Think of how technology has changed your television-viewing experience in recent years. You now have the ability to “time-shift” and watch what you want when you want. Think of how your smartphone has changed the way you communicate and engage with the world. Think of how different your car is – with its GPS technology and rear-view camera – from cars you owned years ago.

Now think about your practice. More importantly, think about how other people think about your practice. Do they see the same kind of revolution taking place there? The fact is there are a still a lot of dental practices that haven't changed significantly in 30 years. And those practices aren't just missing out on great clinical and value-creation opportunities; they are in danger of dropping out of peoples' thoughts.

Digital dentistry can change that. In fact, research has proven that practices with CEREC have patients that return more consistently, accept more recommended treatment and invite more often.

But even those practices that have invested in current technology often haven't fully embraced what it means to compete in this new world. Some practices can have the most sophisticated chairside equipment but when it comes to getting patients to come back regularly, they're still mailing out cards that are not being read and leaving voicemail messages that are not being heard. Instead, practices should try communicating in a way 90 percent of people under 30 respond to right away: “Send a Message Your Patients Won't Forget”

How dentistry fits into this new consumer landscape is something that has been on my mind a lot lately – and it is the focus of my most recent e-book. I truly believe that it's not an exaggeration to say that the future of dentistry belongs to those who have a driving awareness of the significance of this new culture.


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