Transitioning from analog impressions to digital impressions can seem like a complex undertaking for many dentists. If you’re used to traditional impressions and workflows, the learning curve that comes with digital dentistry can feel daunting and the upfront cost formidable. Some dental health professionals wonder if the transition is worth the effort.
Rest assured that digital impressions, intraoral scanners, and digital workflows are not things that take years to learn. In fact, most practices Dandy works with need only a few hours of training to get comfortable with digital dental technology.
However, it is still a major change for most practices. That change comes with several benefits, but you will need to prepare your practice before making the switch.
Ask yourself these three key questions and consider three hallmarks of digital dentistry before making the switch.
3 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Digital Dentistry
When considering digital technology, it’s essential to ask yourself a few key questions:
1. What are you looking to accomplish?
Explore Digital If:
- You’re looking for more speed, accuracy, and ease, and want to save more time.
- Your practice would benefit from streamlined automatic processes.
2. What is your vision for your practice’s growth?
Explore Digital If:
- You want more available time for new and existing patients.
- You’re looking to attract patients with higher standards for their comfort and experience.
- You want to expand or even sell your practice in the future.
3. What does a transition to more modern work practices mean for you and your practice?
Explore Digital If:
- You and your staff spend too much valuable patient time on PVS or alginate impressions.
- You want to add new digital workflows to expand your specialty offerings.
- Your staff is open to changes and user-friendly technology.
Once you have the answers to those three questions, you’ll have a good idea of whether or not it’s the right time to go digital.
If you’re still unsure about whether or not to transition to intraoral scanning, consider doing further research into these three areas:
The ROI of Digital Technology
When it comes to how to attract new patients to your dental practice, take into account the impact of patient experience and shorter appointments, leading to higher production – all factors which recoup the investment in an intraoral scanner. 3Shape, one of the most popular intraoral scanner brands, has a handy ROI calculator that can give you a clear picture of the return you can expect.
The Adjustment to New Technology and Workflows
Expect a learning curve. When choosing a supplier, it’s key to evaluate the quality of training and support offered. For example, when we partner with a dental practice, we offer free training for every employee, plus chairside assistance through chat and live phone calls. If you decide to go digital without a technology partner, you might be on your own.
Also, make sure your dental lab can accept digital impressions. It might be best to find a fully digital dental lab (like Dandy) that has more experience with digital technology.
Choosing the Right Intraoral Scanner
While intraoral scanning and the accompanying digital workflows have been on the market for years, not all scanners work well for all dental procedures. It’s important to select a scanner that has a feasible user interface and works well for the service(s) you offer.
The transition to digital may require some adjustment, but as far as 50% of the nation’s dentists are concerned, it’s well worth it. Much like the evolution of communication from carrier pigeon to email, going digital sees an ROI in time, effort, growth, and simply put — modernity. The learning curve is nothing compared to the value that lies on the other side.
