Does keeping up with the latest technology affect the quality of patient care?
In response to January JADA’s Question of the Month, 55 percent of respondents said they think keeping up with the latest technology affects the quality of patient care.
Several respondents said doing so influences patient care in a positive manner. "Any improvement that makes the delivery of appropriate dental care more efficient and enjoyable can only result in better quality treatment," said one.
"You are doing your patients a disservice by not being as equipped as possible with the latest proven techniques and technologies," said another.
A number of respondents listed equipment and materials they say have helped patients in their practices. These include intraoral cameras, digital radiographs, centered diamond burs, electric handpieces, bonding agents and resin-based composites.
Two readers also said current computer technology is invaluable in their practices. "Computer information technology and the Internet mean quicker access to insurance information, more efficient use of chair time, no ‘lost charts’ and more efficient referrals with good letters, which in turn means increased patient confidence and case acceptance," said one.
Other respondents said they believe new technology and equipment have a negative impact on the quality of patient care. "Too much is pushed on us under the guise of being technologically sophisticated," said one. "Dentists are left with techniques that are far from good for everyone, while in the process, greatly increasing the costs of dentistry across the board."
"The high costs of technology force dentists to ‘sell’ complicated procedures when simple ones would suffice," said another reader.
Thirty-one percent of the Question of the Month respondents said keeping up with current technology does not affect patient care. Overall, 70 percent said that skills are more important than the tools used. "Keeping up with the latest technology will not make you a better dentist," said one. "You must perfect your skills first. It is the clinician using the technology that affects the quality of care."
"It’s not the gadgets, it’s the care," said another.
"In the end, technology is only an adjunct in providing clinical care," said Dr. Titus K.L. Schleyer, JADA associate editor for informatics and technology. "The biggest determinants of the quality of care still are the skills, knowledge and experience of the dentist."
The remaining 14 percent of readers said they were not sure if technology affects the quality of patient care. One summed it up this way: "If the dentist is less stressed due to the help of technology, perhaps the patients receive better patient care. If the dentist is more stressed due to financial burden, training staff, making practice function smoothly, then perhaps patients receive worse care."
