Australasian Dentist Magazine Sept-Oct 2021

Category 34 Australasian Dentist n ws C ollaborative dentistry is a priority for Dr Rick Iskandar, ambassador for Philips Oral Healthcare and principal dentist at Tailored Teeth in Sydney. With a combination of digital dentistry and preventative education, including personal empowerment of his patients in his local practice, Dr Rick shares his opinion on how the industry can use collaborative dentistry to deliver better overall oral health outcomes and experiences for patients in the future. What first comes to mind when reflecting on collaborative dentistry is its relatively recent enablement by the expansion of digital technologies to facilitate diagnosis and patient communication. In my clinic, I have focused on building collaborative relationships with patients, labs, and colleagues using these technologies to deliver better outcomes and increase predictability of the treatments we offer. The technical evolution migrates from healthcare to dentalcare As an industry, seeking out digital solutions that support accurate diagnosis and predictable treatment is part of our own evolution and adaptability to the ever-changing digital environment we live in. Healthcare leaders expect an increased need to invest in predictive healthcare technologies, growing from 36% currently to 77% in the next three years, ahead of telehealth (39%) and digital health records (34%), according to the recently published 21021 Philips Future Health Index. Collaborative dentistry is our future In dentistry, emerging digital technologies are adopted to varying degrees, however, the unprecedented level of information we can acquire and present to patients through the application of digital dental photography, 3D scanning and predictive simulation provides a high level of personal care and transparency that allows patients to ‘get onboard’ and become an involved and accountable party to the management of their dental health. This is a compelling reason to consider technological advancements we can integrate into our practice to provide a better level of care for our patients. Education drives lifelong commitment to one’s health Keeping a smile for life was not only this year’s Dental Health Week message, but the core principle I have built my practice around. Empowering patients and setting them on the path of personal accountability for preventative oral health management through education supports a holistic view of contributing to overall health outcomes for all Australians for life. Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015-2024 is a good example of how the government recognises the role of education to help Australians make informed decisions, offering a strategy over the next 10 years to improve the oral health of all Australians. A favourable visiting pattern with one’s dentist is personalised and dependent on the needs of the patient, as highlighted in the National Oral Health Plan, and is associated with better oral health. These visits provide an opportunity for dentists to work with their patients to clearly communicate to them their unique challenges and risk factors, remove existing disease and embed healthier habits. Dr Rick Iskandar The personalisation of the service changes the conversation from the generic, “You have gum disease, you need a deep clean and brush twice and floss once a day,” to “Mrs Smith, this is a digital scan of your mouth, have a look at the gum on the inside of those bottom back teeth, can you see how red it is? We measured the gum there and noticed the start of gum disease. The good news is we can stop it getting worse and help you keep those teeth working without pain with some simple treatment and just a couple of changes to your home care routine, how does that sound to you?.” This scenario also presents a great By Dr Rick Iskandar for Philips Oral Healthcare