Innovation Is Essential

– By Dr Nav Ropra.

If you are able to provide new patients with new solutions, which meets new needs, or existing patients with new options, then you are being innovative. Your products, services, ideas and technologies become more effective in serving the needs of the market, as innovation requires you to do things differently rather than do them the same.

When the first fillings were placed inside peoples teeth this was innovative as it offered a new solution to a problem. Over the centuries progressive innovations have been made in all aspects of dentistry.

Teeth are becoming more and more important in todays times as people are living longer and expectations are increasing.  People’s smiles are important as the increase in social media and use of high technology camera phones, photographs are becoming more widely used for connecting people.  With the advancements in dental technology, what seemed to be a luxury 20 years ago is now becoming normal as complicated treatments, are becoming more and more like routine procedures.

 ‘Over the centuries progressive innovations have been made in all aspects of dentistry.’

For innovative growth to occur, it is essential that dentistry is thinking outside of the box. New advances in stem cell research in particular will revolutionise how dentistry will be practicesd in decades to come.  Just think of how much of what we know will become obsolete if the complete replacement of a tooth with another live tooth will one day become normal practice.

 ‘For innovative growth to occur, it is essential that dentistry is thinking outside of the box.’

Its not only up to those who do the research and spend years on fine tuning ideas for innovation to occur.  It’s also the dental practitioner’s responsibility who is at the forefront of coming up with new ideas and concepts when treating patients on a daily basis.

So how can we be more innovative in practice?  One way is to have 30 minutes in the day at work where all you do is for work out new ways of finding new solutions.

It may be small things like outsourcing your telephone system, or it may be getting past the fear of buying a new piece of equipment in order to enhance the quality of care to patients. Take some time to work out a new solution by innovating.

‘It’s also the dental practitioner’s responsibility who is at the forefront of coming up with new ideas and concepts when treating patients on a daily basis.’

If it doesn’t work, learn from your experience and try again.  Never give up on being innovative as innovation is essential for the growth of the individual, and of the profession.