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Fresh Start in the New Year

Get a Fresh Start in the New Year

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

Increased Productivity for the New Year

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

Reduced Equipment Failure Risks

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 Outdated digital equipment stands a higher chance of failing.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

Attract New Patients

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 If a patient walks into your office and everything is outdated (including your equipment), they’ll think that your skills are outdated too.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

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

End of 2019 Dental Trade Shows

Our Fall 2019 Trade Show Travels!

Our team has been fortunate enough to be exploring the country at various trade shows giving demos and educating visitors on our high-quality Digital Doc products. Such products include the IRIS X80 intraoral camera, the XTG Handheld X-ray, and the LUM Transillumination. See what our Digital Doc team has been up to in the article below!

September Dental Trade Shows

In September, we kicked off the busy tradeshow season in San Francisco at ADA FDI World Dental Congress. We had the opportunity to share our new IRIS X80 with tradeshow attendees!

October Dental Trade Shows

October was one of our busiest traveling months! We started in Vegas, then made our way up to Canada, and then Texas. The following is a list of some of the awesome trade shows that we attended in October:

Dentsply Sirona World – Las Vegas, Nevada
Northwest Dental Exposition – Edmonton, Canada
Southwest Dental Congress – Dallas, Texas
Dentists Who Care Conference – South Padre Island, Texas
Thompson Okanagan Dental Meeting – Kelowna, British Columbia Canada

November & December Dental Trade shows

In November, we made it to the Mid-Continent Dental Convention in St. Charles, Missouri, where we spent the weekend learning and teaching workshops.

We finished out the year strong at the Greater New York Dental Meeting in New York, NY. This is the largest dental conference in the US, and we were thrilled to be there representing our latest technology.

Our Digital Doc team wants to take the time to thank everyone for an awesome year! The amount of positive feedback and support we’ve received means the world to us. Can’t wait to see what 2020 brings us!

Check out more pictures from 2019 Tradeshows!

The Importance of Dental X-Rays

The Importance of Dental X-Rays From Digital Doc

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

X-Rays Are Invaluable During Diagnosis

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

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

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

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

How Often Should X-Rays Be Taken?

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

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

Dental X-Ray Safety

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

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

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.

Digital Doc’s President: Brett Wilson

Digital Doc's President: Brett Wilson

Get to Know Brett Wilson

In honor of Digital Doc’s 20th Anniversary, we’re featuring some of our team’s finest. We interviewed Brett, the President of Digital Doc, to discuss his journey with the company. For more information about Digital Doc’s team or Digital Doc products, please contact us today!

Brett’s Journey With Digital Doc

Brett started working with Digital Doc in 2001 during his last year of college. It was the ADA event in Kansas City, Missouri, and they were selling through independents at the time. When Brett graduated from school, he took an 11 state territory in the Northcentral US and helped open dealer networks selling through major dealers. Some of these dealers included Henry Schein and Patterson Dental. After leaving the family business to sell equipment for Patterson, managing a branch, and a couple of start-ups, Brett came back to the family business in 2013.

Today, Brett spends most of his time in the field with Digital Doc’s Territory Managers helping them become more successful and also visits with dealer partners. Brett emphasizes the culture at Digital Doc that is hands-on in the field versus behind a desk at the corporate office.

Outside of Digital Doc

Brett has many hobbies and passions. His number one is Faith. Involvement with his church is extremely important to Brett. Another big part of Brett’s life is family. Brett lives in Tulsa, OK. He’s been married for 13 years and has three children. His two oldest children are eight years old, Kade and Kayla. Brett’s youngest is five, and his name is Gage. Brett mentions that all three are very active. When Brett isn’t helping out with his church or spending quality time with his family, he enjoys golfing, hunting, cooking, fitness-triathlon training, playing music, and coaching kids sports.

Personal Growth & Growth as a Company

Brett is most proud of Digital Doc’s ability to withstand the changes in the industry, maintain a high-end product that matters to the growth of dental practices while focusing on a smaller line of equipment maintaining the market share we have in the intraoral camera space. Brett jokes that his gray hair is evidence of personal growth. He says, “You grow from your trials and your achievements. We have built a new team, and we’re proud to have been willing to see the changes and adapt as necessary so that we could continue to grow.”

How Dental Technology Has Evolved

There have been rapid changes in dental technology since Brett first started in the dental industry 19 years ago. Brett was selling developer and fixer at that time. While technology continues to change, Brett says that Digital Doc is passionate about seeing the technology integrated into the dental offices. Brett points out that making products today that do not require a manual is exciting because we help these offices use the products they have. Digital Doc’s latest liquid lens autofocus camera, X80, does just that. He says all you have to do is put it in your hands, and it does the work for you.

What Separates Digital Docs From Similar Products

Brett points out that consumers today know the difference between standard definition and high definition. The consumer market is proving this by owning $1,600 cell phones and 55″ TVs everywhere we turn. He says that patients today need to SEE what you are saying with an image that is crystal clear versus being told what to do. This is why Digital Doc‘s intraoral cameras will continue to have a leading place in the industry. He says patients know the difference and expect it. The line of “the image is good enough” is only a justification not to make an investment – we as the consumer would not put up with a fuzzy image in any other part of our lives.

Tips for Dental Offices & Teams

Brett recommends that you put a camera in each provider’s hands and commit to using it on every patient. Have a contest on who took the best image for that week and celebrate it. What did that patient decide to do as a result of seeing what is needed? Then, take before and after photos and celebrate your work. Brett knows from experience that this builds tremendous value.

Best Practices for Using Your Handheld X-ray

Best Practices for Your Handheld x-ray - Digital Doc

A handheld X-ray is a battery-powered, portable x-ray device. These hand-held X-ray devices serve the primary purpose of taking intraoral x-rays. In this modern wave of technological advancement, everything has gone portable. We’ve seen increasing usage of hand-held X-ray devices in dental practices. That’s why we’re sharing the best practices for using your handheld x-ray device.

Initially designed for military usage, handheld X-ray devices have become increasingly popular in dental practices over the years. With this increase, some questions have been raised about the safety of handheld x-ray devices. Digital Doc’s XTG Handheld X-ray can be used just about anywhere! Thanks to its rechargeable batteries, and lightweight and compact size, you have x-rays on the go. Many dentists use the XTG Handheld X-ray in their practices on a daily basis and will even bring it with them on dental mission trips.

Best Practices for Using Your Handheld X-ray

When using the XTG Handheld X-ray device, it is important for the licensed operator to document the following information:

The device used
Reason for using the hand-held X-ray device
Number of exposures
Protection measures taken against radiation

Good practice is to document the use of handheld X-ray devices in order to allow justified usage of the devices and prevent misuse.

Safety Measures

The concerns raised against the handheld X-ray devices have been mainly due to some inexpensive and low-quality handheld X-ray devices that lack the basic and necessary safety measures and even fail to meet the standards set out by the FDA.

In order to avoid these safety risks, you should consider buying the XTG hand-held X-ray from Digital Doc. Digital DOC is the market leader in quality intraoral products and has an experience of more than 19 years. XTG is an advanced device which produces high-quality X-ray for both film and digital sensors.

The Benefits of Using the XTG from Digital DOC

Has a shoulder strap for the ease of the operator and gets better results
It comes with a rechargeable battery, which eliminates the need for wires and enhances its portability utility
It’s safe & simple to use for technicians
Gives out low patient exposure
Has a camera-like operation, which makes it very easy to operate
Very easy to learn and use, and you can contact our Digital DOC team to provide you with all the operational information you might need
Portable for multi-operatory use
Possesses the capability of film, sensor, and plate. Thus making it very versatile.
There is no installation required for it to operate, so it saves you a major cost, time, and effort.
60 kv frequency X-ray
The image quality is very high

Handheld X-ray devices have many benefits, but they need to be used properly to minimize safety risks. The best way to avoid these risks is to use a good quality handheld X-ray device, from a trusted and quality manufacturer, like Digital DOC.

How to Successfully Start a Dental Practice

Once you’ve received your licenses to practice dentistry, you can start your own dental practice. Many of us know that being an excellent dentist and being a good business owner are two completely different ball games. Dental school may teach you how to be the best at your job, but it certainly does not teach you how to run a business. However, that does not mean you cannot be good at both! With proper preparation, knowledge, and tools, you can become an excellent dentist and a successful business person at the same time! In this article, we share some tips on how to successfully start a dental practice.

Before Starting Your Dental Practice

Take it easy: Being your own boss isn’t as simple as it sounds. It’s best to have proper planning. Make sure you do an appropriate amount of research and have the right mentors. We recommend finding a successful dental coach to help guide you along the way.
Targeting the right people: When running a business, you have to understand that it’s all about making your customers happy. For instance, if you’re targeting families, you need to make your space more family-friendly with designated areas and activities.

We want you to have a successful practice, which is why we have compiled a list of tips for you:

Do your homework: It is recommended that you connect with existing dental practice owners and ask them about the challenges they faced in the beginning and how they’ve overcome those challenges. This will give you a good idea for what you need to expect.
Have a solid business plan: It is very important to be clear about your goals and how you aim to achieve them. You’ll need to decide who in the market you intend to target and how you aim to achieve that.
Choose the right location: The old saying, “location is key,” couldn’t be truer. It’s so important that you open your dental practice in an area you think will be successful. Do your research on the different demographics and types of businesses in your area.

How to Successfully Start a Dental Practice

Starting your own dental practice is a good idea if it is done carefully and with good preparation. If you really want to differentiate your business from competitors and provide unmatched service and quality for customer satisfaction, you should take a look at Digital Doc‘s intraoral cameras. The crystal clear images you get through their intraoral cameras give patients just what they need to know to start treatment. Any successful practice owner will tell you that investing in new dental technology is worth the return.

Top Reasons You Need Intraoral Cameras

What is an Intraoral Camera?

An intraoral camera is a small-sized camera used by dentists to take images of your teeth and gums. Intraoral cameras have rapidly increased over the years as it is beneficial in diagnosing dental problems like tooth decay and cracked teeth. The intraoral camera transmits real-time imagery for the patient and dentists to see. Intraoral cameras are a very important and powerful tool for dentists to possess. When you use an intraoral camera from Digital Doc, patients will visualize exactly what you’re trying to tell them. Intraoral cameras allow you to SEE MORE and DO MORE.

Benefits of Intraoral Cameras

In today’s high-tech world, patients care about high-quality imagery. Luckily, Digital Doctor offers premium intraoral cameras with high-quality results. We highly recommend making the investment and upgrading to our IRIS X80 Liquid Lens Auto-focus Intraoral Camera, our newest intraoral camera. Here are some of the top reasons you need intraoral cameras in your practice:

Better patient education and dentist-patient communication: With the help of Digital Doc intraoral cameras, patients can see the inside of their mouth like never before. This makes it very easy for doctors to help patients understand what oral health problems they may have. Once they’ve seen the problem first-hand, the patient will be more receptive to starting treatment. Communication between patient and doctor will improve greatly if you upgrade to one of Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras.
Improve diagnoses: Some parts of the teeth, like soft tissue lesions and caries, are challenging to see without the right equipment. Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras allow you to SEE MORE and DO MORE. With the help of advanced intraoral cameras, like the IRIS X80 Liquid Lens Auto-focus intraoral camera, you can accurately diagnose the patient in real-time. At the end of the day, you’ll both save time and money.
Easier insurance claims: Insurance claims can be a complicated process. Sometimes, patients will need evidence to get their treatment covered, and x-rays may not be enough. Without proper evidence, treatment will be postponed. You won’t have this problem when you choose a Digital Doc’s intraoral camera.

What to Look for When Buying an intraoral camera

Digital Doctor provides intraoral cameras suited to all your needs. When you go out to buy an intraoral camera, you’ll need to keep the following in mind:

Excellent image quality: The main purpose of an intraoral camera is to get high-quality images. So, you need to make sure the intraoral camera you choose has the right image resolution you need. You can count on Digital Doc’s intraoral cameras to produce high-quality images that can be displayed on flat screens in your dental office.
A good light source: You need to make sure that the device has a light source that is resistant to scratches and liquids. Make sure you choose an intraoral camera with a light bright enough to get quality images of the patient’s teeth and gums. With the IRIS X80, you won’t have to worry about scratches or low lighting because of its high-performance impact and chemical resistant seamless body mold.
Technical service: It is imperative that you choose the right intraoral camera provider. Look for a company that maintains a high quality of professionalism, after-sales service, and excellent overall experience. Digital Doc has 20 years of experience in the market. We don’t just hand you a camera and say good luck. When you choose an intraoral camera with Digital Doc, you get customer service of a company that answers every phone call live. We will not only provide you with the best intraoral cameras on the market but also provide you with a dedicated tech support team.

Now that you’ve read the top reasons you need intraoral cameras, you can schedule a free virtual demo with our Digital Doc team. For more information, please contact us.

Do HD Cameras Matter to Patients?

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

Patient Education is Easier

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

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

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

Processing Insurance Claims is Easier

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

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

They Portray a Positive Image of Your Practice

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

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

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

Adopting Portable X-Rays Into Your Practice

adopting portabl x-rays into your practice - digital doc

Adopting Portable X-Rays Into Your Practice

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

Employees’ Work Is Eased

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

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

Patient Experience

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

Instant Diagnosis is Possible

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

Storage of Patient Records is Eased

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

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