Why Do Practices Do This?

Have You Ever Considered How and Why You Set Your Appointment Intervals?

Almost every new practice I visit runs a traditional model of predetermined intervals, that is they come to a conclusion that seeing patients every 6-8 weeks is what works best for them and for the patient. I never forget a few years ago, when Francis Scriven asked a room full of Orthodontists why they see patients every 8 weeks (aligners and braces). No-one really seemed to have a solid answer, it mostly came down to how they were trained and it felt like that was the "comfort zone" where you weren't clogging up your diary, but you also weren't leaving it so long as to lose control of the treatment.

What would be the ideal time to see a patient?

Hypothetically, when would be the correct time to see a patient from a treatment perspective?

• Aligners - Certain appointments are needed such as first and last appointments and IPR. But aside from that it would be if there was a tracking issue or an emergency (attachment loss, recession, poor OH, button loss etc) In theory, if there were no issues and everything went as planned then you might only need 3 appointments in total.
• Braces - Of course they still need to see you for wire changes and fixed adjust appointments, however when would be the correct time to see them is the question? You could argue that you want to see them when certain goals have been achieved - eg the wire has fully expressed or the class correction has been achieved through elastic use. Maybe they need to be seen for replacing modules, again when is the right time to do this? You may also want to see them when breakages have occurred to keep them on track. What actually happens is a lot more inefficient. Seeing them 3 weeks before or after the wire has become passive or when they have overcorrected just 2 examples of what can happen with set intervals.

So What Are Alternatives?

DentalMonitoring Impact on Appointment Intervals

• Flexible Intervals: With DM, orthodontists can extend the time between appointments, often moving from 6-8 weeks to 12-18 weeks or longer. It is possible because remote monitoring allows clinicians to detect issues like broken brackets, poor hygiene, or ill-fitting aligners early— eliminating unnecessary check-ups and optimising the treatment timeline.
• Enhanced Treatment Precision: DM Goal Setting supports orthodontists in optimising wire sequences and confirming that wire prescriptions are fully expressed before making adjustments. The AI can alert you in situations when wires have become passive or class 1 canine has been achieved.This leads to fewer appointments and, importantly, shorter treatment durations overall.
• Reduced Appointment Frequency: By tracking clear aligner and braces patients remotely, DM has demonstrated a substantial decrease in required visits, enabling practices to confidently manage patients with less frequent in-office appointments.

Tailored Treatments For Patients (Actually Tailored)

• Convenience: DM minimises unnecessary visits, saving patients both time and money. This also relieves the stress of frequent trips to the office, particularly for those balancing school, work, or travel.
• Enhanced, Purposeful Care: Every visit now has a targeted purpose, tailored to the specific needs identified through DM’s continuous monitoring.
• Improved Communication: Through in-app messaging and video consultations, DM strengthens the bond between patients and the practice, allowing for quick responses to concerns and a heightened sense of involvement.
• Increased Compliance and Engagement: Regular updates and progress tracking through the DM app keep patients motivated and compliant, encouraging better outcomes and a smoother treatment journey.
• Visible Progress: The ability to view progress in real time through the app engages patients further, helping them appreciate their treatment journey and fostering greater satisfaction.

How About For Practices

I have witnessed so many non DM practices operating on set intervals of 6 weeks and I will be honest, what I see is quite frustrating to see. In a recent observation day I noticed that every single patient that came in would have benefitted from DM. 80% were compliant and had no issues but yet took up 15 minutes in the diary and actually only came in for 5 minutes. Others were off track and had to be booked for refinement scans, again would have been picked up earlier by DM and kept on track. Retention check patients were also booked in and showed signs of slight relapse - why not monitor retention and pick this up proactively.

So what is the impact on the practice when using DentalMonitoring ?

• Increased Efficiency: DM enables practices to replace unnecessary appointments with data-driven scheduling, freeing up valuable time to see more patients, which can potentially increase revenue.
• Potential to Reduce Stress for Staff: Streamlined scheduling, fewer emergencies, and well-prepared appointments create a calmer and more efficient work environment.
• Enhanced Patient Experience: Purposeful visits and shorter treatment times contribute to positive experiences, fostering better retention and referrals.
• Data-Driven Treatment Insights: DM’s wealth of data offers practices valuable insights into treatment progress and patient compliance, allowing for continuous refinement of protocols and outcomes.
• Competitive Advantage: Offering DM’s remote monitoring differentiates a practice, helping attract new patients in a competitive market.

So How Can You Make The Shift?

Transitioning to Dynamic Scheduling

• Embrace the Technology: Fully integrate DM into practice workflows, recognise the value of this shift from traditional scheduling.
• Team Training: Ensure the entire team, from doctors to support staff, is trained on DM and understands its role in dynamic scheduling.
• Clear Communication: Communicate the benefits of dynamic scheduling to patients, addressing concerns and highlighting the value of remote monitoring.
• Systematic Tracking: Develop tracking systems to prevent patients from falling through the cracks, ensuring intervals are managed properly based on DM data.
• Monitor and Adapt: Regularly evaluate and refine the dynamic scheduling approach, making adjustments to optimise both practice efficiency and patient satisfaction.

By adopting DM and dynamic scheduling, orthodontic practices can revolutionise their operations, deliver improved patient care, and succeed in an increasingly digital orthodontic landscape.

3 years from now, will you be stuck at regular intervals or providing a more dynamic and tailored approach to managing your patients?