Family Dentistry Mukilteo WA-Future of Dentistry
Dr. Onishi and Dr. Sarsfield of Harbour Place Dental, a quality family dentistry clinic in Mukilteo WA, make sure they are on top of the latest advances in the science and technology of family dentistry. The field of family dentistry, both preventive and restorative is changing rapidly bringing with it better, gentler and cleaner procedures and equipment. At Harbour Place Dental in Mukilteo WA we always are on top of new and emerging technologies that help make our patients’ experience more and more comfortable. We constantly keep ourselves abreast of new research and future technologies that are currently in development and likely to be introduced in dental clinics. Here in our Blog we will highlight some of those from time to time.
Today we bring to your attention a few of these innovative technologies and equipment that is software controlled and internet driven. Below are short excerpts but you can access more details in an article published in Dentistry Today which you can find at: http://www.dentistrytoday.com/technology-today/item/537-somebody-s-watching-me
The STATIM G4—as well as SciCan’s HYDRIM Instrument Washer
It is connected to the Internet and sends a message to a central service center if something has gone wrong. SciCan led the industry with this remote monitoring of dental equipment 2 years ago. There is a small computer inside each unit that monitors every cycle and records it. Some states require this record, so all you need to do is plug a USB drive into the unit and get a copy of the log. If there is a failure, not only does the service center get notified, but you get an email, text, or phone call (based on your preference). The service technician can then log into your unit, run diagnostics, and determine what’s wrong. When the service technician arrives at the practice, he or she can bring the needed parts, hopefully preventing the all-too-common second visit.
Planmeca Sovereign line:
Another company that is using a great deal of technology today in its equipment is Planmeca. We know of its top-of-the-line radiography products from the ProSensors to the ProMax 3D Cone Beam to the E4D, now renamed PlanScan, which is part of the Planmeca FIT integration. But you might not be as familiar with the Planmeca Sovereign line, an entire line of dental units, chairs, lights, etc, that are not only beautifully designed but have many ergonomic and functional features that are unique and integrated with software control and monitoring.
Planmeca’s chair design differs from most chair designs because its footrest area drops down to 90° so the patient is sitting upright as if in a comfortable chair. Aside from this being a better position in which to talk with the patient about treatment, it makes the chair extremely accessible for patients with ambulatory problems. The big thing though, from the technology standpoint, is connection to the Planmeca Romexis Clinic Management Software. It can be programmed to remember an operator’s chair setting for various procedures, and each operator has his or her own settings. It also monitors the unit’s functions in terms of use and wear; for example, the number of times it has moved, how long the lights have been on, and more. This information is displayed, and the software gives alerts not only of malfunctions but also to let the operator know the unit needs routine service. Also, since these units have self-contained water, treatment protocols and biologic monitoring are also being checked. In addition, all waterlines are monitored for proper biologic standards. And, as to be expected, there are multiple configurations for an office designer to choose from as well as other features too numerous to cover. More information is available at planmeca.com.
