The year 2000! Sounds impressive and futuristic. And it is probably both. But to most dentists, the year 2000 will bring more trepidation, fear and loathing. After all, how can one cope with Internet speed when the majority of their own profession hasn’t moved past 1960!

Some statistics to ponder:

1. Approaching 200,000 practicing dentists in the next 2 years in the USA.

2. Most research and development is taking place outside the USA.

3. The latest numbers show that 60% to 70% use a computer in their offices (mostly for rudimentary back office record keeping).

4. Less than 20% have tried to incorporate a computer in the operatory for clinical applications.

5. Less than 40% have a digital camera.

6. About 10% of offices have digital radiographic capabilities.

7. About 20% of all dentists are connected to the web (mostly at home).

8. Less than 5% use electronic claims processing.

9. Less than 1% of offices have a web site.

10. The largest number of simple restorative procedures in the USA is still dedicated to mercury fillings.

It is not the statistics of a truly progressive profession. But, there is a core group of dentists who are not afraid of change and are dedicating themselves to move beyond mediocrity-for themselves and their patients. These are the true pioneers of the year 2000.

And what of the majority of dentists? Is it a lack of desire, knowledge or money keeping them back? Is it fear of change or fear of the unknown? Or is it the corporate insurance giant controlling their every move? Maybe a little of all of the above.

And maybe, just maybe, some of these trailing dentists see more than the progressives. Maybe they see a serious problem with the burgeoning technological advances hitting our profession. The lack of true integration, the enormously high costs of obtaining this technology (when compared to real costs of the same technology outside of dentistry). The problems associated with ergonomics, trying to fit the operatory to the technology instead of the technology fitting the operatory.

Maybe investing $150,000 to $200,000 to go "high tech" is a little like mortgaging the farm in the middle of a two-year drought. Maybe the problems of hardware crashes, software glitches, upgrade nightmares and backup losses are not worth the effort and surely not worth the costs. Add to that the inferior support from even the largest manufacturers and you have a lot of reasons not to jump into the fray.

The adoption of new technology should be based upon certain criteria, among other things, the following:

1. Does it perform the task better and more efficiently.

2. Does it raise the standard of care

3. Is it cost-effective, does it save money

4. Is it safe

5. Is it state-of-the-art or just repackaged junk

6. Is it easy to use and incorporate into the office setting

7. Will it be upgraded periodically by the selling company-free or at some charge.

Personally, I am in that small percentage of offices trying to incorporate "high-tech" into my practice. We try to use software to do everything, from business reports to electronic claims to clinical data gathering and storage.

We try to do everything in a digital environment; pictures, radiographs, treatment notes; everything. Unfortunately, to do this with today’s technology is time-consuming and expensive. It will not save you money; it will lose you money. And the headaches and problems are yours and yours alone.

The myriad of different software programs and hardware platforms needed to get into this "high-tech" environment is maddening, not to mention very expensive. And once all this junk is paid for, it’s now obsolete! (Actually, with regards to Internet time, it’s obsolete in 6 months!)

So, what do you do? Some are jumping in head first. Some are taking the wait and see attitude. Some say, "don’t be first and don’t be last". Others say, "to the early bird goes the worm". I think there is hope on the horizon for everyone. The thinking is starting to move from "let’s apply this piece of technology to dentistry" to "let’s develop technology exclusively for dentists". And in this issue, we will cover these trends which most "high tech" dentists haven’t heard about.

As you read this SPRING ISSUE 2000 of the NewsJournal, remember, "high tech" for the dental office must fit the dental office not the other way around. It must save you money by letting you work and produce more with fewer staff. It must give you access to the newest research and information instantly.

In a word it must help you BECOME A BETTER, MORE PROFITABLE DENTIST. And you don’t get profitable paying $170,000. over five years for unintegrated, antiquated technology.