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Increasing Doctor’s Revenue

Increasing Doctor's Revenue

Increasing Doctor's Revenue: Tips From Digital Doc

Our job in dental sales is to bring value to the dental practice, to grow your revenue. The question is, where are intraoral cameras on your list of importance? No matter how long you’ve been in the dental industry, where do you place intraoral cameras on your priority list? I know you have a lot of things being marketed to you. Big ticket items like CAD/CAM systems, digital dental impression systems, extra rooms for equipment, etc. what would grow the doctor’s revenue more than anything else in the dental industry? It is the best intraoral cameras on the market.

We’ve seen a 10-30% increase in revenue in a dental practice with the adoption of intraoral cameras, but it’s the right number of cameras that does it. You see, most reps believe (and they are correct) every dental practice needs an intraoral camera, and that is the problem; having just one camera.

That single camera may be placed in a drawer where another person can’t trace it or the person with the keys to that drawer isn’t around, so someone who wants to use that camera can’t access it. Dental practices don’t have enough intraoral cameras.

Why Intraoral Cameras

So, why focus on intraoral cameras? It leads to everything else. If your practice sees a 10-30% increase in revenue because you suggested intraoral cameras and it’s the right number. So, what is the right number? Well, a camera on every single chair would be ideal. The most successful dentists have a camera on every chair.

At a minimum, have a camera per provider. For example, if the practice has two doctors and two hygienists, that would mean having four intraoral cameras. This isn’t because we are trying to sell more cameras to your dental practice, but it is what they need to see a double-digit increase in revenue. So when they achieve that, and we have a spreadsheet that shows monthly savings and incremental growth in revenue.

Practice Growth

When we talk about incremental growth, and in this particular example it is a $1 million practice having 10% organic growth in its business. A million-dollar business growing at 10% sees an increase by $100,000, and yet the fixed costs don’t change. However, your variable costs change. These variable costs include supplies and lab costs.

So we factor the variable costs in at 20%. That’s pretty reasonable, wouldn’t you agree? So take 20% off of $100,000 and that leaves $80,000. We’ve also factored in the cost of the equipment. That leaves $60,000 that the doctor is going to put in his or her pocket. What’s that money going to be used for? They are free to spend it on anything else that they believe is important on their priority list. For example, the digital impression system.

Oftentimes, we place the cart before the horse. We are talking about these big ticket items but we aren’t talking about giving dental practices a solution of how they can pay for those items. This approach of acquiring intraoral cameras provides a real way through which dental practices can pay for those systems, and it makes sense. It’s not a general analogy of “Oh Doc, just do an extra crown a week and you will pay for it.” That doesn’t relate to them. That doesn’t take into account their business or understanding where they are coming from in terms of how they run their business and the overhead they have.

Why Digital Doc

Why should you meet with Digital Doc? Why should you sit down with one of our territory managers? This is why. You want to grow your business by double digits? Grow their business by double digits, and it will follow. Zig Ziglar said it best; if you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want. So if you are focused on the business growth of their practices, the supplies come, the technology comes. That’s what we are focused on, it’s growing businesses. And we know the intraoral cameras are going to follow. Questions about our Digital Doc products? Contact us today to schedule a virtual demo with your local rep or visit our Digital Doc YouTube channel

The History of Intraoral Cameras

history of intraoral cameras - digital doc

The History of Intraoral Cameras

Overall History of Intraoral Cameras

Intraoral cameras are used in dental offices all over the world. They’ve become a very important tool for both patient rapport and dental treatment. In this article, we give a brief history of intraoral cameras.

On January 7, 1839, the Paris Academy of Sciences witnessed the introduction of photography to the world by Louis Daguerre. Later in the same year, Alexander S. Wolcott (a New York-based dental instruments manufacturer) used Daguerre’s concept to patent the first camera.

The newly opened world of photography immediately inspired the formation of the American Journal of Dental Science. This journal published photographs depicting the pre-operative and the post-operative condition of patients who underwent cosmetic as well as restorative dental procedures.

Analog Intraoral Camera

Fast-forward more than a century later, and the pioneer intraoral camera (IOC) was launched towards the end of the 1980s. This analog intraoral camera system was the outcome of work done by a California-based company called Fuju Optical Systems, and they secured a patent for the IOC in July 1987. With their patent in hand, the company wasted no time in launching DentaCam later in 1987.

Endoscopic Hand Piece

The next groundbreaking development regarding intraoral cameras came in 1989 when another company introduced an advanced intraoral camera that featured an endoscopic handpiece. This was an exciting development in the dental world because never before had a dental camera had a micro-camera with its own source of light.

Dental Cameras Then

For years to come, the intraoral camera with a dental endoscope was the camera of choice in dentistry. Their quick adoption was partly due to the widespread use of endoscopes in gastroenterology.

Other fields of medicine also made use of endoscopes and other imaging systems as various software systems to enhance images became available.

Needless to say, those earlier versions of intraoral cameras were very expensive (a unit went for about $40,000), bulky, and cumbersome to operate. Just to give you an idea of how rudimentary those systems were, they had a large video processor box, a handpiece, a dedicated computer (equipped with a floppy disc drive used to save and transfer still images), and a VCR used to view video images. Dr. Ben Kacos, a Shreveport Dentist, has seen these intraoral cameras and he says that they’re massive.

Dental Cameras Today

Over time, however, technological advancements continued to be made, and the intraoral camera systems became more affordable and more compact.

Today, a dental intraoral camera is just about the size of the handpiece of the IOC systems of decades ago. These modern devices cost just a tiny fraction of what those older systems used to cost. USB connectivity, HD imaging technology, ease of use, and other benefits of intraoral dental cameras have made these devices a common feature of dental operatories.

Another factor that has resulted in the widespread use of intraoral cameras today is their value in patient education. When a patient views real-time images of their mouth, the patient is more likely to accept the treatment plan recommended. Those same images will also be sent to insurance companies to show why a certain dental procedure is necessary.

The images taken using intraoral cameras make such a strong case that many insurers now accept images that are simply emailed to them alongside the treatment documents.

Digital Doc Intraoral Cameras

Today, intraoral cameras, such as those made by Digital Doc, come with a huge array of features and design options that include the following:

The variable or fixed focusing system
LED lighting
Corded or wireless connectivity
Angle viewing capability ranging from 0 to 90 degrees
Magnification of up to 100x

Using Intraoral Cameras in Your Dental Practice

As you plan to implement an intraoral camera system at your dental office, bear in mind the following suggestions:

Research intraoral camera brands and select the one which will be easy for you to integrate
Intraoral camera images need to be stored properly and in an organized way so that it is easy to retrieve them when the need arises. For example, the images can be sent directly to a patient’s digital file.
It is important to back-up the captured and stored images at an offsite location.

As you can see, intraoral cameras have come a long way. These advancements have made the provision of dental care easier, faster, and more reliable, all while improving patient satisfaction. Now is the time to contact Digital Doc and join the revolution of dental technology. Schedule a virtual demonstration with one of your local Digital Doc reps today!

The Future of Dental Technology and Innovation

Future of dental technology - digital doc

The Future of Dental Technology and Innovation

Diving Into The Future of Dental Technology and Innovation

For a long time, many people would avoid visiting their dentist if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. This is because dental visits didn’t have the right tools or methods. Luckily, there are a number of technological advancements that have been introduced in the world of dentistry. Dental visits are now quicker, more reliable, less painful, and more comfortable for the patient. Here is an overview of the future of dental technology and innovation.

Smart Toothbrushes

The concept of smart homes is becoming widely popular. For example, there are a variety of smart appliances like a smart dishwasher. In the field of dentistry, electric toothbrushes are now a common thing. So, it’s no surprise that electric toothbrushes will be able to monitor how you’re brushing your teeth. These smart toothbrushes make at-home dental care a breeze not just for kids but adults as well.

Digital Dentures

Gone are the days when several weeks and multiple visits to a dentist were needed to get dentures made. Advanced materials, software, and techniques have cut the time needed to make dentures. As a dentist, all you need is CAD/CAM technology to quickly fabricate custom-fit dentures with just a few clicks on their computer.

Augmented Reality (AR)

You can credit gaming applications for making AR common today, but don’t be deceived that augmented reality will be restricted to the world of digital or online games. AR is slowly making its way into all industries, and it is beginning to creep into dentistry as well. For example, it is being used by some dental schools to demonstrate to students various treatment techniques. More applications for this innovation are sure to follow in the coming years.

Teledentistry

As we mentioned in the beginning, lots of people do everything they can to avoid going to their dentist. For example, dental anxiety may be one of the factors keeping them away. Teledentistry is one of the innovations that have been introduced to address dental concerns virtually.

In this approach, patients are video chatting with their dentist. Doctors like Dr. Ben Kacos, a dentist in Shreveport, LA, offers smile virtual consultations for patients interested in a smile makeover. Teledentistry is also a helpful way to communicate more with patients about the necessary steps of treatment.

Intraoral Cameras

Many patients who visit the dentist are unsure of what their dentist actually does during their appointment.

Thanks to new technology like intraoral cameras, dentists can now show patients exactly what they see. Using a slim intraoral camera, you will be able to quickly capture high-quality images of the patient’s oral cavity and then review those images on a monitor in your operatory. The best dental camera helps patients better understand the severity of their dental problem and can make a better decision about starting treatment. Additionally, doctors who use intraoral cameras in their office are seeing a 10-30% increase in revenue.

As you can see, dental technology has come a long way and the future of dental technology will continue to change. To learn more about how you can start implementing intraoral cameras in your dental practice, contact Digital Doc to set up a virtual demo.

Digital Doc Dental Technology

Explore Our Dental Technology at Digital Doc

Now is a great time to upgrade your practice’s dental technology. So, where should you start? In this article, our Digital Doc team explores the different dental technologies at Digital Doc. We hope this quick overview helps you choose the best dental technology for your dental practice.

XTG Handheld X-Ray

Gone are the days when you had to shuffle patients from one operatory to the next. Our XTG Handheld X-Ray machine allows you to easily and quickly take dental x-rays at the chairside.

Additionally, the XTG handheld x-ray will reduce the amount of radiation exposure. This handheld x-ray machine not only allows you to save time but also space since it can be anywhere.

IRIS X80 Liquid Lens Auto-Focus Intraoral Dental Camera

Keep things sharp and clear by taking all dental images using the IRIS X80 intraoral camera. This is the latest addition to our growing list of best dental cameras. The X80 automatically adjusts the focus of the camera so that you get crystal-clear images without doing a lot of work. Each component was built to the highest quality standards. This plug-n-play camera allows you to immediately start enjoying the HD images relayed over a 2.0 standard USB protocol. Dr. Kacos a dentist in Shreveport, LA, adds that any doctor who uses the IRIS x80 intraoral camera has a major advantage over those who don’t.

IRIS USB 2.0 Dental Camera for Windows

This precision optical device allows you to illuminate, focus and connect with your patients through high-resolution images. The dental camera is easy to use and has a 5-point focus wheel enabling a user to select the type of image (smile, full-face, etc.) that they would like to capture. The 8-point LED lighting ensures that images will be crisp and clear, which makes diagnosis a breeze!

IRIS USB 2.0 Chair Dental Camera

Discovery is crucial in dental care, and the IRIS USB 2.0 Chair Dental Camera brings a powerful dental discovery tool right where it is needed, at the dental chair. This dental camera comes with USB to CAT6 converters that remove the necessity of USB handcuffs so that users can simply plug the camera in and start taking images. With this turnkey innovation in your dental practice, you will be able to take ergonomics a notch higher!

IRIS LTE USB 2.0 Dental Camera

The IRIS LTE Intraoral Camera is easy to use because of its fixed focus system. Dual capture buttons make it easy for right-handed and left-handed users to intuitively operate the device. You are assured of the finest picture quality because the IRIS LTE dental camera has an eight-point LED lighting array that combines wonderfully with the SONY Hi-Resolution CCD to give you crisp and clear images. The USB connector allows this camera to be fitted into a standard delivery unit.

LUM Transillumination

Enhance your detection powers by acquiring the LUM Transillumination device from Digital Doc. This compact and easy-to-use diagnostic tool takes the capabilities of the IRIS intraoral camera to a whole new level.

The specialized LED technology in the LUM shines high-intensity light on a tooth. The way the lighting system is positioned ensures that the rays of light are perpendicular to the surface of the tooth. If there are irregularities or impurities on the tooth, such as cracks, fractures or leaking amalgam fillings, then the light rays will be dispersed and the dentist will see this anomaly. With LUM, you will be able to detect caries and other dental defects long before they progress.

We also have a variety of accessories that are designed to help you get the best from our products. These accessories include Digi Wipes, IRIS Chair Installation kits, Camera Sheaths, IRIS Custom USB cables, and so many others.

If you are interested in learning more about how our different products can transform the way you treat patients at your dental practice, we are more than glad to discuss your needs and arrange a virtual or in-office demo. Contact us today!

Dental Advisor 2020 Top Award Winner

Dental Advisor 2020 Top Award Winner

About Dental Advisor 2020 Top Award Winner

The 2020 Dental Advisor awards are out, and once again, the IRIS Intraoral Camera made by Digital Doc has emerged as a Top Award Winner. Technology is always ever-evolving. The IRIS Intraoral Camera has been a Top Award Winner for eight years in a row, making it a testament to the cutting-edge technology and commitment to continuous improvement here at Digital Doc. Our team is dedicated to providing the best intraoral cameras on the market. Read on and discover what the consultants who evaluated the camera over a four-month period have to say.

The Consultants’ Comments

An intraoral camera is designed to be a diagnostic tool used by dentists. One of the comments that featured strongly among the consultants was the bright light that the IRIS Intraoral Camera has. These bright lights don’t wash out the colors inherent in the images captured.

The consultants also observed that the barrier sheath fits well over the dental camera. This sheath has no effect on the quality of images captured. Image quality is important to us at Digital Doc, so we put great care into the design of the sheath so that dentists use the protective component while taking intraoral images. Infection control is ensured if the barrier sheath is used consistently.

It was also observed that the intraoral camera is easy to operate. Coming from a team of consultants, this is high praise as they used the devices for four whole months.

The image quality also got wonderful feedback. The consultants say the images are great, and the photos capture the details of all extra-oral and intra-oral structures. All this high-quality comes from a camera that is “lightweight with a slim head,” as the consultants describe the IRIS Intraoral Camera.

Clinical Tips When Using the IRIS Intraoral Camera

To get the best from the IRIS Intraoral Camera, the consultants who reviewed the device came up with some tips. They first advised that dentists and hygienists, as well as other dental care professionals, should dry a patient’s teeth before capturing images.

You are also advised to install a cable kit in each of your operatories. This is so it is easy to move the intraoral camera from one operatory to another by the use of a mini-USB connection.

IRIS Intraoral Camera Features

IRIS, the best dental camera, has a sleek, stainless steel wand whose tip is narrow. This is designed like that so it can easily access all the parts of a patient’s mouth. The camera comes with a 15-foot cable, and this is more than adequate for work within an operatory. The capture buttons are strategically positioned on the sides of the camera wand. This allows users to use whichever hand they want, regardless if they are left-handed or right-handed.

The consultants report that it was seamless to integrate the camera with different dental practice management software, especially when the IRIS Intraoral Camera remained in the same operatory. The focus wheel has five positions for the user to choose to take a full-face image, one-surface image, two-surface image, a smile, or a macro image. Images exhibit trueness of color due to the LED lights which fully illuminate the field. However, the LED lights can be turned off if the intraoral camera user wants to capture an image of a dental x-ray, which has been backlit.

However, some technical issues can develop if you keep moving the IRIS Intraoral Camera from one operatory to another. 89% of the consultants who evaluated this dental camera found it to be better than ones on the market. They then concluded that they would switch to the IRIS dental camera. Only 11% said that the IRIS intraoral camera was no different from the existing ones on the market. All the consultants were in agreement that they would recommend the IRIS Intraoral Camera. This is based on their overall experience using this device during the lengthy evaluation period.

Add IRIS Intraoral Camera to Your Practice

The quality and usefulness of the IRIS Intraoral Camera are clear. It has been a Top Award Winner for the past eight years now and earns its great reviews. If you would like to learn more about how you too can acquire the best intraoral camera for your dental practice, contact Digital Doc today.

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.

The Importance of Explaining New Technology to Patients

explaining new dental technology to patients - Digital Doc

The Importance of Explaning New Technology to Patients

Why You Should Explain New Technology to Patients

It is a known fact that not everyone is thrilled about visiting their dentist. Dental visits can be more intimidating if the patient is unaware of what’s going to happen. You and your team should always take the time to communicate treatment plans, new technology, and practices with your patients. Dental hygienists interact with patients quite frequently, so it should come naturally that your hygienists take the lead on explaining new technologies and practices to patients. Your patients will greatly appreciate being included.

Explaining new technology to patients can be easier said than done. It’s important to read into each patient and tailor the message accordingly. In this article, we discuss the importance of explaining new technology to patients and how you can do so.

Explaining New Technology to Patients: Tech-Savvy Patients

Living in the world today, it is no surprise that there are tech-savvy patients. These patients readily welcome new technology in their own lives, and they can quickly grasp the workings of a new device. Within this group, many sub-categories exist, and dental hygienists can adapt various approaches to explain the new technology to these patients. The following are some suggestions on how to do this.

Explain the new technology.

The tech-savvy patient will immediately want to know how a given technology works and how his or her health can benefit from the device. You can start by giving a brief explanation to the patient and even demonstrate how the technology works. For instance, you could briefly use the LUM Transillumination device to show the patient the areas of his or her teeth. Tech-savvy patients will likely appreciate your efforts in keeping up with the latest dental technology.

Be enthusiastic.

When a patient shows excitement towards your office’s new dental technology, share the same excitement, and highlight how the device can elevate their dental care. You’ll instantly build rapport with the patient. You may even receive a referral or two.

Neutrality.

Some patients won’t show any reaction towards your new devices. Patients who are heavily tech-savvy are likely to expect nothing less. We still recommend briefly explaining the new technology, but keep it short and sweet.

Continuing engagement.

Sometimes, patients may exhibit a high degree of interest in the way a particular Digital Doc device works. Such patients are a gem because they have just revealed how they can be kept engaged. Dental hygienists can come up with several ways, such as emailing them photos of the technology at work, so that this deep interest is nurtured to raise the profile of the dental office in the minds of such patients.

Explaining New Technology to Patients: Patients Who Are Averse to Technology

At the other extreme of the technology, spectrum is patients who are averse to technology. This type of patient needs to be handled delicately when new dental technology is introduced to the dental office. The following suggestions can help to address the concerns of tech-averse patients.

Explain the technology to them.

You don’t need to be as detailed when explaining as you would if you were explaining to a tech-savvy patient. In fact, offering too many details to technology-averse patients can be counterproductive since they may become confused. Instead, be as brief as possible. For example, when explaining how the IRIS X80 Liquid Lens intraoral camera works, you can just point out its crystal-clear images as a better way to detect cavities early. Such an explanation will portray the necessity of the technology and hopefully make the patient more willing to accept its use during their treatment.

Patients with reservations.

Some tech-averse patients may express reservations about the new technology that the dental hygienist is using or points out as technology that will be used to treat an existing or emerging dental health problem. It is important to be very patient and understanding when addressing such reservations. Focus on revealing how technology enables the dental office to provide better dental care to patients and refrain from drawing comparisons between dental technology and other technological devices in everyday life. Any comparison can bring up deep-rooted issues the patient has, and their resistance to the technology will be increased instead of dissipating.

Answer their questions.

Tech-averse patients often pose several questions or the same question in different ways when faced with a new piece of dental technology. As a dental hygienist to whom those questions are posed exercise a lot of patience and care when responding. The questions give you a window into the objections that the patient has, and how well you answer can either soften their stance or make them take a more averse position. Avoid using technical language in your responses. Instead, use simple language to highlight how the patient stands to benefit from the new technology.

Keep traditional methods as an option.

In some situations, tech-averse patients may vehemently insist that they want nothing to do with the new technology that a dental hygienist wishes to use. In such a case, it is futile and counterproductive to try to compel the patient to accept the new technology. It is far better to fall back to the old technology that the patient is used so that the needed dental care can be provided. For example, if the patient doesn’t want a digital scanner anywhere near their mouth, whip out the old way to take dental impressions and use that. Patients have a say in the dental care they receive, and acting upon their wishes is your duty as a dental hygienist.

Each patient that will come to you is different, and it is imperative that you practice how to quickly identify into which category each patient belongs on the subject of new technology. Communicate with those patients appropriately on matters of that new technology and your work as a dental hygienist, and a representative of the dental office will be easier. At Digital Doc, we offer extensive training to the staff at dental offices where our equipment is in use, so you can count on having all the relevant knowledge about our technology, such as intraoral cameras, hand-held dental x-ray devices, and LUM Transillumination devices long before you have to use this technology on patients.

The Benefits of Digital Workflows in Your Dental Office

digital workflow in your dental office - Digital Doc

The Benefits of Digital Workflow in Your Office Space

The Many Benefits of Digital Workflows in Your Dental Office

If your dental office hasn’t digitized its workflows, you are missing out on many of the benefits that other dentists are taking advantage of. Here are some of the most notable benefits of digital workflows you may enjoy in your dental office.

The Removal of Time and Space Barriers

Before the advent of digital workflows, everything had to be done manually. As you probably know, filing and retrieving hard copies of patient files is very time-consuming.

That is not the case with digitized workflows. For example, when using the IRIS X80 Dental Camera, images can be instantly sent to the patient’s file.

Visualization of Patient Outcomes is Easy

Digitized workflows also make it easy for your dental team to visualize patient outcomes prior to a dental procedure. For example, your team can pull up digital images of a previous case and use them when planning out treatment.

The same digital records can serve an added role during patient education. For example, “before” and “after” images can be uploaded to your website. New patients will often look into your patient reviews and case studies before coming to the office. It will, therefore, be easier for you to explain a given procedure and what they can expect if the patient comes with some prior information about the treatment they need.

Increased Efficiency

Digital workflows have an immediate impact on efficiency at any dental office. For example, digital x-ray images can be immediately sent to a dental lab so that needed restorations are fabricated quickly. As we mentioned above, you can display the images captured by your intraoral camera on your monitor in real-time. This improved efficiency ultimately brings costs down and improves patient care since the errors inherent in manual processes are eliminated.

Increased Reliability of Products

Digital workflows also make it possible for the information to be processed using a variety of software. For example, the x-ray images captured using the XTG handheld x-ray in your dental office can be used by CAD software to design the customized dental restorations needed by a patient.

Cases of ill-fitting dentures, crowns, and other dental devices are therefore drastically reduced as a result of the digitization of processes at dental offices. As product reliability increases, so does patient satisfaction. Your costs will also reduce because expensive rework is avoided.

Digital Doc has made a name for itself as the best provider of digital dental technology, such as intraoral cameras and handheld x-ray equipment. Give us a call, and we will work with you to upgrade your equipment so that you, too, can enjoy the benefits of digital workflows at your dental office.

Improving Dental Office Productivity

The 3 Steps of Improving Dental Office Productivity

As a dental practice owner, you are fully aware that new competition arises every day. One way to ensure growth is to improve productivity. Our experts at Digital Doc have compiled the following steps to improving dental office productivity dramatically.

Step #1: Take a Look at Your Office’s Materials/Supplies

One of the ways you can increase dental office productivity is by decreasing office supplies. You can weed out which materials and supplies are being used, overused, and not used at all. Here’s why:

It will be easy for you to keep track of the quantities of materials that you are using.
Cost-savings will accrue when you optimize the materials you use. Ultimately, this will decrease your overhead costs.
Less time will be required to order needed supplies.
Your work processes will become standardized.
The risk of errors is minimized when you don’t duplicate materials.

As you assess your materials portfolio, Digital Doc suggests that you give careful thought to materials that can serve multiple purposes since dentistry is moving in that direction.

Step #2: Stick to One (or a few) Brands

When improving dental office productivity, you must narrow down the list of vendors to as few as possible. For example, you can get all your digital dental equipment, such as intraoral cameras and hand-held digital dental x-rays from Digital Doc. The benefits of consolidating your suppliers include the following;

All your materials and processes will match seamlessly. For example, the images captured by the IRIS X80 Liquid Lens intraoral camera will be instantly uploaded to the patient’s file since the intraoral cameras will easily integrate with your office management software.
Quality assurance will be guaranteed
Onboarding new employees are easier
You are likely to spend less money investing in equipment, software, and materials, unlike another dental office that opts to acquire a myriad of standalone equipment, software, and materials.
Greater patient satisfaction since your results will be consistently high, and patients will grow to love and depend on the services that you offer.

Step #3: Create and Nurture Great Partnerships

It isn’t easy for your dental office to do everything and excel at it. For example, while it may be possible for you to fabricate same-day restorations in-house, it may be uneconomical for you to procure the sophisticated equipment needed to make dental implants and other specialty restorations.

You can therefore improve the productivity of your dental office by identifying the core tasks that you really shine at and then outsource the rest. Doing this will bring immediate benefits like;

Increasing the return on investment because your resources and time will be allocated to the services where you outshine the competition.
Beneficial partnerships will make it possible for your dental office to widen the range of services that are offered to your patients.
You can spend more time providing exceptional care to your patients.

Improving Dental Office Productivity with Digi Doc

The future of dental offices is now. If you aren’t actively taking steps to increase the productivity of your practice, then you are falling behind your competitors. Contact Digital Doc today, and we will help you modernize your dental office and improve productivity.