The future is in your hands

The Dentist talks to Alastair Smith, the founder of Pallant Orthodontics, about practising digital dentistry.

How long have you been practising digital dentistry, and what first attracted you to the world of digital?
AS: I guess the early transition to digital dentistry happened many years ago with the move away from paper notes to a computerised practice management software system. Then came digital radiography and digital photography. At the time, these felt like big steps in the right direction and had benefits for both patients and the practice. It has really been the last five years that have seen a rapid acceleration in digital technology with the introduction of intraoral scanners, 3D printing, virtual monitoring and digital platforms enabling remote communication between practices and patients. Many of these new technologies help to reduce barriers, make dentistry more pleasant and allow for a more convenient and customised patient journey.

Can every practice benefit from the incorporation of digital technology? Are there advantages for general dental practitioners, even those working on the NHS?
AS: Absolutely! The adoption of new technology is only worth it if it brings a significant improvement in efficiencies and the effectiveness of what we do, whether this is clinical processes or practice management processes. There are many instances where digitisation enhances both of these. In the case of NHS practices, which are under huge pressure to deliver services at volume and low cost, then it makes a lot of sense to leverage technology to enable efficiencies.