Staying Ahead of the Technology Curve
Duplantis uses EyeSpecial C-III camera from Shofu Dental Corporation to easily capture quality clinical photographs
On the adoption curve in the "Diffusion of Innovations" theory, Chad Duplantis, DDS, considers himself an innovator or early adopter. Duplantis purchased his first digital scanner and milling machine in 2004 and has gone through several more since then.
"The majority of these tools really improved the way that I practiced dentistry," says Duplantis, co-owner of Fossil Creek Dental Partners in Fort Worth, Texas. "I constantly strive to learn more and better myself clinically through education, and it has worked for me. We have a successful practice, and we do things the right way. What we do is always in the best interest of the patient."
"Technology casts our practice in the light of being a leader on the cutting edge," Duplantis says. "From a business perspective, the ability to offer same-day restorations is a significant advantage because patients want same-day dentistry whenever possible. We have used it as a marketing tool, and our practice has grown as a result."
Duplantis asserts that because the patient experience typically begins with looking up the practice's contact information online, they expect the involvement of digital technology throughout the rest of the process-from filling out their information in the waiting room to digital radiography, caries detection, cancer screening, and every phase of restorative treatment.
"Technology permeates the entire profession and the whole patient experience," he says.
Of course, that includes photography. Duplantis notes that studies have shown that approximately 65% of people remember information that is presented visually, whereas only about 10% remember information that is presented orally.
"Photography is sometimes overlooked in dentistry, but it is a very integral part of our practice," he says. "Among all of our digital devices, we use our digital cameras the most-not only for our own purposes for restorative treatment, but also for sharing with our patients what we intend to do, what we can do, and what we have done."
Duplantis saw Shofu's EyeSpecial cameras in advertisements in Inside Dentistry and Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry. His interest was piqued because the EyeSpecial cameras seemed so simplistic despite being able to do what the digital SLR cameras and all of their extra components could do. One of his good friends had been telling him to purchase the EyeSpecial C-III, but it was not until they lectured together a few months ago and Duplantis saw the photography up close that he decided to get one.
"I saw the capabilities of the camera and thought, ‘I need to have this in my office,'" Duplantis says.
The EyeSpecial C-III is so intuitive that staff members at Duplantis's practice have been able to learn how to use it almost immediately.
"Technology has gotten to a point where some devices can take a month to learn how to use," he says. "Digital SLR cameras are not easy to learn how to use. It can take a really long time before the clinician feels comfortable with the quality of the images that team members are taking because there are so many components and ways that something can go wrong. I was looking for a camera that my staff and I could both feel comfortable with, and the EyeSpecial C-III really provides that."
The camera is packed with intuitive, cutting-edge functions tailored specifically for dentistry. There are eight preset modes that facilitate easy clinical photography.
"The majority of the photographs that we take are in ‘Standard' mode, but I have used every single mode," Duplantis says. "I find myself using the ‘Mirror' mode more often because the majority of the occlusal and buccal images that I take are reflections from a mirror, and it automatically inverts those images so they are in the correct relation."
"I am also absolutely fascinated with the ‘Isolate Shade' mode, which blocks out the soft tissues by turning them gray," Duplantis says. "I work with really skilled laboratory technicians who are very particular about how they receive shade information, and they were blown away by the quality of the images from the ‘Isolate Shade' mode. In addition, when I use these modes, the camera saves a standard version of each photograph as well."
Like much of the technology in his office, the EyeSpecial C-III has improved the way that Duplantis and his team practice.
"I have found something that my staff is completely on board with, and that is key," he says. "It did not take a few days; it was instant. We use the EyeSpecial C-III every single day because it is so lightweight, portable, user-friendly, and intuitive. It was worth every penny, and I don't know why I didn't purchase it sooner."
Manufacturer Information
Shofu Dental Corporation
shofu.com • 800-827-4638
