Maximizing Technology And Specific Appliances to Meet Today’s Challenges

Orthodontic practitioners are continually looking for ways to be more efficient. When the worldwide pandemic hit, the workflow in my practice included advanced appliances, 3D CBCT imaging, digital photographs and intraoral scanning so it was digitally based and quite efficient. Even with all that, I still found myself asking how I could maximize the technologies I currently employed and/or what others I should add to meet my patient’s heightened expectations.

With COVID-19 cases quite prevalent, my patients who had already been finding it challenging to fit appointments into their hectic schedules, were now reluctant to make in-office visits for fear of infection. Add inflation into the mix, particularly with gas prices what they are, and we had to ask ourselves, “How could we adapt?” What systems would allow us to “see” patients who felt uncomfortable coming into the office and still care for them properly while providing a positive and comfortable patient experience?

A philosophy called Minimum Touch OrthodonticsSM (MTO) is one that makes sense to me. Henry Schein Orthodontics™ launched the concept under the guidance of its orthodontist advisors. The idea of MTO is to assist clinicians in focusing their efforts on delivering simplified, predictable results in fewer and shorter appointments in minimal overall treatment time. The ultimate goal is to maximize convenience and enhance the overall patient experience, capitalizing on advanced appliances and digital technologies.