New technology has reached every facet of our lives, from the way we make our coffee in the morning to how we consume the news late at night. We don’t watch TV the way we did twenty years ago. We don’t listen to music the way we did even a decade ago. And we don’t even use transportation the way we did five years ago. And in so many ways, the office, even the dental office, is getting its makeover, too.
“The internet is not something that you just dump something on- it’s not a big truck. It’s a series of tubes!” Senator Ted Stevens will live in infamy thanks to his public comments on the internet. Signal is down? Call the plumber. Trying to download too much at once? Use some Drano.
Of course, the internet has long since evolved from the days of dial-up, when you were excited to hear that “You’ve Got Mail” and Pets.com was the way of the future.
In Scott's last post on the Academy of Osseointegration meeting, he mentioned that digital dentistry and digital workflow are the way of the future. There is no denying that advances have not only enabled a complete transformation of patient care, but they have also have begun to impact the future of clinical education and clinical standards.
I went through training alongside Scott at the University of Pennsylvania, where the next research paper in CAD/CAM always seemed just around the corner while instructors constantly reminded us to not forget the basics of time-tested techniques and materials. Since graduating, I've constantly pondered on the nature of this dualism.
Dentistry is in many ways like making sushi.
We get one question all the time from dentists: "What makes your website relevant?"
It's no secret that the dental marketplace is crowded with sales reps, discount warehouses, and independent retailers. There are now more choices than ever for purchasing materials, and it can be really confusing. For dentists, understanding where your products come from and how much you pay for them is critical for your office budget. In other words, you want to maintain a high-quality patient experience with exceptional outcomes at low cost.
This past week, I had the privilege of attending the annual Academy of Osseointegration (AO) conference in Orlando, organized by our very own advisor Dr. Jeffrey Ganeles. On a superficial level, the academy invites specialists in 3 dental fields (Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and Oral Surgery) to learn about recent research in each field as well as treatment modalities involving dental implants. On a much deeper level, the conference allows for a ‘meeting of the minds,’ bringing together thought leaders in each of those specialties and facilitating the exchange of ideas to enhance patient care.
