If anxiety or fear are the first emotions that come to mind when you think of a trip to the dentist, you’re not alone. Anxiety is the biggest factor keeping people from the dental checkups and treatments they need for healthy teeth and gums. But this also means that the need to provide a relaxing and pain-free experience has been driving innovations in dentistry for decades.
If you’ve avoided the dentist because of a bad experience you had as a child or years ago, it’s likely that the modern features of your local clinic will make your next visit far more comfortable than you remember. Here, we’ll take a look at the 5 most important modern features you can expect at your dentist’s office.
Features Of Top Modern Dental Clinics
1. Modern Technology
The quality of the dentist’s technology is likely the biggest factor in the efficacy of your treatment. It’s a key tool for your dentist to help diagnose any issues with your teeth or gums, and to remedy the issue in the most comfortable way possible.
3D Imaging
The most technologically advanced dental clinics use 3D scanners to analyze your teeth more precisely. There are several types of scanners currently available to dentists. The CEREC Primescan Intraoral Dental intraoral scanner, the iTero digital scanner, and the Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scanner are just a few of the most popular kinds.
With this innovative dental technology, healthcare providers and patients can see a three-dimensional, 360° view of virtually every surface of a patient’s mouth. As an added bonus, this 3D imaging equipment uses especially low amounts of radiation, which can detect problems that have only just begun or are still too small to have caused significant damage.
3D imaging allows patients to see the damage done to their teeth and gums. Scanners can help dentists to more quickly identify issues like tooth decay, and determine where treatment like dental implants should be used.
Digital Impressions
Digital scanners can sometimes replace the need for taking messy impressions. Patients often find these uncomfortable, but impressions are traditionally needed to accurately mold a patient’s mouth. Dental offices that have yet to implement scanners that allow for digital impressions may find themselves losing business to dental practices that do.
Transilluminators
These devices such as the CariVu Illuminator, use transillumination light technology to identify points of decay hidden between the crevices of teeth that otherwise appear healthy. This infrared light shows the tooth as transparent while darkening decay areas that absorb the transillumination light.
Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is popular in not only dentistry but many aspects of healthcare. By utilizing laser treatment technology, dental care providers can reduce instances of invasive treatment options.
In fact, the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure(LANAP) is one of the most popular new treatments for gum disease. These lasers not only remove diseased tissues but can also increase the blood flow to the gums, ultimately making them healthier after even just one treatment.
Additionally, using a LANAP laser gum disease treatment machine allows patients to heal more quickly since the procedure is far less invasive.
Intra-Oral Cameras
All modernized dental clinics utilize intraoral cameras for a wide variety of dental procedures and treatments, including oral cancer screening. By using a tiny photo to capture color images of the patient’s mouth, healthcare providers can easily show their patients what dental issues are concerning and explain the steps they need to take to treat them.
2. Updated Amenities
Technological advances aside, there are many ways dental practices can modernize their office and draw in new patients. Some of the top amenities the most successful dental clinics include in their office designs are:
- Warming blankets
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Massage chairs
- Hot towels
- Warm beverages
- Cold beverages
- Healthy snacks and comfort food
- Digital display screens
- Wi-Fi
- Access to music streaming or video streaming services
Creating a comfortable environment for patients makes them more likely to be at ease and feel confident in their dental practice. Modern dental clinics take the time to design waiting rooms and patient rooms with relaxation, peace, and calm in mind.
Offices decorated with calming colors like green, white, blue, or gray are more likely to reduce patient anxiety. Some of the most popular dental clinics also build with large windows to allow for natural light or use warmer colored light bulbs to help alleviate patient stress and concerns.
3. Electronic Medical Records
Dental practices not offering electronic medical records are at a substantial disadvantage compared to clinics that do. Patients these days expect to be able to access their medical records, including images of their x-rays, online via a patient portal.
Patients expect to be able to review patient notes in the systems, request prescription refills and appointments, and otherwise handle necessary communications with their dentist’s office electronically.
4. Sedation Dentistry
One of the top reasons to take advantage of the technological advances in dentistry is to reduce patient anxiety. Millions of patients across the United States have severe anxiety about their dental appointments. Nearly 60% of patients have reported anxiety regarding their dental care.
Dental offices that offer sedation dentistry cannot only improve client retention but draw in new clients by providing opportunities for patients to get the care they need in a more comfortable environment. Potential sedation dentistry options could include:
- General anesthesia
- Nitrous oxide
- Conscious IV sedation
- Oral sedation
5. Dental Clinics With On-Site Labs
Finally, clinics with on-site dental labs are more likely to be successful than those without. Not only do on-site labs give patients peace of mind in knowing the same healthcare providers are working for them at all times, but outsourcing any dental tasks or treatment can be expensive, timely, and restrictive for patients.
Dental practices that take the time to set up laboratories allow for more complex procedures and an opportunity to treat more patients requiring extensive dental work.
Modern is Better in Dental Technology
There are several ways dental clinics can modernize their practice to draw in new patients and increase patient retention rates. Bringing in the latest in dental technology, updating a clinic’s amenities, and offering sedation dentistry services all make a significant difference in a practice’s success and the patient experience.
