The second edition of our Spotlight Series, where we sit down with our clients and talk to them about all things dental. This second piece in our series is with Dr. Paul Ward, Orthodontic Specialist and Partner at Thames Ditton and Redhill Orthodontic Practice.

The first edition of our Spotlight Series. We sit down with our clients and talk to them about all things dental. This first piece in our series is with Fern Hennessey, Practice Manager & Nurse at London Endo.

If you’re bogged down with slow processes that demand your insufficient attention, you can see fewer patients. These impact other parts of your business, too. From receptionists to back-office admin workers, support staff are less able to provide the white-glove service your customers demand. And you’re forced to rely on in-person, manual administration processes that are less and less appealing during the ongoing pandemic.

Patient satisfaction is the product of a number of factors: from appointment availability, to the ability and bedside manner of the dental practitioner. Digital transformation can also play a major role, improving access to treatments and making visits more efficient than previously thought possible.

You can't perform a root canal over Zoom. Cyberspace has its limitations, indeed, and dentists will always need to see patients in-person. But that doesn't mean dentistry is immune to the effects of digital transformation, which will play an essential role in the months and years to come, as surgeries learn how to limit interactions with patients, and more efficiently use scarce resources.

For years many industries have been slowly implementing their digital transformation strategies, but the pandemic quickened the pace for many sectors. Unfortunately, dentistry has lagged for the most part, but to survive the post-pandemic world now is the time to adapt and integrate these technologies.

What's your New Year's resolution? It's not just people who approach the New Year with a newfound spirit of renewal and self-improvement. It's also when businesses are looking at new ways to improve their operations and customer experience, applying new tools and technologies. This isn't entirely selfless. If your company's website isn't right, people won't use it.

Cloud computing sounds complicated, but it isn’t. In your day-to-day life, you’ve probably used some cloud services without even realising. You may choose to store your precious family photos on Dropbox, or use Google Docs to perform basic office tasks. But for small-to-medium businesses, it’s an entirely different kettle of fish. Ultimately, the cloud has three selling points: cost efficiency, flexibility, and reliability.

The origins of dentistry are, quite literally, prehistoric. But while the tools-of-the-trade have advanced, the way practices operate remains stuck in the past. The reality is that practice management shouldn't feel like pulling teeth.

Dentistry is not a profession for the faint of heart. I’m not just talking about the years of gruelling training, or the long days spent standing before patients, tackling cavities and root canals with laser precision. Nor am I referring to the constant need for professional training, and investment in hugely expensive practice equipment. I’m talking about everything else. You know: running a business.