DENTAL LEARNING www.dentallearning.

net
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VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3
SoproCARE Prophylaxis Camera:
Improved Patient Communication Leads
to So Much More
Todd Snyder, DDS
I
t is wonderful to watch the rapid evolution of technolo-
gy within dentistry that enables dentists and their staff to
be far more productive than ever and provide better care
for their patients. The ideal technology should begin with
improved patient communication, which then leads to many
other clinical opportunities for both clinicians and patients.
The SoproCARE prophylaxis camera (ACTEON North
America, Mount Laurel, NJ) is a perfect example of this
type of technology; it improves patient communication by
allowing patients to see the problem at hand so they can
better understand the diagnosis, treatment options, and
cost of care.
SoproCARE is the most recent innovation to SOPROs
dental imaging system and diagnosis tool that started with
the SoproLIFE in 2010. Using autouorescence and chro-
matic amplication to reveal caries, dental plaque, and tar-
tar, SoproCARE is the only product on the market to reveal
gingival inammation in real time.
Improved Patient Communication
SoproCARE allows dentists, hygienists, or assistants to
capture a thorough and rapid assessment of a patients oral
health by implementing 3 clinical modes:
1. PERIO Mode: Highlights dental plaque and gingi-
val inammation, even at the earliest stages (Figure 1).
Clinicians see and show patients where the lack of proper
dental hygiene is, which creates the need for more involved
in-ofce periodontal therapy. The system can highlight and
reinforce a patients need for additional attention or tools to
better manage the condition at home.
2. CARIO Mode: Helps detect enamo-dentinal caries
easily (Figure 2), from stage 1 (code ICDAS II), so that mini-
mally invasive dental care can be performed to maintain as
much of the tooth as possible.
3. DAYLIGHT Mode: Macrovision makes imperceptible
aws visible and allows clinicians to watch the stability of
microlesions and their evolution (Figure 3).
This improved patient communication leads to all the
ways SoproCARE can benet a dental practiceincreased
case acceptance, early diagnosis, less invasive treatment
Figure 1. PERIO Mode
Figure 2. CARIO Mode
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MARCH 2014
options, increased ofce efciency and production, and
marketing opportunities.
Increased Case Acceptance
Patient engagement and involvement increases dramati-
cally when patients can actually see and perceive what a
dentist, hygienist, or staff member is trying to communicate.
SoproCARE offers a unique benetthe ability for virtually
everyone in the practice to offer an improved level of service
to patients. With SoproCARE, patients can now see the
problem, understand the recommended treatment, recognize
the time needed to resolve the issue, and acknowledge the
nancial impact of the treatment.
Patients can see the problem in the operatory as the
clinician discovers it, then when they move to the treatment
coordinator, the assistant can explain the areas of concern.
By using visual aids, patients are again reminded of the
problem and see the issue while it is being discussed.
As the treatment coordinator solidies the nancial
aspects of care, there is no miscommunication regarding the
necessary treatment and the fees incurred. In addition, the
ofce can use the images to assist in possibly gaining better
reimbursement rates from dental insurance carriers. The
visual communication from the dentist to staff members can
be seamless, improving the patient experience and increas-
ing case acceptance.
Early Diagnosis and Minimally
Invasive Treatment
A simple explorer is about 50% accurate in nding
decay, and radiographs are not much better as they are
approximately 68% accurate. SoproCARE provides both
dentists and hygienists with enhanced diagnostic capabili-
ties, allowing for early diagnosis and typically less invasive
treatment, including remineralization therapies and earlier
intervention with oral hygiene care.
With SoproCAREs early diagnosis capabilities, clini-
cians can offer more minimally invasive protocols to treat
various dental conditions. If traditional treatment is deemed
necessary, then patients can benet from clinicians nding
pathology when it is smaller.
In addition to the CARIO Mode, the PERIO Mode al-
lows the hygienist and hygiene department to better dem-
onstrate and educate patients on the health of their gum
tissues and the accumulation of plaque and calculus on their
teeth. The educational discussion of gum disease becomes
more relevant and personal when patients can see rsthand
the level of their oral health. Less invasive therapies are then
possible with earlier diagnosis.
Increased Offce Effciency and Productivity
SoproCAREs 3 modes allow dentists and hygienists to
quickly and accurately evaluate various surfaces of teeth,
integrity/patency of restorations, and periodontal health.
Capturing images using SoproCARE can be delegated to
dental assistants or hygienists, accelerating the diagnosis
process so dentists can be more productive. This stream-
lined examination process can help move the patient toward
treatment acceptance more quickly.
With SoproCARE, dentists can delegate more procedures
to staff members, improving efciency that can be a huge
advantage to the bottom line of the dental practice. Sopro-
CAREs small, portable system can be cleaned easily and
moved from operatory to operatory, allowing each clinician
SoproCARE Prophylaxis Camera:
Improved Patient Communication
Leads to So Much More
Figure 3. CARIO Mode
The ideal technology should begin
with improved patient communi-
cation, which then leads to many
other clinical opportunities for
both clinicians and patients.
DENTAL LEARNING www.dentallearning.net
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VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3
to implement it with virtually no down time.
In addition, the front ofce staff, armed with this tech-
nology, can refer to the images any time there is a discussion
regarding treatment and recommendations for management.
Marketing
SoproCARE can be implemented into a marketing
campaign outside of the practice through various traditional
media outlets as well as the practices website and social
media. Modern technology that offers sensory feedback
to patients can become an instant marketing platform and
referral system for a dental ofce.
Many patients seek a secondary consultation; a practice
that offers services that others do not can be a great way to
create new patient opportunities. Using marketing tactics,
a practice can explain SoproCAREs features and benets,
which patients may not have seen in other practices.
A common patient concern is whether recommended
treatment is truly necessary. Without visual aids at other
dental practices, patients typically do not see the actual
problem and are not sold on the treatment. When patients
seek a dentist for a second opinion, they may be more recep-
tive to a practice that has optimized its Internet presence
with tools that can answer patients questions. With an
informative online presence, a practice has a better opportu-
nity to acquire new patients.
Conclusion
The ability to offer patients a better understanding of
their oral health condition through a visual presentation
offers many benets to patients, staff members, and dentists.
Earlier diagnosis as a result of using SoproCARE leads to
more noninvasive or minimally invasive options that might
not be available because of nding the pathology later in
the process. When patients visually perceive their problems,
it allows for a quicker response to necessary care. Finally, a
faster implementation process for staff members, while hav-
ing the time to see more patients, can allow the entire dental
ofce to be more productive.
Further Reading
1. Rechmann P, Charland D, Rechmann BMT, et al. Performance of
laser uorescence devices and visual examination for the de-
tection of occlusal caries in permanent molars. J Biomed Opt.
2012;17(3)036006.
2. Tassery H, Levallois B, Terrer E, et al. Use of new minimum inter-
vention dentistry technologies in caries management. Aust Dent
J. 2013;58(suppl1):49-59.
3. Terrer E, Koubi S, Dionne A, et al. A new concept in restorative
dentistry: light-induced uorescence evaluator for diagnosis and
treatment: Part 1: Diagnosis and treatment of initial occlusal car-
ies. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2009;10(6):E086-94.