Modern dental practices are a bit different from dentists historically. Nowadays, many are functioning more like businesses and looking for ways to serve their patients better with advanced technology and diagnostics.
If you run a modern dental practise, here are some of the operational guidelines you might want to follow:
Use more artificial intelligence in diagnostics
One great way to speed up your process is to use more Artificial Intelligence in diagnostics. AI isn’t replacing dentists, but it is helping to speed up workflow and identify issues that are difficult to see with the naked eye or on conventional scans. Operationally, AI speeds up the diagnostic phase and may increase care quality standards in some settings.
Check your suppliers
Whether you’re ordering dental composites or brand new equipment, it’s always a good idea to check your suppliers. Make sure that they have the capacity to deliver the items and technologies that you need on time and in the volumes required.
If your suppliers aren’t able to keep up, see if you can manage risks by using several different suppliers. You may notice that they all offer various positives and negatives depending on things like delivery timelines and product quality.
Use laser dentistry
To reduce the invasiveness of your treatments, it’s also a nice idea to invest more in laser dentistry. This has become more popular in recent years as patients look for alternatives to conventional dental drills. Laser dental drills are essentially tools that can be used for soft and hard tissue procedures. You can use them to contour tissue, treat gum disease, or remove decay without the need for any scalpels or blades.
Add teledentistry
If you haven’t done so already, it could be a good idea to add teledentistry. Teledentistry is a way to offer patients the care they need at a distance, without having to physically meet them in person. This can be useful for a lot of procedures and vetting cases, ensuring that they go to the right person at your practise.
Teledentistry obviously can’t solve problems like a patient with tooth pain or install a filling, but it could be a way to improve your workflow processes and ensure you get more patients through the door while still providing a high quality of care.
Start scheduling workflows with smart technology
Scheduling workflows with smart technology is another way to reduce administrative friction at your dental practice. Many modern platforms use cloud-based systems to automatically optimise blocks of time for each patient and practitioner. This means that you have less dead time during the day, and people can work more frequently with patients, helping to resolve the issues that they face.
Offer same-day restorations
Finally, it’s a good idea to offer same-day restorations to your customers. This reduces friction even further and makes it more likely that they’ll choose your practice over one of your competitors. The workflow is simple:
- Dentists take a quick 3D digital impression using an intraoral scanner.
- A 3D printer mills whatever item is needed, whether it’s a night guard, bridge, or custom crown.