With inflation continuing to pressure overhead and staffing shortages persisting across healthcare, dental practices face a familiar challenge: do more with less.
The most successful practices are responding by adopting transformative technologies and streamlining workflows to maintain profitability and elevate patient care.
Technology Adoption Is Accelerating
Why Invest in Intraoral Scanners?
Improved Clinical Efficiency: Over 70% of dentists using intraoral scanners cite clinical efficiency as their top reason for adoption. Scanners streamline workflows by eliminating the need for physical impressions, reducing chair time, and speeding up diagnosis and treatment planning.
Enhanced Patient Experience: Patients prefer digital impressions due to reduced discomfort and faster appointments. Real-time 3D imaging allows dentists to visually explain treatment needs, which significantly boosts case acceptance rates.
Same-Day Dentistry: Intraoral scanners are key enablers of single-visit dentistry, especially for procedures like crowns. Studies show that two-thirds of patients would switch providers for same-day crown services.
Better Communication & Monitoring: Scanners support ongoing monitoring and visual communication, helping patients and clinicians track changes over time and collaborate more effectively on oral health goals.
Why Invest in 3D Printers?
Expanded Service Offerings: Practices can produce nightguards, surgical guides, temporaries, splints, and full models in-house. This not only adds revenue streams but also improves turnaround time and patient convenience.
Cost Savings & ROI: The cost to design and print a nightguard is under $40, and surgical guides can be printed in 30 minutes. These efficiencies translate to 75% reduced lab time and 38% faster procedures compared to analog methods.
Precision & Predictability: 3D printing delivers highly accurate restorations and appliances, improving clinical outcomes and reducing remakes or adjustments.
Rapid Adoption & Growth: While only 17% of practices currently use 3D printers, 67% of those adopters integrated them within the last two years, signaling rapid growth and increasing accessibility.
Combined Impact: When used together, intraoral scanners and 3D printers create a fully digital workflow that:
- Reduces reliance on external labs
- Enhances treatment speed and accuracy
- Improves patient satisfaction and loyalty
- Supports practice growth through better ROI and expanded capabilities
Budgeting for Growth: Dental CPAs still recommend allocating 3% of practice revenue annually toward small equipment investments. Practices that invest in technology are better positioned to offer same-day dentistry, personalized care, and faster turnaround—key differentiators in a competitive market. In addition, technology supports expansion by enabling consistent protocols, data-driven decisions, and scalable systems. Burkhart offers 0% APR for up to 12 months for certain equipment, making it easier to invest in essential upgrades without straining cash flow.
Support from Practice Support Team
As a Burkhart Supply Savings Guarantee or Platinum buying-level client, you have access to complimentary support from the Practice Support Team. We assist with:
- Technology integration
- Fee setting and coding
- Communication strategies
- Additional resources tailored to your goals
Reach out to us today to unlock your practice’s full potential.
Your success is our success. Please reach out to us anytime.
To learn more, visit the Practice Support Team page, email us at PracticeSupportTeam@BurkhartDental.com, or call 1.800.665.5323.
Category: Practice Consulting
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