Practicing Dentistry in the Digital World By: Tarun Agarwal, DDS

Digital is the way of the future for dental practices. A truly digital dental facility integrates multiple facets of technology, including computers, software, online access, digital imaging, and digital radiography. This technology saves time, simplifies record keeping, optimizes scheduling, and improves patient communication, while creating a virtually paperless office. And tools such as the digital camera provide detailed, high-resolution pictures that can be immediately shared between dentist and patient, creating an environment that facilitates education and case acceptance.

Overall, digital dentistry gives you an incredible amount of control over your practice. I can’t imagine running my office without these advanced technologies. And any practice can take advantage of them! Here are a few ways I’ve found digital dentistry to be particularly successful in my office.

The First Step
You might be surprised to learn there are some dental facilities that work without a single computer! The first step to becoming digital is developing a network of computers around the office. It’s very important to not only have computers at the front desk, but also chair-side. In fact, ideally you should have a computer anywhere a human body is going to be in the office.

For your computers, you’ll want to purchase and install a version of practice management software, such as DENTRIX®. Practice management software simplifies and reduces the amount of work that goes into controlling your patient base. It makes record keeping easy enough for anyone to handle. And, instead of accumulating countless boxes of paperwork, you can store all relevant client information in digital files.

Practice management software also makes it easier to schedule appointments and handle a complex calendar. With my software, I can view my agenda on the computer for today, tomorrow, next week, or even next month if I need to. Any cancellations or changes can be plugged directly into the system so I can see them without having to be verbally informed. I even have the ability to view production details in the schedule, which helps me analyze what days look to be profitable versus days I would like to have more patients in the office.

Bringing Your Practice Online
In today’s society, another “must have” is Internet access. Almost everything can be done online – paying bills, renting videos, shopping, etc. But most importantly, the Internet has simplified communication through electronic mail. When you combine practice management software with online access, there are even greater benefits. You can set up automated email correspondence with patients, including sending appointment reminders to patients, as well as birthday wishes and post-procedure checkups. This saves a huge amount of time, paper, and postage that would be required if all reminders had to be sent out in the mail.

Online access also makes patient financing less time consuming. I can use my practice management software to submit a patient’s application for outside financing programs, such as CareCredit, real-time. And I get a response within seconds! If patients prefer to apply for financing themselves, they can easily link to CareCredit on my practice’s website.

With efficient practice management software, even accounts receivable can become highly manageable. You can easily view a patient’s financial history and even print out a detailed statement showing which patients owe money and how much is owed. I can also fill out insurance forms for patients over the Internet and then email them directly to the carrier. In fact, the software will frequently fill out the form itself if you can link the application to a patient’s background file.

The Wonders of Digital Imaging
The most important aspect of digital dentistry is digital imaging. Digital imaging is comprised of capturing an image into a digital format and then presenting that image or manipulating it to show a proposed result. The tools that make up this type of imaging in dentistry are digital cameras, intraoral cameras, digital radiography (digital x-rays), and microscopes.

Digital cameras and intraoral cameras are both tools used to take detailed pictures of teeth. Dentists can then immediately share these photos with patients and manipulate the images to choose the most effective option of treatment. I use digital cameras more often than intraoral cameras because intraoral cameras are used for pictures of individual teeth, while digital cameras can photograph larger areas of the mouth (quarter, half, or whole mouth). Digital cameras also produce higher resolution photographs, which mean they can easily be enlarged for a more detailed look or for placement in marketing pieces. In general, digital cameras are more essential when reviewing the big picture––a problem that affects the entire mouth.

In order to stay up-to-date with the competition, today’s dentists need to bring digital imaging into their practices. Digital pictures are a lot easier to transfer to laboratories than actual film. They can be emailed immediately, which results in a much quicker return of results. Digital imaging has also opened the door to extended conversation between dentists and patients. Problems that were otherwise embarrassing to mention can now simply be pointed out. Since patients can clearly see their teeth on a computer screen, they can indicate exactly what is bothering them. This allows them to take ownership of the problem and specifically identify what they’d like done to enhance their smile.

The field of radiography has also progressed into the digital world. Digital x-rays provide multiple benefits for the patient––they’re quicker, chemical-free (which makes them safer for the environment), and can be thoroughly reviewed on a computer screen. Like the pictures that come from a digital camera, these x-rays can be emailed to outside sources, including specialists and insurance companies. Microscopes are another form of digital imaging. These tiny cameras allow dentists to videotape full procedures rather than take still shots of a patient’s teeth. A microscope can see even the most minuscule amount of decay within a tooth. It detects exactly where the cavity is so only that specific area has to be filled. In the past it was common to remove more of a tooth than necessary in order to prevent a cavity from spreading. Now, with the help of the microscope, fillings are gradually becoming smaller.

Moving Forward
In the future, digital dentistry will become even more advanced. Digital images will most likely contain an immense amount of information on the existing condition and color of a patient’s teeth. Dentists will be able to directly email these images along with preparation details to a laboratory, and then the lab will immediately start manufacturing a custom fitting restoration device to mail back to the dentist. The whole process will take far less time than it ever has in the past. Some CAD/CAM dentists already have a module within their offices that can automatically mill a porcelain restoration device simply from the information contained in digital images! This type of occurrence will become a lot more popular as technology advances.

As the field of dentistry becomes increasingly digital, it also tends to shift away from what I call the drill, fill, and bill aspect, which means dentistry is becoming less about treating cavities and tooth decay and more about optimal oral health and an attractive smile. Having the ability to show patients a digital picture of their teeth allows them to choose in advance what they’d like done for a better smile. And with all the cosmetic dental procedures available, dentistry is becoming less focused on problems and more directed toward potential.

In order to improve our practices and move toward more comprehensive dentistry, we have to incorporate the most advanced technology. As the field of dentistry progresses, digital equipment will be the norm rather than the exception. Without computerization, it would be virtually impossible to keep track of how much money patients owe, when they’re due for their next cleaning, or what portion of treatment was accepted. Without digital imaging, we wouldn’t be able to manipulate pictures or share detailed dental information with clients.

Overall, digital technology facilitates so many operational, educational, and organizational aspects of the dental office. By transitioning your practice into one that is primarily digital, you’ll increase productivity and provide more effective patient services. Put simply, I wouldn’t know how to practice any other way!

Tarun “T-Bone” Agarwal, DDS is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and maintains a full-time private practice emphasizing aesthetic and restorative dentistry in Raleigh, NC. He has completed extensive training at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in Las Vegas, NV and the Nash Institute in Charlotte, NC. He has consulted with numerous dental manufacturers on product development and review.

He teaches “Over The Shoulder” aesthetic courses and a “Hands-On” Digital Photography program. Details can be found at www.townieseminars.com. Dr. Agarwal can be reached on the Dentaltown.com message boards at www.dentaltown.com or at DrA@raleighdentalarts.com.