The world is in the midst of a significant economic readjustment. Fortunately, due to prudent banking and responsible governments, Canada has fared better than most of the countries of the world. More specifically for our profession, the dental world is relatively insulated from general economic trends, both up and down. While elective procedures may decrease in the short term due to fiscal pressures, patients’ need for ongoing diagnostic, restorative, reparative, and maintenance procedures remains relatively constant.
Dental research and development has led and supported an ongoing evolution in the materials and technologies that the practitioner uses on a daily basis. The clinical face of dentistry is vastly different today from just 10 or 20 years ago; innovation has vastly improved the lives of both patients and dentists.
The benefits of upgrading the practice include: better and earlier diagnostics, more conservative preparation and restoration, and less discomfort for patients; better, faster, easier, and less technique-sensitive procedures for dentists; and easier and more predictable tasks for dental auxiliaries. The downside of new technologies and materials is that they often come at a high price to the dental professional. It may take an unreasonably long time for the practitioner to recoup the value of the investment. In fact, careful analysis may reveal that the technology is unlikely to ever be profitable in the practice.
Fortunately, the dental industry has begun to recognize that dentists do not have unlimited financial resources. Some manufacturers are taking the lead in making the practice of dentistry more affordable. Commonly used quality consumables are packaged in bulk at lower per-unit prices. New and improved dental restorative materials are configured in more easily affordable kits. Innovative manufacturing procedures provide high precision tools to the practice at a decreased cost. And revolutionary electronics significantly reduce the investment in high benefit technologies.
The dentist, better able to afford the latest in quality materials and technologies, is in a position to provide improved and more comprehensive dental care to the patient. The patient benefits, as does the entire industry. It is an exciting time for the profession; it is a great time to be a dentist.
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