If you’re considering a future as a dental assistant, your ability to spot trends within the dental industry will help you to become an invaluable member of any dental practice. Today, advancements in technology and changes within the healthcare market have both been influential in shaping the trends affecting the dental industry. What’s more, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer preferences have largely altered the approach of dental practices to the patient experience, something that will be seen in more dental offices going forward.
After completing your dental assistant training at Medix College, you’ll be qualified to pursue a career as a dental assistant, educating patients about oral hygiene and supporting dentists in performing a variety of procedures. Below, discover a few dental industry trends which you can expect to see throughout your career.
3D Dental Printing is Making a Splash
3D printing technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in many different industries, offering advantages for more than just engineering or design professionals. Many dental products can be printed quickly and accurately using 3D technology, including clear teeth aligners, dental models, dentures, dental crown substructures, resins and surgical guides. While many dental practices have traditionally contracted third-party services for their 3D needs, today, more dental offices are adopting their own 3D printing materials. As these products become more affordable, you’re likely to see an influx of 3D printing technology after dental assistant training.
After Dental Assistant College, You’ll See a Growing Demand for Natural Dental Products
Given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have become increasingly health-conscious. Within the dental industry, this has led to a demand for natural dental products. Examples include oral health supplements, sugar and artificial additive-free toothpaste, oral probiotics, herbal mouthwash and bamboo toothbrushes. As more consumers will be likely to choose dental practices which rise to meet this demand and adopt the use of environmentally friendly products and practices, it’s important that dental offices can adapt in the future.
Digital Marketing Will Become More Important
When you’re looking for a restaurant, do you check their Google rating and reviews first? Today, more dental practices are finding that this is how patients are making a decision about their dentist as well. As more consumers put their trust in online reviews and an organization’s online presence, dental practices are beginning to invest in digital marketing, boosting their social media efforts and outreach methods. After completing dental assistant college, it’s likely that you’ll see more dental offices monitoring the reviews that patients leave, and investing in marketing technology to reach their target audience.
A Focus on the Patient Experience Will Be Noticeable
One industry trend that appears to be here for good is the increased attention that dental offices are giving to the patient experience. As consumers become more health-conscious, they’re likely to prioritize dental offices which provide a cleaner and more comfortable environment. Anxiety surrounding dental procedures also plays a role, and more dental practices are striving to accommodate the needs of patients through the installation of televisions near the dentist’s chair, sedation dentistry and even virtual reality technology. In the future, it’s likely that the dental practices which invest in their patient’s comfort will be the most successful.
Automation Will Affect Patient Management Systems
Communicating with dental patients used to take place exclusively over the phone. However, more options for automated patient outreach are becoming integrated within the dental industry. As technology advances, more dental practices are adopting chatbots which help patients to make appointments, find answers to questions or leave a message for someone. Additionally, more dental practices are using software to remind patients about upcoming appointments. As this automated technology becomes more commonplace, it’s likely that this trend is here to stay within the dental industry.
Are you considering dental assistant school?
Start training with a program at Medix College today!
