equipment that every dental office should take care of properly. This article discusses some of the crucial disinfecting measures that will help you to not only maintain but increase the longevity of your equipment.

Step #1: Sheaths for Asepsis and Fogging

The IRIS camera sheaths are specifically designed for IRIS cameras only. The optically clear side is on the bottom so you want to put the camera light towards the white paper. The Sheath is not required to be used with the cameras since you can wipe the camera down with a disinfectant wipe; however, you will prevent fogging by adding the sheath. We all have those patients when we ask them to breath out of their nose and they do the opposite.

Step #2: Refer to the User Manual

No two manufacturers make intraoral cameras the same way. It is therefore prudent for you to read the user manual of your IRIS intraoral camera and find out what the manufacturer recommends as the right way to clean or maintain this particular piece of dental equipment.

For example, one manufacturer may recommend that you use an alcohol wipe to clean the lens of the camera while another might forbid it. Follow the specific recommendations provided in the manual so that your camera isn’t damaged during the cleaning process. The advice of following the manufacturer’s instructions also applies to any other dental equipment that you may have, such as the LUM sub-enamel illumination device and the XTG Handheld X-Ray machine.

Step #3: Place Your Intraoral Camera on a Surface You Can Disinfect

The third step that you should take is to place the IRIS Intraoral camera on a sterile surface or on a disposable liner. Once the camera is on that surface, dispose of the gloves that you wore while taking intraoral images of the patient.

After taking the gloves off, proceed to wash your hands thoroughly. This added precaution is necessary because there’s a possibility that you came in contact with the patient’s fluids. After washing and drying your hands, wear fresh gloves and proceed with the next steps of the process.

Step #4: Wipe the Camera Down

You should always wipe down the entire camera using Digi Wipes, which are scientifically proven to have superior disinfection properties compared to other medical wipes on the market. Don’t use the wipes picked from the grocery store! The wipes used to clean your camera must be specifically designed for this role.

Step #5: Connect the Cable and Store the IRIS Intraoral Camera

Once the camera is dry, reconnect its USB cable and place the camera in a fresh sheath. Thereafter, place the camera in its storage place or on a sterile surface, such as a tray, if you intend to use it again. Discard the gloves you wore while cleaning the IRIS 2.0 Dental Camera for Windows.

The steps above should be mastered by every member of your staff. Insist that they follow those steps every single time without any exceptions. That way, your equipment will not be an instrument of cross-contamination or provision of inaccurate images.

Understanding Caries Detection Devices

Over time, medicine has moved away from aggressive surgery to minimally invasive procedures as well as placing more emphasis on prevention and early detection. This change has been triggered by the need to lower the rates at which complications develop after surgery, as well as the need to reduce recovery time and the pain experienced by patients. Dentistry has also taken the same trajectory and caries detection devices, such as the LUM, have been introduced on the market in order to make it easier to catch caries early and reverse this condition before it costs patients their teeth. This article discusses some of the shortcomings of the traditional caries detection technology and also explores the benefits that the new crop of caries detection devices bring to the field of dentistry.

The Shortcomings of Traditional Caries Detection Technology

Radiographs: Radiography has been used for long in the fight against caries. However, this technology has one big weakness. Radiographs tend to be effective in alerting a dentist about the presence of caries once those caries have advanced and reached the dentinoenamel junction. In other words, radiographs can only detect caries with a high degree of accuracy once the bacteria causing caries has done so much damage that the dentine is starting to be exposed. This is unacceptable for dentists interested in minimally invasive dentistry since such severe damage requires invasive remedies or interventions.

Dental Explorers: dental explorers have also been used for long to examine the surface of teeth in order to find out which portions have caries. However, dental experts have been discouraging the use of these devices because the sharp tip of the explorer can compromise the portions of the teeth that are re-mineralizing. This can inadvertently give caries a chance to advance further.

The Benefits of Caries Detection Devices

The age of digital dentistry has ushered the dawn of caries detection devices like the LUM. These devices offer a variety of advantages or uses, such as the following;

Checking for caries before sealants are placed: Caries detection devices provide sub-enamel illumination so that dentists can use their findings to make various decisions. One of these pieces of information collected with the help of LUM is the state of any caries on the teeth before dental sealants are placed. This information can be captured more effectively once the caries detection tool is used alongside a high-quality intraoral camera, such as the IRIS HD USB 3.0 Dental Camera. The images captured can be analyzed thoroughly so that any caries detected can be treated before the sealants are put in place.

Assessing Re-mineralization Measures: Caries detection devices can also be used to monitor whether the measures to re-mineralize the teeth of a patient are working as expected, or not. The information gathered can be used to change the treatment plan if tangible results aren’t forthcoming, or a specific approach can be retained if it is bringing the desired outcomes. In this way, the time that would have been lost waiting for an ineffective method to bear fruit can be saved.

Monitoring Sealants: Caries detection devices have also shown their usefulness as a tool to help dentists to monitor the edges of dental sealants as time goes by. Any deterioration can be tracked so that a timely decision to replace the sealants can be made. This proactive approach could not have been possible if caries detection devices didn’t exist.

As you can see, caries detection devices like the LUM sub-enamel illumination device can add a whole new dimension to the ease with which your dental office can catch caries early. However, you should use these devices together with the other caries detection systems for better results. Contact Digital DOC for a virtual or in-office demo so that you can grasp how easy your work will become once this tool is available to you and your staff.

Grow Your Dental Practice with Your IRIS HD

Grow your Dental Practice with Your IRIS HD

Return on your investment in an intraoral scanner is directly dependent on your dental practice’s current setup. It is important to consider factors such as the areas of potential growth, which services contribute the most to your business, the number of impressions and device remakes you do on average and the kind of target demographic you have.

All these factors will help you determine whether this investment will be worth the learning curve and the financial cost. Dentists who reported satisfaction from this investment gave the following reasons:

Increased Accuracy Resulting in Fewer Remakes and Less Chair Time

Dental sleep medicine practitioners reported lesser oral appliance remakes after the use of digital impressions. They also discussed reduced chair time spent making adjustments and said that if incase impression retakes were needed they were able to finish it off in the same appointment. This was because they were able to see the D scan right away and were able to identify lack of clarity. Moreover, the electronic workflow also meant that the impressions were not impacted by problems such as tongue thrusts, saliva contamination, gagging, shipping temperature or imprecise lab pour ups like before.

Low Cost Due to Saving on Purchasing Less Traditional Impression Material

The cost and storage space savings were a huge plus point for especially those who did many full mouth impressions

Increased overall efficiency, particularly quicker turnaround times from beginning to end:

This can be compared to the speed and time difference between sending a letter through email versus traditional mail. Since the digital scan from your IRIS USB 2.0 dental camera is uploaded electronically there is no delay in receipt so the manufacturing process begins immediately, Patients with sleep apnea as well which is a great advantage to patients and is appreciated by referring providers as well.

High level of Satisfaction in Patients Leading to More Referrals.

This increased satisfaction leads to a greater number of referrals who have failed CPAP to the specific dentist where they can vouch for a good experience. Referring providers are also happier with the speed of therapy initiation which is a domino effect leading to more referrals over other competing dental sleep medicine practitioners. Moreover, this also helps overbalance the initial investment in the intraoral scanner by more payments.

Easier Oral Appliance Replacement and Duplicates

If somehow the patient loses his oral appliance by accident or wants a second device, this allows you to order a new appliance online using the saved scans as long as the patient’s teeth have not been moved. This is a huge step up from traditional pour ups where they would not be able to locate old models in a reliable manner.

Usage opportunities across multiple services and multiple types of dentistry:

Dentists can use their IRIS HD Intraoral Camera across a board of services ranging from orthodontics to dental sleep to implants and much more. However, if you offer multiple services do research whether you can find established uses for digital scanning across the various types of services.

Portability and ease of use:

If you practice at multiple locations, you will be able to save cost as your one purchase will be used in all locations. Similarly, if you partner on-site with other physicians or healthcare facilities and do oral appliance impressions you are at a great advantage. In traditional impressions, this would not be possible but the portability and ease of Digital Doc’s IRIS HD Cameras make the process very fast and efficient. It is important however to check with a health care attorney if partnering with other physicians and facilities is permitted. Many rules that govern how many Medicare providers can work at the same office so make sure you are not violating any unknowingly.

Creating a Productive Digital Dental Practice

It can be daunting for a dental practitioner to select the most appropriate equipment and technologies from the wide array available on the market today. Moreover, the advertising and marketing efforts of manufacturers don’t make the task any easier. This article provides some actionable advice that you can implement while creating a productive digital dental practice.

Start from the Front Desk

Many dental practices make the costly mistake of thinking about the front desk last during the digitization process. However, front desk serves a key function in delivering outstanding service to patients and linking the back-end to various departments, such as billing. Therefore, it is advisable for you to start your digitization journey by procuring software solutions that can make the workflow smooth. For example, that software should be able to allow IRIS USB 2.0 Dental Chair Camera to send images directly to the patient’s digital file. Ultimately, eliminating the manual updating of files. In addition to this, patient’s rooms should be equipped with a large screen and digital software to educate and entertain them during their office visit.

Diagnostic Tools/Dental Technology

Next, consider digitizing the diagnostic equipment and technology so that your diagnostic process can be accurate and efficient. This is where caries detection tools like LUM and digital intraoral cameras like the IRIS Intraoral Dental Camera for Mac come in handy. Radiology tools, such as the XTG Handheld X-Ray, are also crucial during this phase of digitization. These digital tools will increase early detection and accurate diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can commence early.

Dental Treatment Tools and Dental Technology

There is a big reason why the tools and systems used to provide treatment may only be digitized once the diagnostics have been attended to. You can only start treatment after establishing what is wrong. Any mistake made during diagnosis will render any treatment given a nullity or require costly rework and extra visits by the patient. Remember, same-day services are now expected as the norm. So, the diagnosis should be spot on every single time so that proper treatment can be delivered to your patient.

Here, intraoral cameras like the IRIS HD USB 3.0 Dental Camera and software generate models of different smile designs, which come in handy when you’re setting treatment goals with your patient. You can also acquire fabrication equipment (3D printers and other milling equipment, for example) so that various restorations can be made in-house rather than outsourcing those services.

Data Backup for Your Dental Practice

Digitization increases the risk of data loss, so adequate attention should be devoted to backing up all data, preferably in the cloud. This type of backup system will keep the data of your dental practice secure from loss. It is important to appoint a person who has the knowledge of properly uploading the data to the cloud. This process can be automated so that any data capture is immediately sent to the cloud. A data backup system will save you from the headaches associated with data storage problems. Imagine how the reputation of your dental practice would suffer if a patient came to your office to review their smile after a year and you were unable to pull the images taken using IRIS intraoral cameras just before the treatment commenced!

Painting the Picture of the Ideal Visit

After implementing the digitization sequence suggested above, take time and think about what an ideal patient visit should be for your dental practice. Consider pain management, expedited care, cost-reduction and any other component that can bring the wow factor to your practice. Use that ideal picture to revisit the different categories of digitization as earlier discussed so that improvements or upgrades can be implemented on an ongoing basis. In this way, you will avoid the complacency that often creeps in when dental professionals complete the initial digitization of their practices. Continuous improvement is the hallmark of dental practices that rise to the top.

Efficiency, consistency, and accuracy will be a norm at your dental practice. All you need to do is follow the recommendations above when creating a productive digital dental practice.