Cutting-edge technology is transforming the patient experience – Dental Sky explains why it is important to keep up to date.
As awareness of light therapy’s healing benefits grows, lasers are rapidly gaining traction in dentistry. Many patients are now seeking a minimally invasive alternative to more traditional methods, keen to experience accelerated healing and quicker recovery with less discomfort.
Wayside Dental Practice in Harpenden, Hertfordshire is at the forefront of this revolution. Owner and principal Robin Horton specialises in laser-assisted complex implant dentistry, utilising the latest digital technology. He is also an advocate of patient-centric care.
A Nobel Biocare instructor in digital implant dentistry and a fellow of the Academy of Laser Dentistry and the World Clinical Laser Institute, he lectures globally on laser dentistry and places technology firmly at the forefront of delivering optimal patient care. The Wayside team also takes pride in being ‘family dentists’ while remaining attuned to the latest developments in cosmetic, implant, laser, and painless dentistry. It also claims to have ‘more lasers than any other practice in Europe’.
Practice manager Lizzie Bumatay explains: ‘As treatments become increasingly high-tech and specialised, we have remained flexible enough to consider new procedures and have invested in the technology to deliver them safely, effectively and comfortably.’
Lizzie adds: ‘When patients have a more comfortable experience, it makes our work more manageable and less stressful, benefiting both them and us.’
Fast, comfortable anaesthesia
With a strong focus on high-tech and laser dentistry to enhance patient comfort, Robin has used The Wand for more than 20 years, incorporating it into every suitable appointment. Its precise analgesia and rapid wear-off help minimise the risk of soft tissue trauma after treatment.
Robin explains: ‘The Wand can be used for various dental treatments, making it an extremely versatile tool at Wayside Dental Practice. It is the best way to administer local anaesthesia – fast, localised, comfortable, and wears off quickly. It is easy to use, intuitive and promotes a relaxed experience.
‘New patients are very interested in our use of both The Wand and dental lasers – most have never visited a dentist who uses this technology. They often ask why their previous dentist didn’t use it and comment on the small size of the numb area and how quickly they regain feeling afterwards. However, many of our long-term patients are unaware of alternatives. It’s great for us too, as we do not experience soft tissue damage in patients after using the anaesthetic.’
‘The human aspect of care’
The Wand is widely recognised as a revolutionary tool for lowering sedation costs and minimising cancellations due to its exceptional patient comfort and compliance. It can perform all traditional and innovative injections with greater precision, comfort and compliance.
Robin explains: ‘At Wayside, we provide The Wand to all our patients at no additional cost; we utilise it during every appointment as needed, ensuring patients do not feel anxious about their visits. Children begin coming from an early age and view it as non-threatening. Very few patients require sedation; we do not use it at all. Everyone starts their appointment feeling relaxed rather than tense. No patient should have a negative experience.’
While innovation seems essential to the clinic’s success, it also emphasises the human aspect of care. Providing practical solutions can significantly impact patients.
‘You have to move with the times to continue to deliver the best you can,’ Robin believes. ‘Patients don’t want gloopy impressions; they want a comfortable digital scan to see their teeth. They would rather not wait for crowns or night guards to be fitted. They want to see an avatar of themselves to visualise what any planned cosmetic work will look like. With implant work, they want safety, predictability and a superb aesthetic outcome from someone who has taken the time to learn up-to-date techniques.’
Technology for marketing
Lizzie adds that technology is also key to the practice’s marketing: ‘Our ethos is to deliver personalised and comfortable dental care, and this is emblazoned on the homepage of our website. We’re so proud to be pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in modern dentistry and talk about it whenever we have the opportunity, whether that be in a practice newsletter or via social media.
‘Communicating with patients in advance also simplifies appointments as patients know what to expect. For example, if they know that analgesia is not going to cause prolonged numbness, they won’t ask when they can return to work or how their treatment might impact their day-to-day life in the short term’.
‘Also, although we can’t discuss clinical procedures with patients, on reception we do naturally get asked questions. Some patients feel more at ease asking us about their procedure and whether it’s going to entail the dreaded “injection”. It’s such a relief to say we have an alternative that the dentist will discuss with them at their appointment.’
We’ve also seen first-hand the magic of ‘word of mouth’ testimony, with patients keen to share their positive experiences with friends and family. It’s great that a piece of equipment, such as The Wand can benefit the practice from a marketing perspective, as well as ease of treatment.
This article is sponsored by Dental Sky.
