Innovate or die. The widely known saying is without a doubt applicable to any situation. This proverb alludes to the healthy need to make changes, both in a personal and professional context. In this article, we will talk about the innovation that can be implemented in a dental clinic, and the optimal process to carry out so that the improvements sought are achieved. 

Definition of Innovation.

We start from the basis that any dentist who has her own dental clinic is an entrepreneur. However, not everyone may be aware of what the concept of Innovation means. To be clear about this definition, we must also consider the term invention. The invention refers to an idea, a prototype, a product, a process or a service that has never been commercialized, while innovation occurs when the invention manages to generate its first commercial transaction.

However, it is not essential to have inventive thinking to benefit from innovation, since there are processes and technological advances, which allow us to introduce different types of innovation depending on the field in which we develop these changes.

Types of innovation.

There are many different types of innovation applicable to changes in a dental clinic.

On the one hand, we have the possibility of innovating in products, that is, introducing a new or significantly improved service with respect to its characteristics or specifications. On the other hand, an innovation can be made in the management of the company, which ranges from logistics to administration.

From a more informative point of view, we find innovation in marketing, which implies implementing improvements in the pricing and promotion strategy, but also, an improvement in the design of the products or services offered.

In order to do more productive work, and with the help of new technologies, there is process innovation and technological innovation. By combining both innovations, we would achieve an improvement in the workflow of any dental clinic.

Ultimately, we find disruptive innovation, which consists of a change or introduction of a new product or service not known or previously offered. As it may be, the growing aesthetic component that we currently find in dental clinics.

Once the different types of innovation that can be applied to a dental clinic have been specified, it will be the human team of the dental clinic that decides which is the most beneficial change to apply to achieve the previously established objectives.

Technological strategy.

A large part of the success or failure of the project occurs mainly in the definition phase of the project. In this regard, it is very important to consider both the macro and micro environment factors of the clinic. Among which, we could list: market trends, existence of an accessible technological offer or organizational structure, financial resources and R&D history, respectively.

Thus, the importance of innovation can be translated, among other things, into the potential for differentiation that such modification may entail for the company compared to its competitors. In short, innovation in a dental clinic is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the final goal previously set.

Oral health has become a key aspect for the well-being of people, since the mouth is the gateway for food to our digestive system. That is why, in the face of an increasingly aging population pyramid, proper tooth and gum care is essential to enjoy an acceptable quality of life. And to achieve this goal, once again technology will be of great help in shaping what will be the dental clinic of the future.

REVOLUTION IN THE DENTAL CLINIC

The dental clinic, which has evolved so much until now, is being immersed in a series of drastic changes after the emergence of new technologies and, with the application of Artificial Intelligence to the sector, this evolution will accelerate. What then will the dental clinic of the future be like?

With regard to the most revolutionary innovations, we believe that it will still take some time to be implemented in the dental clinic, although some of them are already used today and others will end up being consolidated: gesture recognition applications; virtual reality glasses that will allow anyone who has a phobia of the dentist to escape from the consultation, and even use multisensory marketing with lighting and odors that generate a feeling of calm. On the other hand, online training will be more common thanks to videoconferencing and augmented reality.

The technological revolution is changing the marketing and communication dynamics of clinics in order to generate engagement with patients: more and more clinics make use of social networks; develop multi-channel strategies. They seek to generate experiences that appeal to emotions in their care spaces, or focus their services on the millennial generation with aspects more sensitive to aesthetics, style and leisure.

In addition, there are already some innovations that are likely to be imposed in the not too distant future, such as the creation of waiting rooms with a relaxed atmosphere; waits of no more than 15 minutes; exclusive service hostesses with courtesy trolley, newspapers and brushing kit, etc.

In short, “over the next few years the dental clinic will have to advance in the development of a true discipline of patient experience management. They will have to design experiences, not only provide services, and incorporate the latest technologies into their clinic that allow them to offer a cutting-edge service.

Where to start?

It is sometimes difficult to know where to start. So let’s take a look at the patient’s perspective.

The first impression of your practice will be the waiting area. You can start by updating the room to make it more homy, comfortable and as zen as possible.

The second impression the patient will get is from the look and feel of the treatment area or box. Make sure your equipment and unit are up-to-date and that the room exhales relaxation and confidence. This can be done by taking into the account the aesthetic design aspects. Furthermore, it is of absolute importance that the patient chair looks modern and comfortable. Patients with fear of the dentist or who are nervous will be comforted and more relaxed by a moder looking unit, a relaxed and homy atmosphere.

Ancar’s units, especially our Series 5 and 7, are especially designed to make sure that the dentist as well as the patient have the utmost best dental experience.

Take a look at our Series 5 hanging chairs with vertical lift, that will make your practice look stunning and spacious.

Or our Series 7, especially designed for smaller boxes. The knee-break chair allows patients to sit in a natural way and helps people with reduced mobility and/or fear of the dentist to be comfortable.

For more info: Click here for Ancar Series 5 or Click here for Ancar Series 7