The Need for Speed
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 29th March 2019
You would not be human if you haven’t shouted at your phone when the screen freezes, or yelled at your television if a film takes a long time to stream. When devices fail to respond or provide us with the service or information that we want straight away we tend to get frustrated and annoyed. In fact, research indicates that both verbal and physical aggression towards equipment is common in bouts of computer-related anger. People now expect constant, seamless connectivity and as many as 42 per cent of UK consumers admit to being more impatient today than they were five years ago, due to their reliance on technology to complete everyday tasks.
Take the Internet, for example. This is used for a wide variety of activities including banking, shopping, entertainment, education, communicating and socialising. A significant number of jobs and services are dependent on Internet connection and, according to the Office for National Statistics, 86 per cent of adults used the Internet daily in 2018. Two-thirds of adults say it is an essential part of life and 40 per cent of adults look at their smartphone within five minutes of waking up and, on average, check it every 12 minutes and spend 2 hours 28 minutes online each day. Some may argue that we have become victims of our own success, because our need for speed has become insatiable. We expect everything to be available instantly, anywhere and at any time and we attach that fast pace to other parts of our lives. Nevertheless, technology that enables access to all types of information, products, resources and services at the touch of a button opens up a wealth of opportunities, allows us to be more efficient and productive and makes life considerably easier.
This appetite for advanced technology and instant gratification is changing the face and future of dentistry. For instance, people are no longer happy to wait weeks to see a dentist, they want easy and speedy/fast access to services and if they choose to make an appointment they want to do it immediately. If they want their teeth whitened, they want them lightened several shades in minutes, not weeks and you would have to be living on another planet not to have seen all the promotions from businesses that offer ultra-fast treatments to straighten smiles or replace the teeth in a time frame as little as a day. Indeed, market research indicates that consumers are willing to pay more for instant results rather than solutions that offer long-term benefits. Equally, patients are able to shop around very easily. They are likely to get information about products, treatments and services from the hundreds of websites that are available and will consult social media and read online reviews.
Certainly, continual advancements and innovation needs to focus on speed and convenience, while also keeping up with the demands and expectations of patients that are significantly more sophisticated and well informed than ever before.
There is no doubt that technology has transformed the way in which dental practices operate. Digital systems and software have been integrated into nearly all areas to streamline and simplify tasks, enhance communication, reduce storage and save an inordinate amount of time and expense. Information is able to flow through the practice in real-time, making operations quicker and more efficient. Dental professionals are able to work with increased levels of accuracy and predictability using high performance equipment in a safe, orderly and productive environment.For instance, digital x-ray systems use up to 80 per cent less radiation than film x-rays. They produce clear, high-resolution images,which can be viewed almost instantly and help to detect pathologies in very early stages. Also, when combined with practice management software, the images can be easily stored, archived and recalled efficiently as part of the patient’s electronic record.Digital technology is also revolutionising prosthodontics. It plays a significant role at the planning and design stages as well as the milling or printing of mock-ups, surgical guides, provisionals, fixed and removable final restorations. Simultaneously, new digital manufacturing techniques have invited the development of advanced, biocompatible materials such as Ultaire AKP. This is a lightweight, high performance polymer that has been custom-developed by Solvay Dental 360 specifically for the fabrication of removable partial dentures (RPDs). Ultaire AKP fits seamlessly into the digital workflow, which reduces inaccuracies and streamlines production efficiency to offer metal-free RPDs with exceptional retention, comfort and fit.
Digital technology and new material science is providing dental professionals with the opportunity to speed up the completion of procedures that may have previously required multiple visits.
Additionally and above all, digital systems help to improve outcomes, increase comfort and elevate the patient experience to the high level that they have now come to expect.
To book a Solvay Dental 360® Professional Lunch and Learn or to find more information about Ultaire AKP and Dentivera milling discs, please visit www.solvaydental360.com
About the author
Phillip Silver is the UK Country Manager and Consultant at Solvay Dental 360.TM He is a specialist in medical technologies and materials with over two decades of experience in both implantable and non- implantable devices. Phillip has worked in a range of clinical fields incorporating digital techniques and introducing new and novel technology into restorative dentistry, replacement and reconstructive surgery and facial plastics.
