Why you should be part of the new era of digital imaging [WEBINAR]

As the technology continues to improve, there are many reasons to move on from traditional radiographs to digital. 

In this on-demand webinar, Dr. Parag Kachalia will take you through the evolution of digital intraoral sensors and break down how they, along with other imaging advancements such as 3D cone beam technology, can benefit your patients and your practice. Here’s a sneak peak.

About 12 years ago, Dr. Parag Kachalia decided it was time to make a change in his practice. 

He wanted a more efficient practice workflow, and that meant it was time to trade in his traditional film radiographs for digital imaging.  He was ready to get rid of his dark room and all the wasted time that goes into film radiographs, and to offer his patients an imaging option that exposed them to less radiation.

That’s why, even though the images weren’t as crisp as traditional radiographs back then, Dr. Kachalia made the move to digital sensors. The time he saved and the peace of mind digital imaging gave his patients made the switch a no-brainer.

He no longer has to wait for images to develop, and if he needs to re-take an image for any reason, he doesn’t have to spend a lot of time doing it. The time saved with digital radiography makes it possible to see an extra hygiene patient during the day, or to go home a little earlier and enjoy life outside the office.  

And today, image quality isn’t a problem, making the move a simple decision for just about any practice. Dr. Kachalia will discuss the evolution of digital imaging and the benefits it can bring to your practice in his free webinar, “The Digital Age-A New Era in Digital Radiography”.

This webinar will take you on a journey through the advances of digital imaging and provide foundational information so that both your patients and your practice can achieve long-term benefits.

The evolution of digital intraoral sensors

Dr. Kachalia upgraded his digital radiography technology about three years ago, and couldn’t be happier with the image quality. Before the upgrade, the digital images were what he described as reasonable, but never really as good as what he got with traditional film.

The latest generation provides images that are crisp and clear, Dr. Kachalia said, images that he can be confident in when it’s time to make a diagnosis. Concern over image quality is no longer a reason not go digital.

“The images are there,” he said. “There’s enough research to show that image quality is at least as good as traditional film and some would argue that it’s better.”

They’re also images his patients can understand and play a huge role in patient education. With digital radiography patients can clearly see a large image on the screen, rather than trying to decipher a small piece of film. Patients aren’t trained to read those small images, but if you put a large image in front of them and then show them the large dark spot on their tooth, that’s something they can understand. They’re more likely to accept treatment when they can actually see and understand what’s going on in their mouth.

Worth the investment

For Dr. Kachalia, digital imaging offers the clearest return on investment than any other technology in his practice. Digital imaging takes something you do everyday and makes it more efficient, and with minimal recurring costs. If you’re using traditional film, you’re buying and disposing chemicals as well as buying the film itself. After the initial investment, the only recurring cost associated with digital radiography is system backup.

It’s also a technology your patients expect to see. Patients are more dental savvy than ever before, and they want that lower radiation dose and less time spent in the chair. If you’re not offering that, potential new patients will go to the practice down the street that does, and current patients will want to know why this technology isn’t available in your office.

“Patients want the lowest radiation possible. That’s the expectation,” he said.  “Patients are dental savvy these days and can Google whatever they want to Google. The low radiation option is the option that they’re going to look for.”

Many dentists don’t invest in digital imaging simply because they don’t want to train their team how to do something new. But the fact is, there’s just a slight learning curve, and chances are your team members will pick it up very quickly.  You can even ask your rep if you can try the technology out for a week or so to see how you like it and how your team adjusts before making the commitment.

The benefits of panoramic and 3D cone beam imaging

Digital imaging just keeps improving, and new panoramic systems as well as 3D cone beam imaging are other technologies Dr. Kachalia will discuss during the webinar, technologies that can help improve patient care at your practice-as well as your bottom line.

“We’re able to see information we never imagined. When I was in dental school the concept of seeing a tooth in 3D didn’t exist,” Dr. Kachalia said, noting that level of information can lead to improved treatment planning and enhanced patient care. “Today that’s possible.”

While this type of technology means a large initial investment, it’s an investment that will continue to grow with your practice, Dr. Kachalia said. The newest panoramic and 3D cone beam systems are upgradable, giving you the ability to let the technology grow with your practice. Today, each new generation of these technologies is an evolution rather than a revolution.

“There’s a lot of flexibility with these systems, from the size of the sensor to how much you want to grow imaging at your practice,” Dr. Kachalia said. “There’s always the fear that there will be something new tomorrow. While that’s true, there always will be something new, the systems in the market today will last a fair amount of time and you’ll see the ROI. We are at a quality today where I don’t think there will be any drastic change where we’ll need to buy something new tomorrow.”

Whether you’re ready to make the move to digital imaging or take it even a step further with panoramic and 3D cone beam imaging, now’s the time to make the move to a more digital practice. You’ll save time and become more efficient. Your patients will notice and be impressed with your efforts, and more likely to accept treatment because the patient education you can provide is clearer. You’ll see the ROI and you’ll see your practice grow.

The Digital Age - A New Era in Dental Radiology Webinar

Dr. Parag Kachalia will take you through the evolution of digital intraoral sensors and break down how they, along with other imaging advancements such as 3D cone beam technology, can benefit your patients and your practice. Starts: 05/29/2013 8:00PM Ends: 2013-05-29:00.000 Duration: 01:00