vana-biometricdental

You may have read all the rave reviews about how going digital is going to be the best decision for your clinic and you may be thinking about purchasing your first 3D dental scanner. But do you know what you’re actually signing up for? Here are five things you should note before making the switch.

1. Check for hidden costs!

It may be tempting to base your purchasing decision on the cost of the scanner alone but do you know the actual cost of operating the scanner? For example, some companies may require you to pay annual subscription fees which add to the total cost of using their scanners, especially over a long period of time. This is especially if the cost of entry is high to begin with. So we suggest having a budget in mind and comparing scanners within your budget – taking into consideration all costs (hidden or explicit) – in order to make an informed decision.

2. Think long-term.

Your 3D dental scanner should serve you for a long time so you’ll want to purchase one which will be able to perform tasks not just for your current work but your future work. Think about the future of your clinic or lab and decide on a scanner which will be able to either be upgraded in future (with add-ons, for example) to serve those needs or which can already perform those tasks.

3. Do your own comparison.

While you should definitely ask around for recommendations, remember that you are getting a scanner to suit your own needs. A scanner which works well for someone else may not be the most suitable one for you if you specialize in a different field. Get recommendations to better understand which scanners seem to work best for certain tasks and narrow down your choices. You might also want to check out our tips on choosing the right scanner for your own needs here.

4. Try it before you buy it.

Where possible, you should always try a scanner before buying one. You can attend exhibitions or request for a live demo if the company offers that. After all, your scanner is a long-term investment so you’ll want to purchase something which you are comfortable with.

5. Be prepared for workflow changes.

Change is never easy. That’s why you need to be prepared to invest some time to change your workflow processes when going digital. While it may seem like a daunting task at first, it will be worth it. Just think about the time you’ll save in the long-term because of the increased productivity and efficiency!

Purchasing a 3D dental scanner is a huge investment so you’ll want to make sure you’ve considered all your options before deciding on your purchase. Remember that any device is only useful to you if it serves your needs. Avoid making a hasty decision to ensure your investment will truly pay off in the long-run.

Are you considering integrating milling facilities into your dental practice? While it may be tempting to transform your dental practice into a one-stop solution for your patients, this approach may not be the best option. In addition to the high investment costs to bring a lab in-house, you will also need to consider the time taken to implement the new technology, including training your staff members on new work processes or hiring new staff. Is your dental practice ready for the change? We share some of the advantages and disadvantages of having an in-house lab so that you can decide whether a fully-integrated dental practice is the right solution for you now.

Let’s begin with the advantages. Why should you consider having an in-house lab in your dental practice?

1. Quick Turnaround Times

Firstly, having your lab in-house means that your patients can receive their permanent restorations within the same day. This means that you can save your patients the inconvenience of making a second appointment just to receive their permanent restoration as the lab can quickly and efficiently make any adjustments or modifications required for the restoration. In addition, having an in-house lab ensures that high-priority cases can be treated quickly.

2. Quality Control

Bringing the lab in-house would allow dentists to have better control of the treatment from beginning to end. This ensures the quality of both the dental service as well as the finished product by the lab. Lab technicians will also be able to provide customized services (such as making sure that the restoration matches the patient’s teeth color for more natural results for eg.) as they can assess the patient’s needs together with the dentist during the initial appointment. By working together with the dentist from the start, the lab will minimize the risk of errors or mistakes, saving both the lab and clinic time and money.

3. Convenience

Working with external labs may require multiple trips to the lab for adjustments to the final product. In addition, patients may be required to wear a temporary restoration while waiting for the final restoration to be completed. By bringing the lab in-house, patients not only receive their permanent restoration within the same appointment, but the clinic and lab need not waste time going back and forth to make sure the permanent restoration fits perfectly. Changes to shape, color and fit, can be made on-site if needed.

Now that we’ve discussed the advantages bringing the lab in-house, here are some considerations that you may want to look at before deciding whether or not to integrate milling facilities in your practice.

1. High Initial Investment

The initial cost to implement an in-house lab is high. In addition to purchasing equipment and software, the clinic will need to invest time in training and allow for an adjustment period for all the staff involved, old and new. This may not make economic sense for a small practice as the clinic may not acquire enough cases to make the investment worth the money.

2.   Choosing a Specialization

If you’re considering implementing an in-house laboratory, you will need to decide on the lab’s specialization. Unfortunately, it is impossible for an in-house lab to take on all kinds of cases which is why clinics tend to work with different labs for different types of cases. What this also means is that even with an in-house lab, the clinic will still need to send out certain cases to another lab if it doesn’t fall within its expertise. An important question to ask yourself before bringing your lab in-house is – “Does this fall within my area of expertise?” If lab work is not aligned to your clinic’s core competencies, your clinic may end up spending more time and resources on the lab and neglecting clinical work, which is and should continue to be your main service.

3.    Issue of Profitability

Standalone laboratories are able to offer competitive prices due to the large economies of scale. This may dissuade patients from seeking treatment at the clinic if the clinic is unable to offer comparable pricing despite the convenience of having a one-stop solution. This may result in lower profits despite cost-savings from bringing some services in-house.

While the convenience of an in-house lab may be a tempting idea, there are other ways of improving your workflow with labs that do not require integrating milling facilities into your practice. For example, you can look at communications systems which allow you to communicate effectively and efficiently with labs, such as Medit Link. In addition, by using open digital systems, you will also have greater flexibility in working with various labs which specialize in different things. Remember that there is no one-size fits all solution, so you should definitely weigh your options before making a decision with regard to your dental practice!

What is digital dentistry?

Digital dentistry is just as it sounds: the mix of dentistry and the digital world through the advancements in dental technology. Today, the CAD/CAM system is carving its place in dental clinics and labs around the world. Scanners and CAD/CAM complement each other to make restorations for patients without the needs of old traditional models. CAD/CAM companies, such as exocad, are working together with scanner manufacturing companies to create a wonderful open system for dental professionals to improve their workflow. New literature is published each year, praising the new technology and convincing dentists and technicians to make the transition from traditional dentistry to digital dentistry.

So by now, you have accepted that the future of dentistry is to go digital. You have read about the success of new technology such as intraoral scanners, the benefits of making the switch, and are ready for your clinic or practice to go digital. But there is one final question you may be asking.

How do you best make the transition to digital dentistry?

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to enter into the digital world of dentistry and begin to reap the benefits of doing so. We break down the process into four stages of entry: Start, Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3.

Start

During the first stage, you are currently not using CAD/CAM in your clinic. This is beginning of your journey into the digital realm; the information and planning stage. You must decide what systems would work best for you, your budget, and in which direction you want to take your clinic.

Phase 1

It is now time for you to move on to phase 1. Before making an intra-oral scanner purchase, you should first find a lab that uses CAD/CAM. The lab will become your partner through the digital experience and will be able to provide you with great insight about the system. They will also be able to help you discover which brands may be best for you and your collaboration.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is the one you may have been waiting for; it is time to purchase an intra-oral scanner and incorporate the digital workflow into your clinic. During this phase, you start sending digital cases to your partners at the lab and begin strengthening the partnership between you.

Phase 3

Now that you have your own equipment, are working closely with a lab, and are more used to how digital dentistry works, you can move on to phase 3. In this final phase, you begin integrating chair-side CAD/CAM solutions and head toward one-day dentistry to save time and increase the number of patients you can see.

By following these four simple steps, your transition to digital dentistry should be smooth and without hiccups. Enjoy the digital workflow and your new and improved clinic!

Medit will soon be launching its very own intraoral scanner, the Medit i500! If you are interested in learning more about the latest product, click here. If you enjoyed our blog, please read our other posts about digital dentistry!