“Consistent Quality” has become the main overriding differentiator between dental laboratories for Canadian dentists, according to results from the DIAC (Dental Industry Association of Canada) Fourteenth Annual Future of Dentistry Survey. DIAC’s latest survey shows that “Consistent Quality” was mentioned by an all-time high 15.1% of responding dentists (up considerably from the 7.6% reading last year and up from the 9.2% average from 2001-2008) as their primary concern when selecting a laboratory. Despite the current recession, the former leading criteria “Better Pricing” fell to second place (although at 13.8% of response, it was somewhat higher than the average of 10% over the last nine years). Faster case turnaround was the third highest ranked criteria at 11.1%. Better Communication” has been steadily trending downward from a high of 16.1% when this question was first asked in the 2001 survey to its current all time low reading of 8.9% in 2010, indicating continuing improvement in this area on the part of laboratories and the impact of new technology on dentist-technician communications.
This interest in quality may also be evident in dentist’s responses as to where they have their laboratory prescriptions fabricated. As with last year’s survey, most dentists (93.6%) utilize their local “In Province” laboratories for some portion of their dental prostheses. A smaller percentage (19.2%) used laboratories in an “Other Province”. Only 2.3 % (actually down from last year’s reading of 4.6%) stated that they had any of their laboratory prescriptions fabricated “Offshore” (which includes U.S. laboratories as well as those further a field). Please note that multiple responses were allowed for laboratory prescription fabrication so the totals add up to more than 100%.
Over 1000 practicing Canadian dentists responded to this year’s survey (similar to the response achieved over each of the previous twelve years) with a good proportional istribution across all regions of the country. Based on this response rate, overall 2010 survey results have an accuracy of +/- 3.08% 19 times out of 20.
Source: Fourteenth Annual Future of Dentistry Survey
Dental Industry Association of Canada / Eric P. Jones & Associates Inc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mr. Bernie Teitelbaum, Executive Director Mr. Eric Jones, President
DIAC (Dental Industry Association of Canada) Eric P. Jones & Associates Inc.
Telephone: (905) 417 – 7462 Telephone: 1-866-654-2434
Email: bernie@diac.ca Email: ejones@vaxxine.com
