Six Weeks to 2024: Why Should You Think About Implementing Changes?

If you have been keeping track of the Orthodontic insights and trends this year you will have seen some fascinating developments occurring. Whether it be 3D printing, the huge focus on AI to enhance the levels of care provided, the increasingly competitive aligner space, custom braces from companies such as LightForce and the rise and disruption coming from InBrace stirring up the market over in the US. This evolution is not just on the horizon, it is happening right now. So how do you make decisions when faced with such an avalanche of technological change?

It's fair to say there's a lot going on in the Orthodontic arena, and with that a lot of companies vying for the attention of Orthodontists across the globe. I want to talk about my experiences with DentalMonitoring and the practices that have and haven't gone ahead and implemented change in the way that they work.

It is clear that a lot of practitioners may feel overwhelmed by choice and the potential pain of implementing new technologies to their practice. I speak to many Orthodontists each week and in all honesty, most of them are doing well for themselves using workflows and technology that has served them for the last 10 years, why change?

It is a fair question and one I have tried to ask myself. 'If I was an Orthodontist making a good living and giving my patients good treatment, why would I change what I was doing?' There would either have to be a pain or frustration that I could alleviate or a significant upside to making the change, I would also want a lot of evidence and support showing that if I do go for the change it will give me what it says it will.

When it comes to pains/frustrations the usual tipping point has been staffing, when a practice loses key members of staff and are left needing to see the same number of patients then something needs to change. In the case of DentalMonitoring we are able to support this situation as the technology essentially allows practices to see patients when needed, which is often less than the traditional route thus freeing up chairtime. On the flip side it also means taking more time with patients that need to be seen for clinical intervention, again keeping them on track and meaning their treatment length doesn't go longer than it has to.

Now, if you don't have pains, then why change? As I alluded to, it would have to be a good upside to make you want to go through the effort of changing. This is where we as a company have to do a job of explaining that not making a decision, is in-fact making a decision. Sometimes I feel that what I offer must not be compelling enough to drive change but normally for those that delve a little deeper they can realise increased profitability whilst also enhancing the patient experience. But even then, is it enough?

Last week I spoke with an Orthodontist following a presentation I did. He was in his 40s with children and said 'the one thing I am not getting back is time, this would give me time' We know that time = money but quite surprisingly I have found that it doesn't seem to be the promise of more profit that motivates big change but more the outcome of more time that instigates the move to DentalMonitoring .

Where am I going with this? Well, if you are happy and want to carry on with life as you have then carrying on with the status quo should hopefully result in similar results to 2023. However if you like the idea of a little more time with family, friends and away from work in 2024, then consider what needs to change in order for you to have that **DM could be a good place to start ;)

#Orthodontics #DentalMonitoring #PracticeTransformation #OrthodonticTechnology