There's more good news for the future of dentistry in this interesting blog post, “Within Five Years, All Phones Will Be Smartphones” on Slate awhile back. It features an infographic showing how quickly the cell phone has been adopted by the American consumer, and how it continues to outpace the home computer when it comes to reaching more users.

The author examines the trending data and makes a compelling case for his summary line: “Within five years, all phones will be smartphones, and basically everyone will have one.

So what's that got to do with the future of dentistry? I've been saying for some time now that the explosion of social media is going to have huge implications for dentists. Most practices have always relied on word of mouth and the personal testimonial.

Anyone who has good restorative dental work done is a walking billboard for their friends and co-workers. Social media is amplifying and multiplying that effect, as patients are now posting tweets and status updates showing off their new smile before they even leave your office.

The smartphone is where social media really takes off, and what this article is saying is that within a few years even people who aren't now comfortable with a computer mouse will be walking around with one of these “instant referral devices” in their hands. Give them an experience – and a result – to talk about, and watch how quickly they get the word out.


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