Dental News - ConnectDental: The need for speed

Robert Selleck / DTA

Mon. 27 November 2017

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At the 2017 Greater New York Dental Meeting, Henry Schein Dental hosted about a dozen members of the industry press Monday morning in the exhibit hall in a session billed as “Harnessing the power of digital technology.” Members of the Schein leadership team presented an overview of how the company is helping dental practices integrate digitized systems and tools to improve efficiencies and patient experiences in virtually every aspect of the business — from attracting and keeping patients, to delivering the best care possible.

Attendees also were encouraged to work hands-on with some of the company’s latest offerings in digital dentistry to gain a better understanding of how Henry Schein ConnectDental is responding to the needs of practices.

Just as the booth is set up for practitioners to work with the range of integrated instruments and systems, the booth featured various stations offering hands-on experiences with intraoral scanners, computer-aided design, in-office milling and workflow solutions.

Tim Sullivan, president, North American dental group, Henry Schein Dental, explains how practices can use digital integration to treat and retain more patients, while efficiently providing ‘wow-factor’ care. (Photo: Robert Selleck, DTA)

In 2018, the company’s ConnectDental platform will be branded under an over-arching theme of “The need for speed.”

According to Tim Sullivan, president, North American dental group, the phrase encompasses a core mission: “Focus on practice care so our customers (dentists) can focus on patient care.” The Henry Schein ConnectDental platform addresses the “speed” equation by enabling practices to grow, not by expanding business hours or cost-cutting — but by enabling practices to treat more patients, more effectively and more efficiently, from first contact through treatment and ongoing relationships.

John Cox, vice president, technology sales, said he likes to think of ConnectDental as a rocket booster. “It’s accelerating the pace at which (practices) can benefit from digital integration,” Cox said.

Listing the growing challenges facing practices in today’s market, Cox explained how ConnectDental is enabling practices to deliver a “wow-factor” in the patient experience through digital technology — and greater efficiencies through fully integrated digital workflow systems.

Also speaking was Alan Jurim, DDS, who is known as the “The Engineering Dentist,” in part because of his dual-degrees in computer systems engineering and electrical engineering earned prior to his DDS. Jurim outlined how he uses digital dentistry in his own practice, not to save money by not purchasing materials that digital tools have replaced but because “I want to get from point A to point B in the most systematic fashion for the benefit of the patient and the practice as well.”

He then guided attendees through his practice’s various steps of marketing, diagnoses, treatment planning, treatment, communication with labs and other care professionals, treatment results, follow-up and patient-retention — all seamlessly and digitally linked to achieve the best experience and results possible for the patient.

About a dozen representatives from the dental industry press learn about the Henry Schein ConnectDental platform and get some hands-on experience with various digital instruments during a session prior to the exhibit hall opening at the Greater New york Dental Meeting Monday morning. (Photo: Robert Selleck, DTA)

Alan Jurim, DDS, the ‘The Engineering Dentist,’ has fully integrated digital dentistry into every workflow within his practice. (Photo: Robert Selleck, DTA)