Electric Advantage: Patient Experience
A positive patient experience is critical to any dental practice’s long-term success. Two critical factors in shaping patient perceptions of their visit are time and comfort. Electric handpieces are a great option for completing procedures quickly and with less vibration, optimizing patient comfort without sacrificing clinical excellence.
Dr. Maragliano-Muniz is the chief editor of DentistryIQ and a board-certified, award-winning prosthodontist in Salem, MA. As a user of and advocate for electric handpieces, Dr. Maragliano-Muniz speaks highly of the benefits and advantages of electrics, especially the improved patient experience.
From the patient perspective, one of the biggest advantages of the electric handpiece is the muted drill sounds. Electrics produce sounds that are much more manageable to both the patient and the dentist.
“I think that a lot of people, when they talk candidly about the dentist, they talk about the drill and buzzing sound,” Dr. Maragliano-Muniz explained. “You still hear the electric handpiece, but I think that the sound of it is a lot more manageable and a lot more palatable than an air driven handpiece.”
Additionally, the sound of the handpiece is commonly associated with pain. When the drill sound is quieter and more manageable, the patient perceives the procedure as less painful, which improves their overall procedure experience.
Another value-add of the electric handpiece isn’t one you would typically associate with the patient experience, but makes a major difference: Precision. Not only are procedures completed more efficiently with the electric handpiece, but the precise nature of the cutting leads to higher quality outcomes, reducing the need for future repair work. In addition to being a hassle in terms of time, redoing any kind of restorative procedure makes patients think less of the practice.
“If their crowns aren't fitting properly, the margin just isn't right, or if the tooth heats up too much – and they might require a root canal after their crown prep – that all negatively impacts the patient experience. But an electric handpiece that doesn't heat up the same way as an air driven handpiece and the steady torque allows for margins that are smoother,” explained Dr. Maragliano-Muniz. “A patient will never say ‘I have the best margins ever,’ they don't know the technical stuff like that. But what they do know is that their work lasts. And so, I think that using an electric handpiece increases dentist reputation, patient trust, patient satisfaction, and patient outcomes, even though they might not realize that the handpiece itself is a part of that success.”