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ePaper created 2016-10-12, 10:31:46 | version 1.38.0
27 3 2016 laser practice management | ments,acceptrecommendedcareandhenceallowto build up positive clientele. Laser indications in dentistry Medicinebegantointegratelasersinthemid-1970s forsofttissueprocedures.Thefirstlaserspecificallyfor dental use was a neodymium-doped yttrium alumin- ium garnet developed in 1987 and approved by the FoodandDrugAdministrationin1990.4 Benefits – – Less thermal necrosis of adjacent tissues is pro- duced with lasers than with electrosurgical instru- ments.5, 6 – – Haemostasis can be obtained without the need for sutures in most cases.7, 8 – – Little or no local anaesthesia is required for most soft tissue treatments.9–13 – – Reduced operator chair time has been observed when soft tissue procedures have been completed using lasers. – – Lasers feature decontaminating and bactericidal properties on tissues, requiring less prescriptions of antibiotics post operatively.9, 10 – – Lasers provide relief from pain and inflammation associated with aphthous ulcers and herpetic le- sions without pharmacological intervention.13 – – Erbium lasers can remove caries effectively with minimal involvement of the surrounding tooth structure because caries-affected tissue has a higher water content than healthy tissue.5, 7 – – As erbium lasers have no direct contact with hard tissue, the vibratory effects of conventional high speed handpieces are eliminated, allowing tooth preparationstobecomfortable.Asaconsequence, anxiety in both children and adolescents is re- duced.9, 11, 14, 15 Lasers and profits in dentistry Lasers allow the dental practice to balance well between business and dentistry. Offices that in corporate lasers in their practice have a unique psychological and promotional advantage over those who fail short to offer such services. Lasers are definitely the foundation of creating a refer- ral-based practice.16 Benefitsthataddtothepracticearealwaysimport- ant, but how actually does one convince oneself to accept the resulting expenses for the practice. Usu- ally, lasers are considered high investments and any highinvestmentmustprovereasonableenoughtobe accommodated in the practice. Return on invest- mentswithlaserscanbeeasilypre-calculated.Ingen- eral,lasertreatmentscancost35to40percentmore than the usual appliance, this calculation done for a return period of two to three years can yield on the investment. Mathematics in pedonomics Theintroductionoflasersintothepracticeshould be made in an orderly and precalculated manner. Proper financial planning will help ensure the suc- cessfulintroductionoflaserandhelptoyielditsben- efitsbetter.Calculationofeconomicsusedinpaedi- atric dentistry and thus making decisions in favour of economic benefits to the practice are the basis of pedonomics. The concept of pedonomics and the time-economics model are based upon the profit- ability per unit of chair time which is the most im- portant factor in determining the financial future of the practice. Pedonomics work on the presumption that the profit matters, not the income.16 Laser costs Cost is the primary determinant in any acquisition. In the most common manner, it is defined as the amount or equivalent paid or charged for something. It is termed as price in the economic language. An- otherimportantfactorhereistheopportunitycost.It istheaddedcostofusingresources(asforproduction or speculative investment) forms the difference be- tween the actual value resulting of using this oppor- tunity and that of its alternative. Opportunity costs is a major determinant as it de- scribes the following: 1. Cost of the acquisition of a laser. 2. Costsincurredwhennothavingthelaser,whichin- clude: loss of income due to loss of high-end, cut- ting edge dentistry, loss of referrals. The final decision to purchase is worked out after looking at both financial and the opportunity costs.16 Laser as a profit centre Therearemanywaysthatcanhelpuscalculatethe profits based on Laser procedures. In any private practice, time is money. This can be best determined on the basis of the average hourly income. There should be a certain specific amount that needs to be earned per hour that can keep the practice flourish- ing.Apartfromthisbasicincome,anyadditionalabil- ity to perform the procedure more efficiently means extra income. The average amount of one hour chair time should be able to yield approximately 500– 750 US Dollars. This is not the fixed amount but an Laser Filling Conventional Filling One Surface 785 577 Two Surface 895 706 Three Surface 976 784 More than three surface 1082 847 Table 1: Number of patients treated with laser vs. conventional approach. Table 1 32016 One Surface 785577 Two Surface 895706 Three Surface 976784 More than three surface 1082847