NEW TECHNOLOGIES

[drmithila]

WHY ARE DENTISTS CHANGING TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES?
We see the following reasons that are influencing practitioners to change from their current techniques and devices to new technologies:

 

• The true belief that the technology will benefit their practice and their patients. Advertisements and sales persons can be convincing, even though they may express only the benefits of new technology and downplay any negative aspects about the product. When considering a new technology, dentists should have a “buyer beware” attitude. Observe the ads, talk to practitioners who have used the concept, look for any independent reports on the product, and, if possible, obtain the product on a trial basis before purchasing it.
• Presence of a void in practice capability for certain procedures. Examples of this challenge are the many practices that have not changed to computerization of patient records. Often, these practices are unable to effectively communicate with third-party payers, other dentists, or even patients. In such examples, these dentists need to recognize that the state of the art has changed and that it is time for them to update to newer concepts.
• The “wow” factor for patients. Several of the new technologies are very interesting and exciting to patients. When a dentist has a technology that is attractive to patients, he or she is often considered by the patient to be up-to-date and progressive. In the recent recession, accompanied with the reported and obvious reduction in dentist income and activity, recruitment of new patients and stimulation of previous patients by any factor has been important. Some of the technologies to be discussed later can effectively be that stimulant.
• Dentist-perceived need for stimulation of personal enthusiasm for dental practice. We have seen this motive many times among mature “burned-out” dentists who have purchased, as an example, an in-office restoration milling machine, and have been reinvigorated to stay in practice instead of retiring. We, as practitioners (Dr. Christensen also has a background in psychology), have strong acceptance of this motivation. It is well known that any one of us should keep our life activities constantly changing at least 10% of the time to stay interested, active, and, frankly—alive.

        

[drmithila]

A CRITIQUE OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES
We have elected to include only the technologies about which we receive the most questions. We fully understand that the following information will cause concern and disagreement on the part of some dentist and manufacturer readers. However, our intent is to assist some unknowing practitioners in their decision about specific dental technologies and to guide manufacturers in their development of new products or change in current ones. It is our hope to be fair and realistic to each technology and to those whose livelihood depends on its acceptance by the profession.

 

To make our opinions and conclusions easy to understand, we have placed at the heading of each technology one of the following ratings:

 

• Purchase ASAP
• Purchase when you can afford it, occasionally combined with the above rating
• See if it fits your practice needs (it is probably not for every dentist).

 

This article is not intended to be comprehensive or in-depth. That would require an entire course on each of the following topics. It is a stimulatory piece intended to motivate you to find more information on the popular technology topics that interest you.

 

        

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