Neal Mehta, dentist and founder of Locumloop, explains how AI technology is a must-have for practices and clinicians looking to stay ahead of the game.
I qualified 10 years ago and started my own practice with my brother around eight years ago in Salisbury. We also became partners with my dad at his existing practice a few years ago, helping him with its management and expansion.
Clinically, I focus on orthodontics (Invisalign), general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and I also place implants.
I have been a foundation dentist (FD) trainer for six years and have always prided myself on the business side of dentistry. I strive to expand our knowledge and the services we provide.
When running the practices, especially in Salisbury, we faced recruitment issues, which led to the creation of Locumloop. Through this, we link dental nurses to dental practices to provide a cost-effective solution to staffing gaps in dentistry.
‘Gives you confidence’
Through my experience as an FD trainer, I have realised that diagnosing caries is something every FD struggles with – including myself when I was newly qualified!
You might think it’s such a basic skill. But when you look at an X-ray, you can often wonder, ‘Is that burnout? Is that decay?’ —especially at the beginning of your career.
I have always taken a lot of interest in this, particularly when training my FDs at the beginning. They’d often be keen to discuss topics like composite courses and other technical skills, but I insisted on starting with the basics, one of which is caries diagnosis.
Pearl software helps to diagnose this. Obviously you can’t rely on that solely as AI software is still learning but it can help to give you confidence. With this in mind, I don’t believe it deskills you.
Caries diagnosis can be quite subjective, even though it shouldn’t be. I tell my patients that I look clinically, then radiographically, and then double-check clinically again. There’s not an exact science to it, but AI gives you the confidence to diagnose, especially in those ‘question mark’ areas.
Another tool
It also provides patient confidence. Although I’m relatively new to using it in practice, it helps to show that you are a forward-thinking practice with the latest tech.
We’ve got our CBCT scanners and intraoral scanners – this is simply another tool. It helps to back up what you’re saying. And it significantly helps with that trust element of patient rapport too.
Similarly my company Locumloop helps practices survive by offering cost-effective solutions to recruitment issues, short staffing and gaps. It shifts away from that traditional agency model. Just as Locumloop represents a revolutionary platform in recruitment, Pearl represents a shift towards a new generation of diagnostics.
Better diagnosis
With this in mind, I think it’s important to invest in your practice and your clinicians. For example, we have all generally accepted that investing in CBCT scanners and intraoral scanners is crucial, as these technologies time and are cost efficient. Pearl is another example of good technological investment.
My nurse, who is also our treatment coordinator, also recently mentioned to me that just one additional composite filling would cover the monthly fee for Pearl!
Many dentists can be stuck in the dark ages. A bit like Locumloop, many of these innovative solutions are a simple concept that can save a practice a tonne of money. I don’t see Pearl as an outlay but as an investment. It helps you diagnose more accurately, and helps to retain dentists because they feel supported by advanced tools. Dental nurses also appreciate working in a forward-thinking practice.
There are many, many benefits and these feed into the ethos of my own practice too.
If you want to increase your revenue, you need to increase confidence of your patients. We’ve got to shake off this ‘old school’ mentality that some clinicians are stuck in. You want to always be ahead of the game.
For more information about AI solutions in dentistry, visit hellopearl.com.
This article is sponsored by Pearl.
