Improving collaboration between a dental practice and a dental laboratory
Strategies and procedures for success to be achieved together
In the world of dentistry we know well that the collaboration between dental practices and dental laboratories is symbiotic: ensuring excellent care and fulfilling patients’ expectations are the common goals that, in the various phases, the dental professionals involved must pursue.
But how do you build a truly effective partnership? It is not just about dental instruments and new technologies, but about operational strategies, human relationships and clear communication.
Let’s find out together how to optimize this collaboration to improve quality, efficiency and satisfaction.
The importance of shared standard procedures for successful collaboration between dentist and dental technician
To avoid errors or misunderstandings, it is essential to define shared standard procedures that regulate each phase of the dental treatment to be carried out, from taking the dental impression to completing the dental treatment.
Let’s take for example the moment of collaboration for the creation of a crown:
- By agreeing together on how and when to exchange information, technical details and updates on dental treatment in progress, confusion, forgetfulness and loss of information are avoided: if professionals are aware that that moment is dedicated specifically to patient X, everything will be more defined and clear. Needless to say, all video call services come to your aid here, from Teams to Meetings, so you can talk about everything you need without having to leave your office.
- By creating shared checklists to ensure that all details are taken into consideration, such as the colour, shape and material of the dental treatment allows both parties to be continuously updated at all times, reducing the risk of error: there are many tools, even free ones, that can be used to create shared spaces on which to keep track of details, procedures and progress of the dental treatment. We would recommend Trello, a workspace shared with your collaborators, on which to keep track of projects and specific tasks.
- By setting realistic deadlines, you avoid delays that could affect patients and create tension with your collaborators: it is always better to be a little more generous and, in any case, to agree first with the professionals involved in the work, so that everyone is informed.
These simple procedures create a common way of working and communicating between dentists and technicians, or in general between dental professionals, reducing misunderstandings and bad feelings to a minimum.
Investing in human relationships
A relationship of trust between dentist and laboratory is the true heart of effective collaboration. Spend time building solid relationships based on:
- Clear and direct communication, so that honesty and transparency are always the basis. This helps you prevent problems and resolve them quickly.
- Constructive feedback, so that sharing opinions on the work delivered is essential to continuously improve.
- Professional empathy to understand the challenges of others’ work allows you to collaborate with greater understanding and respect with everyone.
In addition, organizing periodic meetings, even informal ones, can make a big difference in strengthening these bonds, think about it! 😉
The key is communication
Clear and effective communication is the back bone of any successful collaboration. Using digital tools can facilitate the exchange of information.
For optimal communication remember to:
- Always specify technical details accurately.
- Share photos or scans to avoid misunderstandings and simplify concepts.
- Keep an open channel for questions or clarifications in real time.
Continuous improvement strategies
Working together is an evolving process. Here are some ideas to constantly improve collaboration with the dental professionals you trust:
- Talk to each other: empathizing creates a bond that is also reflected in the professional relationship.
- Periodic evaluations: organize meetings to analyze the results of the work completed together and identify areas for improvement.
- Patient feedback: use patient opinions to refine work, collaboration and improve the service offered.
Create strategic alliances
Consider the work of other dental professionals with whom you collaborate as the most valuable strategic partner. Together you can work not only to manage daily needs, but also to plan broader projects, such as the adoption of new technologies or the expansion of the services offered.
True dental and dental technology collaboration
Optimizing the collaboration between the dental practice and the dental laboratory is not just a question of dental instruments, but of strategies, human relationships and effective communication. Investing in these areas means not only improving the quality of work, but also creating a more relaxed and productive professional environment.
“Dental Collaboration” is more than a word: it is the key to a future of shared success.
Trasforma il tuo approccio al lavoro e inizia a costruire partnership più forti e proficue con i tuoi collaboratori: i risultati non tarderanno ad arrivare!
