One of the most insightful aspects of building businesses is just how many of the skills you learn are transferable to a whole host of other industries. With this in mind, we’re going to take a closer look at how you can equip a dental practice so as to maximise efficiency and set it up for long-term success. Let’s dive into the details and see what needs to be done.
Focus on Smart Tech Investments
The right tech will improve the practice’s diagnostic capabilities, optimise patient outcomes, and streamline the overall efficiency of the setting. The key is to stand back and survey the big picture so that you can separate cutting-edge tech that only sounds great from cutting-edge tech you actually need in the real world.
Thinking about different areas of your practice and then focusing on what each needs is the way to go here:
- Practice management software will help you to streamline things like patient records, scheduling appointments, and billing, so that everyone is in the loop. This will free up support staff to put patients at ease if they are anxious.
- In the treatment room, having access to the latest digital X-ray systems and intraoral cameras will be crucial to your team’s ability to focus on what they do best. Continual reinvestment is necessary in this part of the business.
- Having chairside CAD/CAM systems will allow you to offer things like same-day crowns and personalised bridges and veneers. Perfect when you want to move into the potentially lucrative world of cosmetic dentistry.
Alongside these tech-focused investments, it’s important to think about how you can continually upgrade the fundamentals.
Upgrade and Improve The Building Blocks
Moving from regular handpieces that are tried and tested to the latest models that elevate existing solutions and provide even more precision and control is just one approach:
- Ultrasonic scalers will improve patient outcomes while also providing a faster, more thorough clean when you have a high volume of patients to see.
- The latest sterilisation equipment and autoclave models will guarantee you continue to be compliant while also improving the level of patient care.
- Ergonomic stools, chairs, and work surfaces will keep your team comfortable and relaxed when they have to work a series of back-to-back appointments under pressure.
By thinking about how you can get the basics to the next level, you can make a real difference to how the practice operates on a daily basis. While the very latest cutting-edge additions from the previous section can add extra functionality, it’s getting the basics right on a consistent basis that will have the biggest impact.
Build Relationships to Streamline Your Supply Line
Having a small number of specialist, ultra-reliable suppliers is always better than having dozens of local contacts that can only supply a small subset of what you need. The more people you have to contact to restock and replenish, the longer it is going to take and the more money you will spend on shipping and delivery charges.
Smart dental practice managers source their dental products online from people like Kent Express so that they can get everything they need from a single point of contact. By having less admin and red tape, combined with far greater access and availability, they are able to ensure that they always have the right equipment for the jump.
Create a Focused, Welcoming, and Functional Environment
Having great equipment, the latest tech, and a never-ending supply of consumables will mean you can make a real difference to patient outcomes, but the environment matters too. To get the most out of your practice, give a little thought to how you can implement some of these ideas on the ground:
- Create a logical flow from the waiting room to the treatment room so that maintaining hygiene standards and guiding patients come naturally.
- Design the storage units in the treatment room so that the most commonly used consumables and pieces of equipment are always readily accessible.
- Build a dirty-to-clean workflow that fits with the physical layout of your treatment rooms and preparation rooms so that you never risk cross-contamination.
- Introduce modular elements where possible so that you can retain a degree of flexibility should you need to adapt or expand in the years ahead.
In addition, giving a little thought to how you can make the reception area and waiting room as welcoming and calming as possible will make a real difference. If you can help every patient feel just 10% more relaxed and at ease, it will save your dental care team hours and hours of working time over the course of a year.
With consistent effort and a proactive approach to making continual small changes, you will be able to see a real change in the way that your practice functions. And if you’re not in the industry, you can take plenty of these insights to reshape your mindset and approach your own industry in a different way.
