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A Power Tool for Dentistry. There are so many exciting
and obvious benefits to cosmetic imaging, that it has become commonly
accepted as a powerful tool in dentistry. Of course, how you incorporate
cosmetic imaging into your practice will depend upon your own needs
and practice philosophy. Cosmetic imaging is not just for "selling"
cosmetic cases. It is a powerful diagnostic and treatment planning
tool whose benefits should not be overlooked. We've found that there
are three distinctively different avenues for applying this technology
in the dental practice, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.
Send It Out. For some practices, it may work better to use
an outside imaging service, sending 'before treatment' photographs
along with a type of 'lab script'. In this scenario, the doctor
uses words and or drawings in the 'script' to communicate what he
or she wants the patient to see. The imager interprets these instructions
and then returns an image via email or hardcopy. The doctor then
evaluates, requests modifications, and/or simply shows the patient
the results.
This method simplifies things for the doctor, in that he/she has
only a small learning curve in order to incorporate imaging into
the practice. In addition, this outsourcing, costs the practice
very little time. However, it eliminates some of the key benefits
of imaging such as aid in diagnosis and treatment planning. You
can miss vital information for case design without first hand imaging.
outsourcing also relies on the same old hope that the imaging lab
can interpret what the doctor has in mind. As we all know, in reality,
it's not always that easy for a lab to understand instructions,
make the smile look good, and create a smile that can be realized
with reasonable treatment procedures.
Keep It In: For other offices, the doctor or staff will
find that imaging right on site will work better for them. The doctor
may do it himself, or have a trained auxiliary do the work under
his supervision.
Of course, this method gives the doctor complete control of the
process, and allows him to have a hand in creating his 'vision'
of how the patient's new smile should look. The doctor can now take
advantage of diagnostic and treatment planning benefits of imaging.
However, on site imaging takes time to learn and time to do each
image. Those office choosing this option feel the time and effort
well spent. The quality of the simulations depend on the ability
of the software and the skill of the imager.
Made for dentistry: Made for dentistry software program
are those imaging programs written specifically for the dental practice.
These can often be linked to practice management programs, allowing
images to be linked automatically to the patient's financial and
insurance data bases. They are typically set up with intuitive interfaces
that allow for relatively short learning curves. Further, they enable
the user to accomplish and display simulations in a wide variety
of formats. Many of the made for dentistry program come with a digital
image library that allows the user to perform full mouth rehabilitation
simulations by pasting a smile from the gallery into the patient's
image.
This is the most expensive solution to adding cosmetic imaging
to the dental practice but most comprehensive. It may be the best
option for those who want to combine all simulation capability with
organizing all the digital images collected in your practice from
x-ray, scanners, intraoral cameras, and digital cameras. Made for
dentistry software is also one-stop. That is everything you are
likely to need is in one package. An excellent choice for made for
dentistry software is PatientGaller with Designer (www.patientgallery.com)
Professional image editing software: There are other, less
expensive options available for imaging. Many dentists have heard
of PhotoShop and PhotoShop-like programs. These are image editing
programs used by graphic artists. They have no dental related interface
or link capability. Typically, these are incredibly sophisticated
programs with capabilities far beyond dental-specific software.
But with the proper knowledge of the tools they can easily and precisely
accomplish all dental treatment simulations. Such programs, with
a trained person at the controls, are especially well suited to
creating realistic simulations.
Some doctors may be concerned with the lack of integration offered
by these programs; however, the amount of control offered by this
type of software far outweighs any perceived disadvantages. In fact,
if desired, it's actually possible with just a click of the mouse
to import each image created by these programs into the modern practice
management system's image database. In any case, these programs
can manage their own images with unbeatable ease.
Combining professional software and made for dentistry:
Learning to use a professional imaging program can be a daunting
task. Creating a meaningful smile library formatted to use for pasting
into simulations can be incredibly time consuming. For doctors who
want these capabilities and don't want the high cost of made for
dentistry progams, Digident has created Digital Dentist. Digital
Dentist is simply a fast track training system designed to teach
you how to use one of the most powerful image editing programs in
the industry today, Paint Shop Pro. Digital Dentist combines the
program with dental specific training and a library of ready-to-use
smile designs (The Lorin Library Digital Smile Designs) that is
simply the best in the industry. You can use the Smile Style Guide
as an index it to choose a specific smile design and then from the
digital version drag and drop single teeth as well as full smiles
into your simulations. This combination allows you to create simulations
with speed, accuracy, and realism.
Digital Dentist is virtually free if you consider the cost of the
digital library and Paint Shop Pro. It is less than one fourth the
cost of made for dentistry programs and costs only slightly more
than Adobe's PhotoShop program. It does not link to any practice
management programs and takes some time to learn all the tricks
and techniques. But in the end you will be rewarded with an imaging
system that will satisfy all your needs and more.
Digital Dentist is available only as a complete system which includes:
a written step-by-step training manual, a multimedia training CD,
the Lorin Library Smile Style Guide and Digital Smile Designs, unlimited
email support (sorry no phone support at this price!), and the professional
image editing software 'Paint Shop Pro", all for only $995!
Summary: If you want cosmetic computer imaging in your
office, you have 3 choices:
- Buy a "dental specific" system and pay $4000 or more for the
software. Your capabilities will be adequate for most practices.
You can add the Lorin Library to any of these programs.
- For those of you who know that professional graphics programs
do everything that "made for dentistry" programs do, buy a $50
to $600 graphics editing program. Then take the next two
years to create a smile library and learn how to use it. Take
the following year to teach it to your assistant. When she
leaves, start all over again.
- Consider Digital Dentist. Our system teaches you how to
use award winning professional graphics editing software in just
a few days! We have taken the time to learn all the ins
and outs of the program so you don't have to. Then, keep
all the training materials for you and your current and future
staff. Read more about how the Lorin
Library makes imaging with Digital Dentist easy!
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