Dental Tribune Asia Pacific Edition

Dental TribuneAsia Pacific Edition | 12/201508 ness or to stay in touch with the dental community? Social media is a fantastic way to promote a business, but every dentist must be aware of the risk and most importantly be fa- miliar with the legal regulations. In most countries, patients’ rights are very strongly pro- tected by law. Practitioners will not be able to provide patient information, such as name, age and treatment details, online, let alone case photographs. Even if practitioners do have permis- sion from the patient, they can- not share case details online, not in health care. At least, it is illegal in Sweden. Whatshouldbetakenintoaccount then?What is your advice for prac- titioners? It is as simple as thinking be- fore publishing online. Dentists whoremainawareoftheirprofes- sional status at all times can use social media as a very powerful tool. But if dentists are not allowed to discuss cases and patients in par- ticular, what could they write about online? They should promote them- selves instead. Introduce them- selves (including their educa- tion), their practice and the staff. It is all about standing out from the crowd and showing some per- sonality. They could write about their travels to conferences, for example, send out Merry Christ- mas wishes, introduce new tools that they have bought for the practice;basically,itisaboutstay- ing in touch with patients. One does not have to post daily, but if one writes regularly, maybe once a week, it can be an excellent way to promote one’s business. Still one has to draw a definite line between one’s professional and private lives. One’s business page is not the place to discuss one’s children, one’s last holiday, or feelings or personal opinions regarding one’s patients. In so- cial media, just like with any professional doctor–patient re- lationship, it is all about defining boundaries and maintaining them. How should health care profes- sionals best respond when pa- tients cross these boundaries and write harmful comments online? I am sure some people choose to ignore these instead of con- fronting the writer. Personally, I would rather address the matter directly. However, I know many colleagues who rather not re- spond. From a legal point, it can be difficult to erase negative comments from Facebook or the Internet in general, so maybe it is best to settle the issue privately. But, as I said, people choose to deal with such situations in dif- ferent ways. In the US, many dentists publish dental news, research data and practice information on their per- sonal blogs too. Do you think Europe will follow that lead in the future? I do not necessarily like that approach, but I think Europe will eventually follow suit. Bloggers have already started to do just that and further changes towards an “Americanisation” of sorts can be expected. Thank you very much for the inter- view. WORLD NEWS www.idem-singapore.com STRIVING FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE Featured Speakers APRIL 8 - 10, 2016 Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Online Registration Now Open! IDEM Singapore 2016’s conference theme is built upon the common goal of all dentists – both general and specialist: Striving for Clinical Excellence. Look forward to world-class clinicians, researchers and educators discussing contemporary issues in the field of dentistry. Meet over 550 Exhibitors! Join the IDEM Singapore Trade Fair to meet over 550 internationally recognized manufacturers, distributors and traders. With exhibitors showcasing their latest products and services on levels 4 and 6, your visit will be packed with opportunities to strike new deals and re-enforce existing partnerships. Register online for your FREE exhibition entry. Ms. Cindy Tantarica Tel: +65 6500 6721 Fax: +65 6294 8403 idem-reg@koelnmesse.com.sg Ms. Cindy Tantarica Tel: +65 6500 6721 Fax: +65 6294 8403 idem-reg@koelnmesse.com.sg Robert Edwab, USA Treating Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office Endorsed By Singapore Dental Association Co-organizerHeld In In Co-operation WithSupported By Walter Dias, Germany Clinical Excellence in Aesthetic Restorations - Hybrid and Indirect Techniques Using Smart Composites Elif Keser, Turkey PiezocisionTM for Rapid Orthodontic Therapy: A Multi-disciplinary Team Approach Hien Ngo, Kuwait Chairperson of the Full Day Symposium: Towards the Post-Amalgam Era Ian Meyers, Australia Full Day Symposium: Towards the Post- Amalgam Era Shinya Murakami, Japan Cell to Cell Communcation: Oral Health and General Health – A Video Premiere Periodontal Regeneration: Present Status and Future Outlook AD “Dental topics are creeping into the lifestyle industry with people writing about orthodontic and aesthetic treatments to a large extent.” Tel: +6565006721 Fax: +6562948403 Tel: +6565006721 Fax: +6562948403

Dental Tribune Asia Pacific Edition

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