Dentaltown August 2015 - (Page 14)
professional courtesy
column
Product Perfection
is Not Guaranteed
As we all know, the perfect dental product does
not exist. There are hundreds of new products introduced to the dental market each year and while some
are terrific, others are duds. As frustrating as this is,
"trial and error" is necessary for the advancement of
our profession. However, trial and error is also one
of the job gripes that dentists complain about the
most. We don't want to perform clinical tests on our
patients and we don't want to find out that a product
does not perform to its expectations after we've used
it hundreds of times. As an aside, this situation is not
always the fault of an inventor or manufacturer; one
of the most common reasons that a product does not
perform to expectations is failure to follow directions.
I believe first and foremost, every new product
comes to market with good intentions from the person or people who made it. They want the product
to be great, they want it to be successful and they
want to make your life as a dentist better. There is no
money to be made in a bad product. In fact, with the
cost of bringing a product to market, companies large
and small are on the hook to recover big development
costs before they can realize a dollar of profit. In
addition, the population of potential customers is relatively small so it is critical to get enough customers
to sustain the product in the long term. Occasionally,
you'll see a product you like disappear from the market because there are not enough people using it.
Why do we unknowingly use some products
when they are not ready for primetime? In short, this
is the price of progress. Major manufacturers perform
extensive testing prior to bringing
a product to market, but if every
new product went through five to
10 years of rigorous clinical testing
before making it to market, we
would probably pay five to 10 times
the cost and we would currently
be practicing with the new products of 2005. I don't
know many dentists who would want to go back 10
years. In essence, we make this bargain to use our
best judgment in choosing the right products for our
patients with the sincere hope that they will perform
as advertised.
Finally, in the spirit of the "golden rule," how do
you react when a product fails to meet expectations?
Is it the same way that you would want your patients
to react when their new incisal filling comes out six
months after placement or when you get a crown
from the lab and it doesn't fit? The reason that the
practice of dentistry is often referred to as an art and
a science is because things are not always perfect.
Treatment requires interpretation and choosing a new
product requires the eye of a scientist and the spirit of
an artist willing to try something new.
Three cheers for our colleagues who are on the
leading edge or the bleeding edge of new products
as they facilitate progress in the profession. I also tip
my hat to the manufacturers who listen to their customers' input during product development and who
gather feedback when the product is on the market.
And of course I'm thankful for Dentaltown.com, a
resource filled with candid conversations about products, where an honest opinion is never more than a
few clicks away. In fact, each year, we give our members the opportunity to vote for their favorite products on the Townie Choice Awards ballot. Voting
began July 6, and the winners will be announced in
the December issue of Dentaltown Magazine.
Do you have a favorite new product that was a
resounding success in your practice? Share your story
in the comments section attached to the digital version of this article online. If you have a question or
comment for a future column please send it to tom@
dentaltown.com. If you use Twitter, I can be found at
@ddsTom. ■
Comment on this article at Dentaltown.com/magazine.aspx.
by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine
14
AUGUST 2015 // dentaltown.com
http://www.Dentaltown.com
http://twitter.com/ddstom
http://www.Dentaltown.com/magazine.aspx
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown August 2015
On Dentaltown.com
HOWARD SPEAKS: Do You Need to Retire Your Views on Retirement?
PROFESSIONAL COURTESY: Product Perfection is Not Guaranteed
Continuing Education Update
The Chasolen Effect
Poll
5 Strategies for Maximizing New-Patient Referrals
Pediatric Dentistry, Parents, and Spoiled Kids
Finding the Hidden Treasure: Prevention = Treatment + Motivation + Compliance
The Three Dimensions of Endodontic CBCT: Treatment Planning, Patient Understanding and Referral Relationships
Implant Drivers and Driver Tips for Single-Torque Wrenches
Are the Top 1 Percent Safe?
Debt-Repayment Basics for Dentists
A Creative Approach to Retirement Funding
Diode Use in Orthodontic-Related Procedures
Thin Implants
Stick With It: A Systematic Approach for Bonding CAD/CAM Restorations
Product Profile: Uncomplicate Business
Establishing an Accounts Receivable System
Yoga for Dentists
Practice Solutions: Ivoclar Vivadent
Ad Index
Why Dentists Need to Be Mobile-Ready
Rehabilitation Case with CAD/CAM Design and Excellent Results
Industry News
Product Profi le: LocalMed
Dentally Incorrect
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