Why a Multidisciplinary Approach to Dentistry Is So Desirable
The New Multidisciplinary Approach to Dentistry
A multidisciplinary approach to dentistry is a practical, effective way to grow your practice, ensure long-term financial stability, and meet the diverse needs of your patients. While implementing this approach may seem intimidating, the truth is that you already have a multiservice dental practice. Patients can schedule appointments, receive prophys from hygienists, be screened for certain cancers, receive restorative treatments from their dentist, and pay their bills—all in one visit.
Adding in-demand services such as orthodontic care allows you to further streamline your patients’ oral health services, providing better outcomes for them and more opportunities for your practice.
4 Top Reasons for Incorporating a Multidisciplinary Approach to Dentistry
Most patients wish they could skip the reception room and time in the chair at their dentist’s office and simply get services taken care of over the phone or through a video call. However, since that’s not feasible, the next best thing is a dental office that provides all necessary services under one roof.
1. It provides a one-stop shop for dental care.
Today’s patients are busy, and they’re always looking for opportunities to simplify their lives. That makes the one-stop-shop model so successful: It takes the guesswork out of finding trustworthy service providers.
Consider how retail pharmacies provide health care convenience for customers. At many CVS and Walgreens locations, for example, customers can see a licensed health care provider and get sports or work physicals; obtain medical care for illnesses, injuries, and infections; get prescriptions filled; and even pick up household essentials. This model puts diverse health care services within easy reach of the typical community member.
Dentists who incorporate the one-stop-shop philosophy can meet their patients’ diverse needs all under one roof, making it easy for patients to access the care they need.
2. Your patients already trust you.
According to one study, about 1 in 3 people experience dental anxiety, and roughly 1 in 10 people report extreme dental phobia. Your patients have chosen to obtain services from your practice because they trust you. Providing a full range of services supports their optimal oral health because it ensures that you don’t have to recommend outside treatments and provide referrals that your patients may not follow through with. You’ve already earned their trust, so when you recommend a treatment that they can get directly from you, they’re more likely to comply.
3. It helps you grow your practice.
Just as many people don’t want to drive around town to buy clothes from one store, food from another, and household items from yet another, they don’t want to find separate dentists and specialists to take care of every oral health need. The more services you provide, the more in demand your practice will be, especially if you also provide reasonable pricing and outstanding quality of care.
4. It’s financially sustainable.
You opened your practice rather than joining an incorporated dental group because you wanted full control over operations. While this ensures that you don’t have to follow practices you don’t agree with, such as recommending services to meet a quota, having your practice comes with unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant challenge is determining how to provide a multiservice dental practice in a financially sustainable way.
By staying up to date on the latest procedures and getting the education you need to add services, you can ensure your patients get the care they need directly through your office. The educational program you complete should fulfill three needs:
- It should give you all the information to provide the new service once you’ve completed the course.
- It should equip you and your team members with the resources you need.
- It should be reasonably priced.
Serving Patients Through Orthodontic Care
Thanks to new technology, orthodontic care is within reach of more people than ever. More information is available on how orthodontic services for children can prevent significant problems later in life and reduce or even eliminate the time they spend receiving treatment during adolescence. We are experiencing a new interest in camera-ready smiles, and thus orthodontics, leading adults who’ve had braces as adolescents but experienced regression, along with those who never had access to orthodontic care, to improve their smiles.
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, dentists who can provide orthodontic care have an edge over their colleagues. Rather than referring their patients to orthodontists, they can take care of certain needs in-house. Not only is this option generally more cost-effective for patients but also results in an increased earning potential for dentists.
Through comprehensive orthodontic courses, you can gain proficiency in the basic orthodontic system. You’ll complete in-class training with videos and live lectures as well as hands-on experience, all under the supervision and guidance of respected orthodontics-practicing dentists. By completing these courses, you’ll have the knowledge you need to diagnose and treat Class I and II malocclusions. As a result, instead of having to refer your patients to an orthodontist, you’ll be able to address most of their orthodontic needs.
Adding orthodontic services to your practice allows you to provide your patients with the services they’re actively seeking. This multidisciplinary approach to dentistry lays the groundwork for long-term financial sustainability, letting you grow your practice and bring in more revenue without compromising quality.