Dental technology improvements have skyrocketed in the last decade. By embracing the latest trends in dental technology, clinics are able to provide better services for their patients, and it looks like 2020 has a lot more in store for your dental practice. Here are some of the latest dental technologies your clinic should be using.
Updated online patient portals
Online patient portals provide patients with a convenient way to access their dental information whenever they need it. These eliminate the need for patients to contact your clinic and inquire about dental appointments or prescription information. Now, you can conveniently incorporate updates with your clinic's patient portal, providing each patient with a more efficient and personalized experience. Some of these updates include:
- Online payment planning and acceptance
- Online booking and appointment selection
- Online paperwork submission
- Option for uploading insurance information
Video consultations
Many people, especially the elderly, those with disabilities, and the ones with special needs don't have the convenience of visiting your dental clinic whenever they want to. This is where video consultations or teledentistry can help. Doing consultations online with the help of video conferencing software allows you to provide much-needed dental services to patients who find it hard to go to your clinic, or don't have regular access to dental services. You can conduct dental examinations online, and if you see an issue, you can ask the patient to come to your clinic for further evaluation.
Digital impressions
Taking physical impressions of teeth can be messy and pretty uncomfortable for patients. However, with the advancements in digital imaging, your patients won't have to wait long for that gooey material in their mouths to set.
Digital impression equipment such as intraoral scanners take pictures of the inside of a patient's mouth. Depending on the size of the area that needs to be captured, this process usually takes less than 90 seconds. With this technology, your patients will spend less time in the dental chair, can expect faster results, and have better-fitting restorations.
3D printing
When it comes to dental implants, braces, and dentures, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Patients need several iterations of the same mouthpiece as they progress through their treatments. This is where a 3D printer can come in handy. 3D printers can create crowns, surgical guides, and trays faster and more affordably.
After a digital impression of the patient's mouth is taken, a 3D printer will convert that digital image into a physical object. Unlike the time-consuming process of manual model making, 3D printers allow you to create multiple dental appliances at once. 3D printing also opens up customization possibilities for dentures that weren't available to patients before. In addition, 3D printers can create more accurate dentures, crowns, and other dental appliances compared to hand made ones.
Laser dentistry
Laser dentistry provides a more pleasant treatment option for dental procedures involving soft or hard tissue compared to non-laser tools such as drills. Currently, there are dental clinics using laser dentistry for:
- Tooth decay treatment
- Gum disease treatment
- Lesion removal
- Biopsies
- Teeth whitening
In addition, there are significant benefits to using lasers instead of traditional drills.
- Lasers promote blood clotting and minimize bleeding in soft tissues.
- Soft tissues treated by lasers require fewer sutures.
- Lasers cause less pain, reducing the need for anesthesia.
- Damage to the surrounding tissues is minimized.
- Lasers sterilize the operated area, reducing the risk of infections.
- Lasers promote faster healing of wounds.
If you want to keep up with the latest dental technology, you have to make sure your clinic's IT infrastructure is up for the job. Here at Pact-One, our IT specialists will provide you with reliable, worry-free IT services, allowing your clinic to take advantage of new dental technology. Download our free eBook now to see if your dental clinic is ready for managed services.
Dental IT. Remove the Burden. Embrace the Use.
Quality patient care – it's ultimately why you became a dental professional. But, some business operations can get in the way (such as pesky computer issues or lack of IT support). That’s where Pact-One Solutions can help! Our passion lies in supplying reliable, responsive dental IT support and security that practices can count on.
Whether you’re looking for dental IT services for your startup or searching for more responsive dental IT support – our team of dental IT specialists have you covered. With team members throughout the United States, we offer nationwide support to dental practices of all sizes. Our wide range of dental IT services ensure your data is secure, accessible, and protected.
Don't let technology challenges hinder your ability to deliver exceptional dental care. Contact us at info@pact-one.com or 866-722-8663 to join 350+ dental practices thriving with the support of a dedicated dental IT team.
