Moving dental laboratories towards a digital future with Stephen Green

february 2022 23

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■Moving dental laboratories towards a digital future Dental technician and lab owner Stephen Green, offers advice about how to build a stronger, fitter business after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I

’m a qualified, registered dental technician who has also completed a master’s degree in business administration. These two disciplines combined have helped me develop my business, Intelligent Dental Design Ltd, into a thriving digital dental laboratory.

We should never underestimate the power of change and how it will affect our business, and this has never been more relevant than with all that’s happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. What we’ve witnessed in the last couple of years is that reliance on NHS work has driven many in the dental lab industry - already on their knees in some areas - to the floor!

Dental work was limited by the first lockdown and subsequently by COVID regulations, that have hampered the number of patients dentists can see and although this is improving we are still not yet back to 100% capacity. While some private practices have benefited from this scenario, many mixed and NHS practices continue to suffer.

So, how do dental labs resolve this situation? I believe the answer is to act now and do something positive to change our circumstances. It’s perfectly possible for lab owners and technicians to make changes to the way they work and to the products they manufacture, in order to meet today’s new challenges.

Making the change If a lab is worried about the cost of investing in new equipment, they should consider charging more for the restorations they produce. Consider the type of equipment needed to manufacture an improved product and think about investing. New equipment can offer a very good return, as clinicians are prepared to pay more for improved quality. There’s no doubt that you can continue to manufacture using traditional methods.

However, the one thing this doesn’t allow for is the receipt of digital impressions and this is where I see the biggest change for dentistry in the coming years.

Doing nothing is not an option when technology is driving other businesses forward. Embracing technology and adapting it to suit your own working patterns means you will gain a distinct competitive advantage over labs choosing to make no changes at all. the

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24 february 2022

advertorial process is all about learning and putting yourself in a position from which you can make better and more informed decisions.

Now for action

It’s all in the planning A systematic approach is required when looking at ways to create a business plan to move your business forward. You need a plan that’s bespoke, with a sensible, realistic view of what is achievable for your lab – and my advice is ‘keep it simple’.

When I undertook this planning task for my lab, I looked at what we wanted to achieve as a business and how we were going to afford the investment. Then I looked at our staffing levels and skill sets to assess whether we had the right people, with the right training, in the right positions.

Research the manufacturers and suppliers of the equipment that will future-proof your business and start to form relationships with them. I built amazing relationships with the team at Henry Schein Laboratory. I benefitted hugely from their knowledge and advice and they were an excellent sounding board for my ideas.

If you’ve decided that the digital pathway is the way forward, the next question should be, which system/equipment do I opt for?

At this point the market knowledge of thirdparty experts will come to the fore. The team at Henry Schein Laboratory has access to the whole range of digital equipment so they can help objectively research your capabilities and suggest the most appropriate technology. My advice is to make the most of this resource.

Having a solid plan in place will give you a really clear picture of what you want to ultimately achieve, before you jump in and start spending money. Take advice from those who have more experience than you do and don’t be afraid to ask questions. This the

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Once you’ve decided to go digital you then need to decide which scanner to choose, and then whether to buy or rent.

The latest scanners allow you to take scans for all indications and ensure great accuracy, combining simple operation with specific scanning strategies, a clear software interface and intuitive design capabilities.

The latest open software covers the basic indications and provides all the required design tools to access digital impressions as well as allowing easy export of scan files to any independent milling centre.

Work as a team Ultimately, you’ll need to decide who’ll be responsible for implementing the changes to your business. For my lab I accepted it was my vision and that I needed to drive the project, although I knew I’d need the help

and support of my younger, more computer-literate team members. My advice is to include other members of your team in your decisions as they can often provide fresh impetus and invaluable support to help implement your plans and ideas.

I believe that all labs need to embrace technology in order to survive. The technology now available is tried and tested and is already being well integrated into practices’ current systems, significantly improving workflows and communication.

This movement is not going to stop, and digitisation is something every lab should look to invest its future in.

■ Find out more about new technology for dental laboratories, visit www.hsdequipment.co.uk or email info@henryschein.co.uk.

■ Stephen Green is a registered dental technician with an award-winning laboratory based in Nottingham.

For more information visit www.stephen-green.com