Q&A: On the Move Toward a Fully Digital Practice

What technologies are dentists
investing in more than ever?

Dentists are investing in fully integrated options to make
the practice flourish. Specifically, more
and more dentists are using CBCT technology to complement digital impressioning. That, coupled with the ability to mill restorations in-office and to 3D-print surgical guides, really gives doctors additional control over more aspects of patient care.

When it comes to ROI, what technology really helps to transform the practice?

Being able to offer more efficient services to patients has a direct impact on the financial production of an office. When a dental practice is fully integrated with the digital workflow—CBCT, CAD/CAM, 3D printing—they’re able to offer more to their patients. Keeping procedures
in-house, of course, impacts the bottom
line of the practice.

It’s also important to think about the patient experience—the digital workflow means that patients don’t have to spend as much time sitting in the dental chair. And it gives practices more time to see additional patients or spend more time with their family.

So, I hope I can bring strategic focus to the company and really help us define the handful of objectives that we really want to focus on, and then very aggressively pursue the achievement of those objectives.

What areas of technology do
you see taking off the most in the next few years?

The total digital workflow is what most doctors are talking about. The ability to take digital impressions is starting to become more
of a standard of care, and I would say the
same thing about milling, 3D printing, and CBCT. With technology, doctors are able to diagnose and take care of the customers better and more efficiently.

What are the biggest misconceptions when it comes to adopting new technology?

The biggest misconception is that it would be too difficult to integrate the technology into their office. The support that Patterson Dental offers is unparalleled—from the highly
skilled service technicians we employ to
the technical advisors who do in-office
integration training with our doctors. We
also have an extensive network of mentor
doctors offering peer-to-peer support, and
the Patterson Technology Center, where
we employ over 500 people to answer
technology questions all day long, every
day. So, it is a phone call away to take care
of any question. We make sure that any
learning curve is minimized and that they
are fully supported each step of the way.