Q&A: On the Move Toward a Fully

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

1/25/2019

On the Move Toward a Fully Digital Practice

WITH AMY ATKINSON, CAD/CAM SPECIALIST

Every dental practice can benefit from innovative equipment and technology, with improved diagnostics, optimized workflows, a boosted bottom line, and more satisfied patients. Patterson Dental works with a diverse group of manufacturer partners to connect dentists to the equipment and technology solutions that are right for each unique practice. We caught up with Amy Atkinson, Patterson CAD/CAM Specialist, to discuss some of the latest trends in dental technology.

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.