Collaboration between dental offices and dental laboratories plays a significant role in the future of the dental industry.
Advancement in digital tools has increased collaborative abilities via sophisticated dental technology and virtual communication innovations such as texting and direct communication through digital dentistry software. There is no guarantee that patients will accept a treatment plan. Patients’ reluctance to accept treatment is primarily due to their misunderstanding of the their dental problem, inability to afford the treatment and its severity, however, digital tools and communication can change this issue altogether.
Collaborating helps make the scanning and impression creation process more manageable and efficient. Getting an accurate impression is one of the first steps with fabrication and case evaluations for dental laboratories. Technology makes it more accessible, and sharing information helps improve outcomes even further. Furthermore, as technology drastically changes, having solid relationships with dental professionals will provide dental teams with the tools and support they need.
The relationship between the dental laboratory and the dentists’ team is unlike most customer/vendor relationships, mainly in that their jobs are so interdependent; they need to work together effectively as true partners to succeed.
The technician can only produce restorations that meet exacting standards if the dental team provides the information that can make that possible, and they must all be accessible and responsive to efficiently .execute the treatment plan to the patient’s satisfaction. The dentist, technician, and specialist partners who have achieved a well-honed working relationship prioritize accountability, high professional standards, and the latest technology to facilitate communication.
Dental health care teams provide various technologies such as digital scanners, intraoral cameras, CBCT, CAD/CAM, 3D printing, digital diagnostic treatment plans, and more. The problem is not the lack of technologies that can provide these new and innovative tools, but rather, not fully understanding or adopting the available ones.
So, what are the underlying issues of our disruptive dental world?
Dental PRACTICES
1. Cost of doing business
2. Insurance companies
3. Dental capital groups
4. Dental franchise groups
5. Schools teaching fewer laboratory procedures
6. The pandemic
7. Race to the bottom
Dental LABORATORIES
1. Cost of new technologies
2. Laboratories shrinking
3. Dental technology schools closing
4. Hard to find qualified technicians
5. Race to the bottom
As in other disciplines in today’s world, dentistry is disruptive. Collaboration, though, can help us move these underlying factors in our favor. Collaboration is also essential for dental laboratories to improve our profession. With the advancement in technology, we can control our future. Dental laboratories are critical to the success of dentistry and are both a science and an art. Materials and craftsmanship are essential to being a great dental technician. Questions of the relevance of dental laboratories with the everchanging technology are absurd when the possibilities are endless.
The history of dental laboratories is unique when considering the advancements in technology. The uniqueness of laboratories is that we are not just manufacturing restorations; we are a health service providing specialized body parts to our dental clients and their patients. When we talk about the “Race to the Bottom,” we must realize that our industry has created the race.
Service is the keyword. With change and disruption comes opportunity. With disruption comes education, and each discipline needs to develop its part of the puzzle to allow a seamless restorative delivery. Laboratories collaborating with dentists/specialists become an indispensable part of the team,
Contact us if you have questions about making a great impression, or any of our services. We are here to help.
