180° Shift: How To Check If You Are Up To Date With Dental Trends?

by Dr. Mehmood Asghar

In this ever-changing world, keeping abreast of the latest technological trends is no small feat. As dentists, we have to find innovative ways to improve patient flow and revenue while juggling our time between patient care, practice management, and continued professional education. While keeping up to date with the latest technological trends in the dental industry may seem overwhelming, it is necessary to find the right technology to boost your practice in a highly competitive environment. 

So, how can you check if your practice is compatible with the latest trends? This article will help you. Here are the top four trends that can help you analyze whether your practice is up to date with the latest dental industry trends. 

  • Are you Harnessing the Power of Social Media?

In the previous years, customers would rely on word of mouth to choose dental practices. Today, we have social media and online practice reviews! According to statistics, 89% of customers only buy something when they have read the reviews. Similarly, patrons do not like to visit any business that has an overall rating of less than 4-stars.

Besides, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have made it easy to find information and patient reviews of any dental practice even before one visits it physically. If you do not have a strong online presence, you are already missing the opportunity to grow your business!

  • 3D Printing and Milling Machines 

Patients seek immediate results, no matter how complex their issue is. Chairside 3D printing and milling machines are now becoming a norm in the dental industry. Thanks to this technology, dentists fabricate esthetically pleasing and dimensionally stable porcelain veneers or crowns in a matter of minutes, making same-day implants and smile makeovers a reality. Investing in a 3D printer or a milling machine is no longer just a “fancy trend”; it is becoming more of a necessity nowadays. 

  • Practice Management Software 

A good practice management software does much more than just manage your records and finances. Modern practice management software now allows you to maintain your inventory, interact seamlessly with suppliers, set up and reschedule patient appointments, and allow you to view and share your patients’ health records from anywhere, using only a handphone or tablet. The software will even send reminders to the patients regarding their appointments, allowing them to request rescheduling without having to call or send an email. So, if you want to keep yourself abreast with the latest trends in dentistry, installing contemporary practice management software is essential.

  • Purchasing the Right Products 

As more and more dentists are relying on digital technologies, investing in the right digital technology can help grow your practice in many ways. In a survey of dentists, 53% of them said that they invest over 10% of their annual practice budget on buying the latest technology. Among them, 65% had invested in digital sensors, while others bought lasers (39%), cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging (17%), and intraoral scanning (28%). It might be a good idea to invest in these products to improve your productivity and practice success. 

Being a successful dentist requires more than just clinical skills. Currently, there are over 28,856 dental establishments throughout Canada, having a total market worth of over $17bn. In today’s competitive dental industry scenario, dentists have to be expert managers and businessmen to make sure they run a profitable and reputable dental practice. One of the ways to do that is to keep yourself apprised of the latest advancements in your field, and more importantly – investing only in the ones that are beneficial for your business. 


About the Author

Dr. Mehmood Asghar is a dentist, an educator and a researcher in dental biomaterials. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in Dental Biomaterials at the National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan, in addition to pursuing a Ph.D. in Dental Biomaterials. Apart from his professional activities, Dr. Asghar loves reading, writing, and working out.


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