How to create the perfect dialogue from Dental Practice to Dental Lab
By: Kuwata Pan Dent
Tags: Dentistry, Dental Care, Dentist, Business Strategy, Dental

Visit your lab, understand their process.

Attending to a patient’s needs must be done as a multidisciplinary team, involving different group members working as a whole. This team must perfectly integrate both the dentists and the laboratory technicians to achieve the best results possible.

However, communication problems between the lab and the dental office are a pretty common issue. Moreover, this can lead to undesired case results and even end the working relationship between both parts.

Therefore, finding ways to improve communication from the lab to the dental office is vital to ensure a lasting relationship with outstanding case results.

This article will discuss a few strategies to improve communication from the lab to the dental office.

Ask the Patient, The RIGHT Questions

Many potential issues that one may incur within the restoration generally happen in the initial meeting of the clinician and patient.

We must first understand what the patient is asking of us before we help them in any way. Suppose we are missing the necessary information that is important to the patient specifically.

No matter how much experience a lab may possess, they have no chance of completing a successful restoration.

Meet your extended team

Meet and create a dialogue with the technicians handling your cases.

First, a good relationship must contain a solid foundation. Communication is the main component that will make this relationship thrive.

However, communication only via paper orders, with the specifications of the case, is usually not enough. Thus, although this method might seem practical and straightforward, it cannot forge a sustainable workflow. Instead, it leaves many blank information holes that could create a domino effect, increasing the risk of a potential remake.

Thus, it is vital to take it a few steps further to achieve better communication that will translate into better understanding. Visit your local lab if possible, and establish a dialogue that will be conducive to everyones success.

Offer a Digital onboarding process

A Clinician Portal makes life easy for your network.

Onboarding is how the laboratory supplies the dental practitioners with all the information regarding the technology, equipment, and materials used by the technicians. Then, it allows them to ask the questions they might need to in order to clear any doubt before starting a partnership.

Throughout this onboarding process, the dentists can get to know the personnel working at the laboratory, helping them settle down work expectations, and giving them a better understanding of the workflow in the laboratory.

Moreover, digital lab technicians can take the opportunity to explain to the dentists what types of hardware and software they use and their specifications, making sure the equipment in the dental office is compatible with the one at the laboratory.

An onboarding process will make the dentists feel welcomed and as a part of the laboratory team. In addition, it will make them more receptive and open to suggestions regarding the case, setting the foundation for improved communication.

Never stop asking questions

Asking questions is mutually beneficial.

Not every case is the same, and some might require more information than others to achieve an optimal result. Moreover, leaving things unsaid creates a big opening to errors.

Hence, it is vital not to hesitate to ask for any additional information necessary in the work order, such as photos for a better assessment of the aesthetics, full-arch impressions, and detailed waxed models.

Moreover, any doubt regarding a case should be spoken directly with the dentist before starting the work. A constant flow of information between both parts will enhance the communication and the quality of the work.

Ask to be included in the initial phase of complex cases.

Technicians offer a perspective with endless value, utilize their skill.

The more complex the case, the more quality control it will require. Complex cases should fall within a multidisciplinary team that will ensure success in their respective fields of expertise.

Asking to be included in the initial planning phase allows the technician to give their perspective and make suggestions regarding the material alternatives, possible aesthetic outcome, and any other variables that may affect their doing so.

Therefore, ensuring every team member is on the same page while preventing any possible misunderstanding and disagreement in the laboratory phases.

Use digital technology

The better the dialogue, the better the result.

Digital technology not only eases the work of dentists and gives more options to the laboratory, but it also improves the quality of the communication between them.

These technologies allow to efficiently deliver a vast amount of information between them in real-time. Furthermore, it allows them to collaborate even closer while exchanging more precise feedback regarding the case.

Moreover, CAD systems allow the dentist and laboratory to better understand and overview the resulting product before being milled or crafted, letting them communicate about every suggestion before even obtaining the final restoration.

Lastly, digital technologies smooth the communication process by enhancing the quality of the information delivered from both parts and allowing quick back-to-back responses.

Teamwork, makes the dream work.

Good communication from the laboratory to the dental office is an essential factor in delivering high-quality restorations. Although digital dentistry dramatically enhances the communication between both parties, it is vital not to overlook the human aspect.

Consequently, making the dentists feel like a member of the laboratory team helps them achieve a better overview of the workflow and improve understanding and communication, resulting in a lasting laboratory-dental office relationship.

REFERENCES:

JanJolly. Improve communication with your dental lab. First Choice Dental Lab. https://firstchoicelab.com/dental-lab-communication/. Published April 1, 2021. Accessed September 23, 2021.

Backer. Top ways for a better communication Between dentists and DENTAL LABS. Backer Dental. https://backerdentallab.com/top-ways-for-a-better-communication-between-dentists-and-dental-labs/. Published October 18, 2018. Accessed September 23, 2021.

3 tips for improving communication between DENTAL labs and dentists. Sun Dental Labs. https://www.sundentallabs.com/3-tips-for-improving-communication-between-dental-labs-and-dentists/. Published January 5, 2016. Accessed September 23, 2021.

Tulbah H, AlHamdan E, AlQahtani A, AlShahrani A, AlShaye M. Quality of communication between dentists and dental LABORATORY technicians for Fixed prosthodontics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Dental Journal. 2017;29(3):111–116. Doi:10.1016/j.sdentj.2017.05.002

Christensen GJ. Improving DENTIST-TECHNICIAN interaction and communication. The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2009;140(4):475–478. Doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2009.0199

Written By: Alfonzo Smith

Medically Reviewed By: Yukio Otsubo, CDT