The Digital Advantage – Neil Photay

  Posted by: Dental Design      5th December 2017

CosTech

In today’s world, we have managed to digitalise nearly every aspect of our lives. E-booked have replaced the old paper-backs, live-streaming and online platforms have replaced videos, Sat Nav and smartphone GPS are used instead of maps. In business, everything from invoices to management plans, staff training, meetings and information sharing with colleagues can now be conducted electronically.

The benefits of this are vast and varied. Processes are now much quicker and easier, more efficient, more convenient, safer and often less expensive. Communication in particular has been improved, with several online platforms facilitating instant interaction with people anywhere in the world.

While dentistry may have taken up digital solutions a little slower than other industries, the modern profession relies heavily on them today. Most dental practices utilise practice management software to streamline and improve the day-to-day running of the business. Digital imaging systems have revolutionised the field of diagnostics, while also providing a previously impossible level of detail for accurate treatment planning. Dentists can now visualise each patient’s specific anatomy and plan treatment down to the finest detail before beginning surgery, ensuring more predictable, safe and effective procedures with outstanding results.

We have seen a particular improvement in our communication channels – between practitioners and patients and between professional colleagues. Digital treatment plans often provide a realistic idea of the final outcome, enabling dental professionals to better manage patient expectations. This also makes patients more informed for enhanced consent and encourages them to take an active role in their treatment.

When it comes to collaboration with other professionals, digital scans can be transferred to either referring dentists or the laboratory team with ease. At the click of a button, entire patient files, lab prescriptions, scans, photographs, impressions and notes can be shared, ensuring everyone has all the information they need to perform their tasks to the best of their abilities. Some systems offer the added advantage of exceptional speed, which means the dentist and referring professional or technician can discuss the case together within minutes of an impression being taken for optimal collaboration from the very beginning.

Importantly, digital technologies can be adopted in a quantity that suits the practice – you can either go completely digital or you can use technologies that complement some of the traditional techniques you might wish to maintain. It’s all about getting the right solutions for you.

Whatever you decide, it’s important to make sure that the lab you work with can continue to cater for your needs as they change. For example, there’s no point investing in digital impression scanners only to discover that your dental laboratory does not use compatible software to review and manipulate the image files you send. At CosTech Dental Laboratory, we are proud to work in whatever way you prefer. A family-run, full service lab, we offer everything from crown and bridge to prosthetics, orthodontics and implants, with free collection and delivery in our own fleet of vehicles within allocated areas.

For more information about CosTech Dental Laboratory, visit www.costech.co.uk or call 01474 320076

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