It’s the age of social media we see tons of photos every day. We see pictures of people, animals, vacation spots, and of course, food. Most of us have cameras on our phone, and it’s fun and satisfying to take pictures and see them instantly! Cameras have their practical purposes too, and dentists and orthodontists are using dental photos to raise the bar, and offer their patients superior care.
Dental Photography Increases Case Acceptance
Dental patients often have to be convinced that they need a certain treatment. Case acceptance is an ongoing topic and issue among dentists and orthodontists, and dental photography is an excellent way to increase yours.
When patients can actually see the same things that you do, it is easier for them to understand why they need a particular treatment. When a patient has an issue that doesn’t exhibit symptoms, it can be especially difficult to convince them they need treatment.
Showing them images of their mouths, and perhaps even comparing them to images of the desired outcome, allows them to truly be a part of the process. They don’t have to just take your word for it. Your commitment to them will strengthen their commitment to you, and help you retain your patients.
It’s important to continue taking pictures throughout the course of treatment. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as really seeing the progress of a particular treatment process.
Dental photography is an excellent way to develop and maintain rapport with your patients. Taking the time to photograph your patients, and to have the photos available to them, shows just how important their health and wellness is to you. It demonstrates to them them that you’re committed to steady improvement and ultimate success in their case.
How to Implement Dental Photography into Your Practice
Once you’ve committed to using dental photography, be sure to implement a plan to maintain the practice of photographing your patients.
Taking “before and after” pictures is common in some of the most successful offices, but if you really want to raise the bar and offer your patients superior care (and increase case acceptance!) it’s imperative to take photos at regular intervals throughout the treatment process.
Here are some tips for beginning and maintaining dental photography in your practice.
- Get the whole team on board. It’s great for the main doctor in charge to take the photos, but it gets busy! If your hygienists and dental assistants are properly trained and able to do the photography as well, your system has a better chance at succeeding, and ultimately improving your practice.
- Be sure you know how to use your camera. That sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s important to feel confident and efficient when you’re taking the pictures. Have some fun with it and practice! Make sure you know how to use the zoom feature, and turn the flash on and off. You want the process to be quick and easy, and for your patients to feel that you’re and capable, and that you know what you’re doing.
- Develop a storage system for the photos. You want to be able to retrieve them quickly, and have them accessible for your patients to see when they come in for appointments.
- Set the standard for accountability in taking the photos. It’s easy to let things slip through the cracks in a busy office. Be sure that the whole team is doing their part to keep the photography consistent. Set up a schedule with each patient and stick to it.
- Make the photographs count! They are meaningless without your expertise and explanations. Make the time to go over the photos with your patients, and answer any questions they might have. The whole purpose of dental photography is to offer superior service and care, so use the opportunity the photographs provide.
Dental photography is up and coming. I predict that it will be just as common and natural as taking x-rays someday. So get ahead of the curve and get started now!
If you’re looking for strategies to put your dental or orthodontics practice above the rest, contact us at ClearEdge Innovation today! We look forward to helping you make your practice professional, current, and profitable!