Jan Einfeldt advises that you are far more likely to get patients to accept a treatment plan if you involve them in the consultation process.
The Align Oral Health Suite offers a comprehensive portfolio of innovative digital tools. These not only help clinicians diagnose dental issues more accurately, but also help patients to better understand – and consent to – their treatments.
Dr Jan Einfeldt explored the benefits of harnessing this new application on the iTero Element 5D Plus imaging system in his presentation at the Digital and Implant Dentistry Show 2024 in London. He also showcased two case studies to demonstrate how he uses the scanner to secure treatment uptake, patient engagement and compliance.
He says: ‘People think an intraoral scanner is just taking digital impressions of the teeth. Yes, it is, but it is so much more than that. You will never get permission to carry out your proposed treatment unless your patient agrees with you. So, it all starts with patient visualisation, but there is so much more you can achieve by scanning every patient at every appointment. Be prepared for them to be amazed.’
Dr Jan Einfeldt’s top tips for getting the most out of the Align Oral Health Suite:
- Every appointment should start with a scan. It is going to be the gateway to opening up a discussion, diagnosis and case acceptance
- Patient engagement is key. Assess and discuss oral health issues and treatment options using the iTero digital scanner’s tools. Each scan is listed under the patient’s name with a choice of which area to focus on: overview, gum health, tooth health, alignment, and bite
- Accurately detect interproximal caries above the gingivae to aid your diagnostic workflow. Monitor any progression over time with iTero NIRI (near infra-red imaging) technology
- Take screenshots of scans and annotate them using the Align Oral Health Suite’s snapshot tool. You can then send them and scan report directly to patients as a follow-up after the appointment. These can also be easily saved to your patient’s file
- Compare scans before and after treatment from exactly the same angles and perspectives so your patients can clearly see the difference in their dentition
- Use visual information to help you etter explain dental issues and proposed treatment to patients.
To find out more about the Align Oral Health Suite, visit www.itero.com/en-gb.
