Mar 27, 2025 5 min read Archive

Implementing virtual patient monitoring

Are Americans brushing enough? A new survey finds that only a third of Americans brush twice a day, and plenty of people put off going to the dentist until they notice a problem.

We'll also look at where celebrity dentist Dr. Mario Montoya has opened a new practice with a partner in the music industry. But first: What will fluoride opposition look like for rural America?

Brighter smiles at home? Dental practices can help patients access professional whitening at home. Philips Zoom! Delivered was in the spotlight at Chicago Mid-Winter 2025.

New skills for dental hygienists. Dental hygienists can expand their careers and help patients with myofunctional disorders. Joy Lantz, RDH, shared how she explored career growth and earned a certificate in orofacial myology.

More precise full-arch implants. While intraoral scanning for single-tooth restorations is widely used, dentists face more challenges when it comes to full-arch implants. In Dentistry Today, three dentists dive into how intraoral photogrammetry can be used to achieve more precision in full-arch implant cases.

Millions in oral health innovation. The SMILE Health accelerator, a program that connects health care entrepreneurs and investors, is open for applications. The program, which is in its fourth year, allocated more than $400 million towards oral health innovation last year.

From rap to dentistry. Rapper Rick Ross is sinking his teeth into a new business venture, partnering with celebrity dentist Dr. Mario Montoya to open their first dentist office in the U.S.

'We've cut our waitlist in half and maintained a 65% referral start rate'

When Trotter Orthodontics in Georgia was facing a four-mouth waitlist, Paul Trotter, DMD, decided he needed to make a change in his practice. Rather than hire more staff, he decided to implement a virtual scan and monitoring system.

Dr. Trotter spoke with Dental Bite about adopting a virtual monitoring platform to help reduce patient wait times and build trust with them prior to treatment.

Patient waitlists can be a big challenge. When did you first realize you needed a new strategy to tackle that challenge in your practice?

I knew we had a problem when our new patient calls far outpaced our ability to schedule in-office exams. At one point, we had a four-month waitlist for new patient exams.

How did you adopt the virtual monitoring platform you use in your practice?
When we examined our new patient waitlist, we noticed many were children. Most of our pediatric patients were not ready for treatment at the time of referral. Rather than frustrating parents by scheduling appointments months in advance, our patients receive a Trotter Orthodontics Welcome Kit with a Grin Scope®, office swag and a video tutorial featuring my son and me.

After our patients get set up at home and complete their first scan, a dedicated team member who works remotely for us guides them through the process and reviews scans. I then create a video walking families through treatment plans and timing while setting expectations.

How have patients responded to this custom experience?
We have been overwhelmed with the positive response regarding scan completion; of the 262 patients invited to use Grin, 97.7% created accounts and 86.6% uploaded scans. Parents have shared how convenient the new process is, especially for our patients who aren’t ready for treatment. They appreciate saving time and avoiding unnecessary office appointments.

What are the biggest benefits you have seen?
We've cut our waitlist in half while maintaining a 65% referral start rate. Our customized patient onboarding experience has allowed us to free up in-office appointments, reduce unnecessary chair time and eliminate the need to hire more team members.

Current trends in America's oral health

Risas Dental and Braces released a survey of more than 2,000 people in the U.S. to better understand oral health care habits and trends. The America's Smile Report found that one in three Americans do not brush their teeth twice a day. Plus, 45% of people go to the dentist for a check-up every six months, while 20% of Americans hold off heading to the dentist until they have an issue.

Why it matters: Understanding how people approach their oral care and how often they see their dentists can help practices engage with their patients and find ways to address potential gaps in care. (Risas)

Streamlining dental staff operations

Dental practice front office staff might need a new hire, or they might need access to streamlined workflows. Paul Etchison, DDS, addresses the challenge of front office efficiency in an episode of the Dental Practice Heroes podcast. Adopting automated patient check-ins and other more efficient processes can ease administrative burden.

Why it matters: Dental practices want to support their front office team and improve efficiency. Looking at improving front office systems could help dentists achieve that goal without adding to payroll costs. (Dental Practice Heroes)

Is the time right for a new associate?

Are you thinking about bringing a new associate on board? Jason Wood, Esq., a partner with law firm Wood & Delgado, talks about how he advises his clients in a recent Dentaltown article. He asks dentists to think about annual revenue, the number of operatories in their practice, new patient acquisition and their plans for a new associate.

Why it matters: A new associate can be a significant benefit for a dental practice, but the timing has to be right. If the timing (and the associate) aren't right, dentists risk a stressful financial mistake. (Dental Town)