19
Volume3 Issue6
|
N
ews and
E
vents
Results of the2016DIACFuture ofDentistrySurvey
Howdentalpracticesareusing the
Internetat recordhigh levels
The Internet is changing thedental profession,from the
waydentists promoteand run theirpractices toapatient’s
approach to learningaboutdental treatment options.
According to resultsfrom theDental IndustryAssociationof
Canada (DIAC)20thannualFuture ofDentistrySurvey,
here’swhere growth inonlineactivities ishappening:
• Practicepromotion:
Over 50%of
respondentsuse socialmediaas a
promotional tool—anumber that
has steadily increased from13%
of respondents in2012,when
DIACfirst startedasking
about socialmediause in
its survey. Notably, in just
oneyear (between2015–16)
socialmedia jumped from the
least used tool to the thirdmost popular tool. Asking for
referrals andpromotingnew technologies remain the top
twoways for dentists topublicize their practices.
• Patient education:
For thefirst time in the survey’s
history, the Internetwas rankedas the toppatient source
for informationabout dental
treatment options, outranking
familymembers, friends,
and thedentist and
dental team.
• Internetuse in thepractice:
All
respondentshadan internet
connection in theoffice in some
form—another surveyfirst—and
92%hadan Internet connection
at the front desk.
• Dental purchasing:
More than
80%of dentists reportedmakingdental
purchasesonline,markingan
all-timehigh. In2000, only8%of
dentists reportedmakingonline
purchases.
News
DIACSurveyContestWinners
Participation in theDIAC
FutureofDentistrySurvey
madedentists eligible towin
prizes.
Dr. LoidaCoronel
of
Brampton, Ontario,was this
year’sGrandPrizewinner of
a$2500 travel voucher.
ThreeOntariodentistswon
a$500 runner-upprize:
Dr. LeslieLaingGibbard
(Toronto),
Dr. Atul Joshi
(Ottawa) and
Dr. Armando
Mastropaolo
(Woodbridge).
Tendentistswon$100 travel
vouchers as consolation
prizes:
Dr.DonaldAllen
(Windsor, ON),
Dr.Maryam
Khan
(Mississauga, ON),
Dr.HanaChatila
(Dorval,
QC),
Dr. StephenVanwieren
(SherwoodPark, AB),
Dr. Jas
Bhattal
(Abbotsford, BC),
Dr.DeannaBubola
(Guelph,
ON),
Dr. VasantRamlaggan
(Toronto, ON),
Dr.Naima
Liamani
(Montreal, QC),
Dr.GeorgeCadigan
(Winnipeg,
MB), and
Dr. CurtisSoong
(Aldergrove, BC)
Over200practisingCanadiandentists responded to the2016
DIAC survey,withproportional distributionacross thecountry.
Survey resultshaveanaccuracyof+/-6.8%19 timesoutof 20.
