Four Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Dental Technology

The technology available to dentists today has never been more sophisticated - or more abundant. With all the choices out there and with new ones becoming available all the time, how do you decide where to apply your re-investment dollars? As always, to get the right answers, you have to start by asking yourself the right questions.

1. Is it clinically correct? A strong ethic for ideal patient care is the driving force of a successful practice. Scrutinize any potential purchase through the lens of your vision and philosophy and make sure its advantages support your standards of clinical excellence and client value.
2. Does it help the practice grow? Especially in the crucial early years in practice, you need technology that is going to contribute to growth. This growth can be measured in a number of ways, including an increase in clinical speed, case acceptance, patient retention or new patients.
3. Does it provide a good return on investment? This sounds obvious, especially with technologies such as digital radiography, which gives you a precise break-even number to work with. The return on something such as your management software system may be harder to pin down, but the economic benefits are real and should be factored in to your deliberations.
4. Does it fit into my short-term future? Other than your chairs, most technology you buy today will be replaced over three to eight-year cycles, so try to keep that time frame in mind when planning and budgeting. But be aware of where the trends are taking dentistry and don't buy into technologies that are on the road to obsolescence.

Technology can be complex, but owning and maintaining your systems shouldn't be complicated. You can do yourself a huge favor and simplify things considerably just by choosing your vendors carefully. Look for suppliers who you can go to for most of your needs; suppliers who offer full support and can help you develop a coherent plan to integrate everything. That “one call solution” peace of mind is worth a fortune.

Finally, remember that having the best technology in the world doesn't mean much if you're not prepared to learn to use it to your best advantage. If you really want to be a part of the forefront in this industry, get out there among the leaders in the field – and the leaders among your peers – and discover how the best minds are using technology for the greatest results. After all, the most important and adaptable unit of sophisticated circuitry in your practice, is the one you carry in your head.