Web Exclusive | August 2008

Image-makers

Make your practice’s digital images part of your case presentation plan for improved patient acceptance.

by Fran Martin


Here are some tips on taking and presenting digital patient images, from Dr. Larry Emmott, Dental Product Report’s technology editor:

	(Above: Henry Schein's Guru)

1. Take a simple digital photo of a patient’s tooth and show it on your computer.
    
Check out the latest dental camera kits on these Web sites:
• Lester A. Dine Inc. (dinecorp.com)
• Norman Camera (normancamera.com)
• PhotoMed (photomed.net)

2. Use a patient’s digital photo in a simple slide show (as 5 slides).

For example, if the patient needs a crown or an onlay, the slides could include a close-up of the tooth needing treatment and a graphic representation of a tooth getting an onlay.

3. Invest in a multimedia patient education program.    

These programs combine sounds, video and text and can be broadcast over TVs, computers, DVD players and other electronic devices in waiting rooms and operatories. Presentations range from restorative and preventive dentistry to lasers, digital x-rays, and other new technologies.
    
Check out the latest dental patient education programs on these Web sites:
• CAESY, A Patterson Co. (CAESY.com).  
• Consult-PRO (consult-pro.com)
• Guru, Dentrix Dental Systems, A Henry Schein Co. (howdoyouguru.com)

4. Integrate a multimedia program with your practice management software.

For example, show your patient a chart that indicates a crown is needed; then import a patient education program on crowns.
   
Find out more about how these programs integrate:
• CAESY software and Patterson EagleSoft clinical and practice management software from Patterson Dental Supply. (CAESY.com). 
• Guru software and Dentrix G3 practice management software. Go to: Dentrix Dental Systems (dentrix.com).


Note: For more on patient education tips and trends, see the following articles in the August issue of Dental Products Report.
    • Dr. Larry Emmott’s article, “8 high-tech case presentation tools.”
    • Trends in Dentistry’s Exclusive Patient Education Survey report.