dental office management Archives

Everyone wants something, and they want it yesterday.

In such a fast paced world, how does a dental office keep up with patient expectations?

By offering same-day dentistry.

Eliminate the lab and do everything in the office.

What does that mean, exactly?

Let’s face it, people are busy. They don’t have time to go back and forth from the dentist to complete one procedure. They look for alternatives if they’re forced to wait months for an appointment. Patients want to be in and out with their problems solved.

Traditional dentistry is falling to the wayside in lieu of digital dentistry. This convenient approach to the practice is faster, accurate and much more comfortable for the client. It is also more cost-effective in the long-term.

What do I need to become a Same-Day-Dentist?

Known as CAD/CAM (which means computer-aided design/computer assisted manufacturing) this dentistry method enables dentists to design and create prosthodontics and sometimes in less than 1 hour! Dentists can then use a 3D printer to make dental crowns, teeth bridges, veneers, onlays, inlays, dentures, and dental implant-supported prostheses while the patient is waiting.

The technological components of CAD/CAM are growing by the day, and already include software, digital scanners and printers. Here is a video of a chairside milling machine at work.

While switching from traditional to digital dentistry is an investment of both time and money, it is proving itself to be the future. Same-day dentistry is becoming an essential component to a forward-thinking practice.

In the meantime, learn more about PlastCare USA and stock up on the products you need for your office!

The trend of convenience is taking over dentistry.

Since the pandemic, the population has become more accustomed to the trend of convenience. It’s more common than ever to grocery shop from the kitchen or visit a therapist from your home office.

The desire for ease is permeating the medical industry and is especially noticeable amongst boomers and seniors, who constitute a huge chunk of dental clientele.

Meaning, if you operate a dental office, it is imperative to incorporate comfort into every procedure you offer, from scheduling to surgery.

It might seem like a huge undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. Incorporating CAD/CAM systems, 3D printing, artificial intelligence will certainly lead to a smoother day to day, but there are faster, more economical ways to get started now.

Here are a few suggestions to integrating the convenience trend into your dental practice:

Make the intake process easy and quick. Patients want to book from their phones. Finding your contact information, scheduling an appointment and arriving at the office should all be as seamless as possible. It will encourage follow ups and increase word-of-mouth advertising.
Reduce waiting time and offer digital distractions, like interactive games for both adults and kids, to make the wait time pass more quickly. Going traditional is never a bad idea either, so remember to stock up on coloring books, up to date magazines and crossword puzzles for the waiting room.
Provide entertainment in the exam room itself. This is trending big time and many dental offices are setting up Netflix and the like to keep patient anxiety at bay during difficult procedures.
Teledentistry is huge. Be sure to offer virtual services. At minimum you can educate the patient on short term solutions to any issues. At maximum, you can reach clients you wouldn’t otherwise have met. Believe it or not, many patients are willing to travel the extra mile (or many) for a dentist with whom they feel safe.
Include a Chat Bot on your website. Ideally the bot is available 24/7, but if it’s not a reality, at least have a chat option for patients to write in during office hours. Less people are willing to make a call these days, and you don’t want to lose a patient simply because they don’t feel like talking on the phone. Don’t lose sight of the trend of convenience in dentistry!

Anything we missed? Let us know in the comments below!