Dental practices and DSOs continue to adopt new strategies and technologies to enhance patient care. Among these innovations are full arch dental implants — an increasingly popular alternative to dentures for the millions of Americans who are experiencing tooth loss.
Thanks to technology advancements in the early 2000s, many dental professionals, including general dentists, now offer this service to patients and can perform the full arch dental implant procedure in a single day.
One important key to success with the full arch business model is partnering with the right dental laboratory. To learn more, Becker's Healthcare recently spoke with Daniel Galindo, DDS, chief clinical officer at Integrity Dental Services (IDS). Dr. Galindo shared how IDS is providing unique support to dental organizations' business operations, quality and manufacturing.
Unparalleled expertise + a unique service model for full arch implants
Today, patients can walk into a dental office, have a full arch dental implant placed and go home the same day with a permanent set of teeth. Dental laboratories play a central role in this process.
IDS works with dental practices and DSOs to ensure patients complete their treatment plans with the results they desire. This leads to high levels of patient and provider satisfaction.
The IDS team also has deep expertise with the full arch business model. Dr. Galindo, a practicing prosthodontist of more than 26 years, brings decades of dental laboratory industry knowledge to his role, the organization and IDS' partners. He joined IDS as chief clinical officer after a 16-year career at a dental implant center.
"I was hands-on with these procedures, handling three to five arches a day," Dr. Galindo said. "Our team members at IDS also understand the full arch dental implant process. They are at the forefront of innovation."
IDS assigns a dedicated designer to each dental office. That individual understands the practice's unique processes and preferences related to full arch prosthetics. Further, the designers work on the practice's time zone, so they are always available for questions and calls — a feature that has led to consistency in communication and implant production, Dr. Galindo said.
"Our designers develop a camaraderie with the dentists they work with," he said. "They have the history and background needed to follow up on topics discussed a week or a month ago. This enables Integrity Dental Services to provide results that have become the benchmark in the market."
At every step of the full arch prosthesis process, from design through production, IDS designers collect data sent by the dental office. IDS provides the dentist with a digital design to confirm that the information has been interpreted correctly. The initial prosthesis serves as a template for the definitive version.
Additionally, given Dr. Galindo's experience in the field, he is uniquely positioned to break down communication barriers that may exist between dental offices and the lab.
"I can talk with dentists about different processes that could achieve the desired results for the patient — this creates a much better flow for the case and a better experience for the offices working with us," he said.
Key differentiators: commitment to quality control + manufacturing partnerships
Developments in digital technologies have resulted in faster dental scanners, more accurate 3D printers for prosthetics and better resins that last longer.
"IDS has partnered with manufacturers to provide dentists with implant materials that are stronger, more natural looking and can be processed faster," Dr. Galindo said. "That reduces turnaround time for offices, impacts the way they schedule and improves patient flow. All our products are made in the U.S., and that's incredibly important to practices."
Further, IDS has adopted a quality control protocol that is followed in every case. The goal is to consistently deliver quality products, as well as ensure every full arch dental implant case looks as good as the previous one.
Meeting (and exceeding) patients' expectations
Full arch dental implants can help patients regain their confidence and sense of self. A dentist who works with IDS recently shared images of a patient's smile after their procedure was complete.
"The moment the final screw was tightened and the patient looked in the mirror, they felt like themselves again," Dr. Galindo said. "Their reaction was so positive. For those at IDS who work on the full arch cases, stories like this make their day."
You can learn more from Integrity Dental Services here.