Joe Falvo

Software can help dentists in every corner of their practice, from managing finances to marketing.

Digital-age dentists are using software to give the modern dental practice an electronic facelift. Here’s our analysis of key software systems and their impact on dentistry.

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Dentists undergo some of the most rigorous didactic and clinical education to become effective clinicians. This immense scientific knowledge often overshadows the critical business management skills needed for practice success. One of the most popular practice management software systems, Dentrix, is a multi purpose tool that brings corporate efficiencies to the dental practice.

“Dentrix gives your practice the ultimate business, clinical and front office tools — electronic prescriptions, eClaims, monthly business metrics, mobile computing, third-party products and more &mdash;enabling you and your team to improve patient care while growing your business,” writes Dentrix.

In the front office, the software’s business management functionality tracks key objectives and produces custom financial reports and patient lists. The system’s clinical functionality enhances efficiency in the operatory with preset periodontal metrics, clinical notes, and 3D charts. Dentists can also use the system to manage electronic insurance claims.

Patients interface with Dentrix through customizable automatic reminders and touch screen enabled electronic check-ins. Dentrix facilitates doctor-patient communication by providing an electronic platform through which patients can select treatment options. The mobile and desktop systems are each fully integrated to minimize installation difficulty.

The traditional impression process is costly, time-consuming and uncomfortable for patients. Many labs now use 3D scanners to digitally scan physical impressions and computationally fit a restoration before 3D printing a model.

With 3M ESPE’s LAVA Chairside Oral Scanner (COS), dentists can further streamline this process by electronically sending a 3D scan of the treatment area directly to a lab. LAVA uses unique 3D-in-motion technology, enabling dentists to dynamically scan the intraoral cavity in real time using a wand. 3M also offers digital workflow and 3D printed model services.

“The workflow starts with the digital impression made by the dentist followed by digital margin marking and the preparation of a virtual sawn-cut model by the dental technician using the Lava C.O.S. Laboratory Software,” 3M says. “An additional feature is new model manufacturing with stereolithography. Lava Design Software is used for the fabrication of a CAD/CAM restoration.”

3D printing’s impact on dentistry and the digital workflow

Digitally enhanced marketing can propel practice growth by helping dentists reach patients who are most in need of their expertise. Many patients are turning toward online reviews and social media platforms when selecting a service provider, and health care is no exception. Dentists, like many business owners, often manage their own marketing, so a strong digital presence is essential to focus resources.

“For a company to be successful today, it must embrace all channels, and social marketing is a critical part of that equation,” said Chief Marketing Officer of Marketo for 

Hootsuite is an online platform that allows users to manage all their social media accounts from a single platform. Users can schedule posts on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to optimally engage with customers. They can even track progress and conversations about their practice using the software’s analytics and social listening capabilities.

Continue to learn more about how to improve 

digital marketing efforts with Search Engine Optimization

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Articles

Technology is quickly transforming dentistry. From digital record-keeping to machines that seem straight out of a SciFi feature, the 21st century has gifted the medical industry some amazing devices. Dentists are especially proactive about adopting new technology in their practices, so DMD is bringing you a weekly spotlight on some of the best products on the market. Continue below to read about this week's focus, software.

Weekly Tech: Software

Avoid using jargon and clinical terms when trying to optimize results for patient searches.

	Google may yield hundreds upon thousands of results on any given search, but two-thirds of Internet users only view the first page of search results.

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The top few search results are typically given to advertisers who bid for specific AdWords. The rest are sorted by relevance to the reader. You can optimize your professional web presence by incorporating dental keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to ensure a top spot in organic search results and drive traffic to your practice.

Selecting Keywords for Your Dental Practice 

A keyword is a word or phrase that summarizes a webpage. Search engines, like Google, use keywords to prioritize a site’s quality and relevance to searchers. You can use dental keywords to highlight your expertise and target your online marketing efforts to prospective patients.

“Include query terms normal people would use to find your product/business (e.g., ‘running shoes,’ not ‘athletic footwear’),” said Maile Ohye, a developer programs tech lead at Google.

The same holds true in dentistry, but be sure to know your audience. To directly target patients, use common terms like “cavities” rather than “caries.” Consider using more clinical terminology if you are a specialist targeting fellow dentists or 

Focus your marketing efforts on likely patient sources by posting relevant information such as location, procedures you specialize in and attributes that make your practice unique. Search engines rank your webpage based on the value a searcher gains from the information you post. They then boost your webpage highest for users who are most interested in your information and therefore most likely to come to your practice.

“Not every placement of a keyword is equal: There are certain places on your website that are more optimal than others for on-page SEO,” Linsday Kolowich told HubSpot.

According to Kolowich, a few of the best places to use keywords are page titles, descriptions, headings, and image titles. Create concise titles and headings with relevant keywords to increase your search result position and attract potential patients. Appeal primarily to human readers in webpage descriptions as they have a lesser effect on page rankings. Finally, images should always have a descriptive and concise title to improve image search results. When incorporating keywords, keep in mind that your primary goal should be to create a high-quality landing page.

“What does a high-quality landing page look like?” asked Google’s chief economist, Hal Varian. “It should have relevant and original content that helps a user complete their task, it should be easily navigable and be transparent about the nature of your business.”

Search engines prioritize high-quality pages to improve a searcher’s experience and entice them to continue using the search engine. As a dentist, you can capitalize on this by focusing on human users to improve the overall usability and relevance of your webpage. Incorporate dental keywords naturally into your copy, keep content relevant and tabs logically organized. Making these tweaks will help propel your webpage to the top of search results.

Consider the following best practices to ensure proper and effective keyword use. Ohye suggests checking your website’s domain name for instances of misuse by a previous owner that could negatively impact your ranking. She also suggests registering for Google Webmasters’ email forwarding program to be readily notified of any fraudulent activity on your page so that you can address it immediately.

Stay away from keyword stuffing and hidden keywords to avoid penalties and rank demotions. Keyword stuffing is when a webpage crams multiple unnecessary keywords onto a webpage. Some webpages hide additional keywords by writing them in the same color as the background. It is very difficult to recover if a search engines penalizes your site for abusing keywords.

Learn more about improving your practice’s digital presence 

Keywords, which summarize a webpage to optimize search results, can determine whether patients see your practice online. Without careful attention to SEO, you could be dooming your results to the danger zone. To boost your results and make them easier to find for patients, you will need to strategize. Continue below to see what goes into SEO strategy. 

Using Dental Keywords to Expand Your SEO

3D printers can be used across multiple dental specialties, according to our tech columnist.

Whether it’s in the lab or in your practice, 3D printers are streamlining dental workflow.

3D printers use additive manufacturing techniques to construct a variety of dental models layer by layer. As a result, dental laboratories have incorporated these systems into their regular workflow. Some dentists have also taken the initiative to purchase 3D printers for their own offices.

“By combining oral scanning, CAD/CAM design and 3D printing, dental labs can accurately and rapidly produce crowns, bridges, stone models and a range of orthodontic appliances,” writes 3D printer supplier Javelin-Tech.

The traditional approach to restorations and molds can be long and arduous. Now, 3D printers allow dentists and dental labs to dramatically cut down on the process by using digital scans to computationally fit and print dental restorations.

“It normally took about five to seven days to produce a restoration,” said Don Albensi, D.D.T., owner and founder of Albensi Dental Laboratory. “We’ve developed it now to a digital workflow that we can create restorations within two to three days.”

A dentist can capture a digital rendering of a restoration site using a chairside oral scanner (COS) and email it to a dental lab. The lab uses computational software to generate a 3D digital replica of the site. They then use the same system to design a restoration with adequate margins and detail. A 3D printer analyses the file and prints the final restoration or model and die overnight.

Albensi Dental laboratory uses the Stratasys Ltd Object series dental line. Check out these printers 

Guided implant surgery requires expert treatment planning and accurate surgical guides. 3D printers and scanners are now an integral part of this process. Surgeons first create a digital model of the implant site by merging a digital scan of the area with a DICOM file from a cone beam scan. They can then use the digital renderings to create a detailed treatment plan and digital surgical guide model.

“It is fast and easy to plot the location and borders of the guide. Once the plot is selected and all involved areas are considered, the software virtually generates a hole where the drill guide sleeve can be attached,” wrote Stratasys Ltd, leading dental 3D printer manufacturer.

After completing treatment planning, a surgeon can print the surgical guide using biocompatible material in their own office. Surgical guide vendors can also print the guide and deliver it to the clinician.

The cost of storing and maintaining traditional plaster molds is a major contributor to overhead at orthodontic practices. Digital scanners and 3D printers can greatly reduce this cost and allow orthodontists to store digital models on a secure software based system rather than at a physical storage facility.  

“Digital study models offer a reliable alternative to traditional plaster models. Their advantages in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning include easy and fast electronic transfer of data, immediate access and reduced storage requirement,” said Emilia Taveca in 

Digital models can be sent to a lab for immediate printing of orthodontic appliances such as molds and retainers. Learn more about digitizing the orthodontic workflow 

Technology is quickly transforming dentistry. From digital record-keeping to machines that seem straight out of a SciFi feature, the 21st century has gifted the medical industry some amazing devices. Dentists are especially proactive about adopting new technology in their practices, so DMD is bringing you a weekly spotlight on some of the best products on the market. Continue below to read about this week's focus, 3D printers.

Weekly Tech: 3D Printers

Asking older patients about their medications, even supplements, is crucial for satisfactory care.

The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) forecasts a nearly two-fold increase in the number of Americans older than 65, but geriatric oral healthcare availability is struggling to keep pace.

“Older adults are in greater need for oral health care services than ever before, yet they may be the least likely to receive services,” says Professor Jonathan Ship, D.M.D. from the New York University College of Dentistry.

Here are some key takeaways from the American Dental Association’s (ADA) best practice guidelines for geriatric dental care.

Xerostomia (dry mouth), caries, periodontitis and drug sensitivity are more prevalent in older adults. Monitor elderly patients closely for these issues and modify their homecare regiments for additional prevention. The ADA recommends transitioning elderly patients to electronic toothbrushes and encouraging regular fluoride rinses.

Older adults may have increased sensitivity to medications, especially to those related to pain management.

“Geriatric patients commonly have cardiovascular disease and, thus, the dose of epinephrine contained in anesthetics should be limited to a maximum of 0.04 milligrams,” said Aviv Ouanounou, D.D.S and Daniel Haas, D.D.S. in the 

Journal of the Canadian Dental Association 

With the multitude of age related ailments, older patients may take relatively large variety of medications. Be sure to consider the patient’s entire medical history to minimize the risk for adverse effects or drug interactions. Patients may neglect to include non-prescription medications and herbal supplements in their medical information forms. Ask patients specifically about vitamins, health supplements and over-the-counter medications to minimize risk.

Effective Treatment Planning and Communication 

Older patients are more likely to suffer from cognitive impairments that make it difficult to remember postoperative instructions. The ADA recommends modifying treatment plans to account for this and increase the likelihood of treatment success.

“Because cognitive impairment or dementia can affect a patient’s ability to follow instructions following oral surgery, it is recommended that practitioners ensure local hemostasis (i.e., sutures, local hemostatics, socket preservation techniques) prior to dismissal from the dental practice,” the ADA wrote.

Effective communication with patients who have audio or visual impairments may also improve the quality of homecare. Speak loudly and slowly but do not belittle the patient or use an offensive tone. When discussing treatment plans and postoperative instructions, remove your mask and face the patient to facilitate lip reading and transmission of non-verbal ques.

Good lighting, large print and contrasting colors visually emphasize important information. You can reduce discomfort by informing the patient of equipment changes that cause altered tactile sensations — such as switching between low and high-speed drills.

Geriatric patients may have physical impairments that can make effective dental care challenging. 

“Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the hand, fingers, elbow, shoulder, and/or neck can affect a person’s ability to maintain good quality oral health self-care.”

Consider providing patients with modified equipment to make brushing easier. The ADA suggests modifying manual toothbrushes with Velcro straps, electronic toothbrushes with wide handles, Floss holders and interdental brushes.

In many medical fields, geriatrics make up a large portion of a patient base. Dentistry is no exception. As people age, not only do conditions like dry mouth emerge, but physical ailments like arthritis can make dental care difficult. Now that the elderly represent more than 14 percent of the U.S. population, doctors everywhere need to step up their game to accommodate this growing demographic. Read on to find out how your practice can cater to patients 65 and older.   