A general dentist discusses his 2 favorite SureSmile software updates: easier photo management and the search filter
Dr. Joe Chichetti has had Dentsply Sirona's updated SureSmile clear aligner software for only a few months—and it's already reshaping how his Charlotte, NC, dental practices run. Among the streamlined features packed into the new release, v7.6.26, one stands out as his favorite: easier photo upload.
Starting a case in SureSmile requires a photo of the patient—something that used to mean taking the picture, saving it, walking to the computer, opening the software, plugging in the camera, and finally uploading the image, a process that could eat up 15 to 20 minutes, he said. Now, photos taken on a phone upload directly into the SureSmile patient card.
"We did a time study, and we had everything uploaded to SureSmile in 2 minutes, 14 seconds," Dr. Chichetti said. "That included taking the picture."
The new workflow also can be used to upload photos to the DS Core cloud-based platform, which Dr. Chichetti's 2 offices heavily rely on, saving a step for his team members. This, he said, is the updated software's "most valuable benefit" for his practice workflow.
Search Filter Finds Patients Faster
Dr. Chichetti also loves the platform's new intuitive task list and the single-button search filter, both of which help him and his team stay organized. Between his 2 practices, he might have 50 to 100 patients in clear aligner treatment, and the filter makes it easy to see where every patient is in the process—no more scrolling through long lists looking for information.
Team members manage the tasks in the SureSmile patient database, Dr. Chichetti said, keeping tabs on every aligner case and reminding Dr. Chichetti what he needs to do to keep treatment on track.
"The filtering feature makes it much easier for my staff to handle everything, and in a busy office, delegation is so important," he said. "It's just made everything more efficient. We spend less time searching for cases because we're able to find things much quicker, which is very helpful."
Time Saved Turns into Growth
Dr. Chichetti switched to SureSmile about 7 years ago and said that decision has been great for his practices. He's finishing cases on time and accurately, which has boosted patient satisfaction and fueled practice growth. That, combined with the efficiencies the new software offers, has been "huge" for his practices.
"I'm not getting questions anymore about where a patient is or where they should be," he said. "My team can find that on their own. I can delegate more tasks, which in turn leads to more efficiencies."
