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It’s no secret this is a time of transition in dentistry. Macro trends like the rise of DSOs, ever-morphing technological innovation, and the shifting shape of insurance rules have injected a healthy dose of chaos into the dental equation.
With so much uncertainty in the profession, many practice owners are seeking assurance for their businesses. Fortunately, there is a segment of the profession that’s not just holding steady, but growing by leaps and bounds—implant dentistry.
Here are some numbers to consider:
• 35 million Americans1 are missing all their teeth in one or both jaws.
• 120 million Americans1 are missing at least one tooth.
• 76 million baby boomers2 with aging teeth are looking to enjoy their retirement.
All of it adds up to a vast reservoir of untapped opportunity for the profession. Already a more than a $4 billion dollar marketplace, implant dentistry is expected to continue growing at a compound annual rate of 4.6% reaching $6 billion by 20223.
As you already know, dental implants can be a lucrative addition to your practice. While prices can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, implant procedures can run anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 or more (based on personal observations). Setting aside the financial ramifications for a moment, for practices not providing implant services, the decision to do so can have profound benefits.
Most dentists (and business owners) pay close attention to their financial bank account. Deposits, withdrawals and fees are monitored to track progress and avoid being overdrawn. What many practices frequently overlook is the emotional bank account. Dentistry is a profession of compassion. Helping people solve and avoid problems is what dentistry is about. Still, even the most compassionate professional can become burned out when performing the same procedures over and over.
Implant dentistry can be challenging and rewarding. It can force many general practitioners out of their comfort zone in a good way. It can force them to look at patients and cases in a new way. Doing so can help the dental professional start stockpiling some emotional goodwill in their emotional bank account. What’s nice is that this kind of professional growth doesn’t just benefit the dentist but the whole of his or her staff. Enthusiasm is contagious and it will be picked up by the entire staff. Not to mention that curiosity and lifelong learning is an approach to living life consciously and deliberately.
While most dental professionals received some degree of implant training in dental school, it makes sense to jump into several CE courses before starting. Not only to refresh your knowledge and technique, but also because of the tremendous technological advancements that have occurred in recent years.
It also makes sense to maintain your existing referral relationships. Remember that not all implant cases are created equal and you are going to get challenging cases that would be better handled by an oral surgeon, periodontist or prosthodontist. And always remember that referrals go both ways. Start simple and go slowly.
Implant dentistry can be a rewarding way for a practice to expand its scope of service and clinicians to reignite their passion for the profession and energize their staff. At Implant Direct, one of the professions most trusted Implant Producers, we are committed to increasing access to implant procedures by making high-quality systems at an inclusive price point. We are committed to developing the training protocols to mainstream implantology. And we are committed to developing the educational and research platforms to keep improving outcomes. In short, we are committed to delivering on the promise of implantology for everyone that still needs our help. We are Implant Direct and are dedicated to the curators, creators and keepers of smiles everywhere.
1: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db197.htm
2: https://www.prb.org/justhowmanybabyboomersarethere/
3: “Dental Implants Market Research Report- Global Forecast to 2022” ID: MRFR/DM/2037-CRR | April, 2017 | Region: Global | 93 pages | Cooked Research Reports
Written by Mike Van Ostren
Director of Special Markets
Implant Direct
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