What Are the Benefits of Digital Records?
By Steven Kazley | Published on June 30, 2011 | 0 Comments
Selecting an orthodontist isn’t always easy. With a dozen or more orthodontists to choose from in most cities and towns, it can be difficult to determine which professionals are truly able to deliver the best results to their patients.
One thing that most experts recommend looking at when selecting an orthodontic practice is the technology that’s used. According to Rochester orthodontist Dr. Steven Kazley of Kazley Orthodontics, a number of new technologies and computerized programs have come out in recent years that are revolutionizing the way the professionals practice orthodontics.
Specifically, Dr. Kazley is an orthodontist in Rochester who uses digital patient images to improve the quality of treatment for all the patients he sees. Because the images at Dr. Kazley’s office are digitized, he is able to share those records with patients and transfer those records to other dental practitioners with ease.
Before patient records were in a digital format, Dr. Kazley says it was difficult to show a patient what the inside of his or her mouth looked like, for example, without bringing the patient into his office. Now, Dr. Kazley can show patients their records and x-rays right from their chairs.
Digital records also help foster a sense of collaboration and communication among orthodontic colleagues. Dr. Kazley uses the example of a recent meeting he attended with an oral surgeon and a prosthodontist, during which he was able to pull out his iPad and show a series of x-rays and photographs that had been taken of a patient’s mouth. This made it easier for all the dental practitioners to get on the same page with regard to the patient’s overall treatment plan, and will most likely lead to an improved outcome for this patient in the future.
Aside from digital records, Dr. Kazley says that another type of technology that has benefited the orthodontics professional is digital xrays. As a Rochester orthodontist, Dr. Kazley says it is important for him to be able to bring up x-rays quickly while working chair side with patients. Patients who have questions about how their treatment is progressing can see digital images taken inside their mouths, and they can compare those images to the ones taken before their treatment began.
Dr. Kazley says that one aspect that many parents of his patients are excited about is the reduced radiation in digital x-rays. With digital technology, x-rays taken today have less than half of the radiation as conventional x-rays from just five years ago. The radiation exposure for patients has been cut in half, which the Rochester orthodontist says is very important to patients and their families.
For more information on how digital technology is changing how orthodontists work, Dr. Kazley recommends contacting his office and scheduling a consultation.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.