What Is Driving The Technological Upheaval And How Is Technology Going To Effect Your Dental Career?

-The technological advancements are  due to:

• cheap high performance PCs.
• development of information science.
• cheap data storage.
• enhanced telecommunications.
• simple and affordable networking (easy to install and maintain).
• ability to digitize information into an electronic form (scanner technology).
• Internet use is ubiquitous.

-The development and integration of these technologies allows for decision making answers to be obtained from all aspects of information available within and outside of the dental office.  

-Technology is here to stay.   Computer skills will provide far reaching opportunities for improving all aspects of the predoctoral curriculum and all aspects of Dentistry after graduation.

-Technology is expensive, time consuming and can be disruptive.

-Technology will aid in communication with patients, aid in delivering clinical services more effectively and help in developing better patient-dentist relationships.

-Technology can lower practice overhead by automating routine tasks--appointment reminders, monitoring practice finances and monitoring supplies.