Your partnership with Dental Tech

May 22, 2024

So, you’ve started using some shiny new dental tech. You thought it was going to instantly change your world. In some cases, ROI’s can be achieved quickly. The reality is, though, that even with perfect implementation and motivation, improving your practice and implementing new systems with the help of dental tech takes time and effort.

In my time collaborating with them, I've learned that understanding these companies and innovators can help clinicians create long lasting partnerships that not only lift the bottom line, but also make a difference in the industry. Let's humanize the tech shall we.

Innovators Have a Purpose

In my interactions with these creators, I’ve learned they are motivated by a desire to move dentistry forward. Many of them are clinicians themselves. Others are experts in technology, medicine, start ups, marketing, sales and customer success. They want to be a part of an established, but growing space that is finally taking flight in ways it never has before.

Dentistry is a pretty amazing space to be in, but I might be a little biased.

Regardless, good clinicians share this goal. So, when researching new tech to incorporate into patient care, know these companies view practice success as their success too. That’s their ultimate goal.

Objectives dental tech innovators and clinicians have in common:

Improve patient care
Improve the lives of clinicians
Create respect for Dentistry
Establish more efficient workflows
Increase access to care

Innovators Need Your Help

To reach such objectives, though, help is needed. Getting products and technology up, running and suitable for use requires strenuous trial and error, testing and approval processes. They have proven that they can make a difference in productivity and efficiency on an acceptable scale, but that’s just the beginning.

Let’s say the tech is running smoothly, but you just can’t quite get the team uptake you hoped for. Or maybe the new product or tech is being utilized, but with a few glitches you’re not thrilled with.

This is where customer success partnerships come in. By providing feedback often and thoroughly, practices can be a part of adjustments needed by the entire dental community. Often, other practices and clinicians face similar challenges.

I can't tell you how many times I’ve gotten updates on tech where the conversation went something like this: “This update is a direct result of customer feedback and we’re happy to be releasing it now.”

Examples of feedback dental tech innovators are looking for:

Errors in patient information
Issues with integration
Features you wish it had
How to improve communication with the end user
Workflow best practice ideas

Innovators Are Learning Too

When dealing with dental tech, keep in mind that it's always evolving. Creators will be upfront about its changing nature and only time will tell what it’s truly capable of. This is especially true in the case of artificial intelligence, as it is literally machine learning. Clinicians and practices themselves are improving with the changing needs of patients. We should expect technology to shift with them.

By allowing room for improvement and updates, we have reasonable and clear expectations of how dental tech will be of benefit in the long-term. Instead of putting them on a pedestal of perfection, allow these innovators the latitude to build on what they’ve learned. They’ll have the leeway to take in education on how to make a product you already like and make it better where possible.

Also, don’t be shocked when your partners in dental tech want to take time to update you on new features or products they are offering. It’s the result of what they are learning. You never know how it will benefit you down the road.

That’s not to say that these innovators are not responsible for fulfilling their end of the bargain. Reasonable expectations still include making good on promises and ROIs. But by seeing them as our partners in long-term success we can better navigate the ebbs and flows of the commitment that is dental tech.

Dental Tech Innovators Will Always be Learning:

Applications for Use
Identities of Super Users
How to collaborate with other technology
How to mitigate glitches
How to keep up with the changing needs of customers

Keep in Mind

I would be remiss without stating there will be times when the partnership just doesn't work out. At that time, parting ways might be the best solution.

When that happens…

To my fellow providers: that’s not the time to give up on technology! It's time to re-evaluate the technology that’s available and what you want to accomplish with it. With so many options out there, you’ll find the right fit.

To my colleagues in innovation: continue to give practices and clinicians your best. These partnerships are how we all succeed.