Why Dental Practices Should Diversify The Treatments They Offersubmitted on 23 May 2016
When you run a dental practice, you want to offer the best possible range of treatments for patients, and ideally you'd like as many people as possible coming through your door. While you may be working hard to offer the latest in dental treatments, from laser teeth whitening to invisible braces, you might be wondering whether there are any other areas where you can expand. That's why many dentists are now offering a range of aesthetic and laser treatments that are simple and highly sought after. Here are a few treatments that you could offer from your dental practice in order to boost your patient numbers.
Botox and injectables
Many men and women now use Botox and other injectables on a regular basis, and they often want these treatments carried out in their lunch break. Because they are quick, convenient, and don't involve any recovery time, they can be carried out on a regular basis and many people who wouldn't consider traditional plastic surgery use them to stay looking youthful.
Offering services such as Botox in your practice has many advantages. Treatments are short and simple, and as they are given regularly it can become a good source of income. Injectables such as Botox used to be able to be administered by anyone who had done a short course, but countries such as the UK are now cracking down on these operations. You now have to be a medical practitioner who can give prescriptions, i.e. a doctor, dentist, or nurse prescriber to give Botox. Because dentists have medical qualifications already, it therefore doesn't take long to learn to administer injectables and fillers. With fewer people now offering these in demand treatments, now could be a good time to offer them at your surgery.
Laser hair removal
Another aesthetic treatment that's becoming very popular among busy people is laser hair removal. This process has many advantages for patients, including:
• Saving them money on hair removal products
• Saving time on beauty routines
• Quick, painless treatments
• Only a few sessions to remove hair permanently
Therefore, it's an easy thing to market and sell to potential customers, and it'll no doubt bring lots of new people through your door. Laser hair removal has improved a lot over the years, and the machines made by HPT group are user friendly, have excellent safety features, and allow you to offer pain-free laser hair removal treatments that work. Your patients are busy people, and by investing in a high quality machine you can reduce treatment times and ensure minimal side effects.
If you choose an IPL machine for hair removal, it can also be used to smooth out discoloured skin caused by melanin and vascular pigmentation, therefore giving you another service you can offer. Those who carry out IPL will need to be trained, and since dentists already have lots of clinical experience they may find the training easier than non-medical staff. Training is carried out by a registered nurse (RGN), who will take you through the controls of the machine and show you the best practice for using IPL safely.
Tattoo removal
Around 14% of people regret getting one or more of their tattoos, and with the number of people getting inked on the rise, tattoo removal will no doubt be big business in the future. Because people want their tattoos removed in a safe and clean environment, it makes sense to offer these services in a dental practice where people know the staff are trustworthy.
With tattoos getting more complex and colourful, it's important to get the most up to date equipment such as the inkaway Nd:YAG Laser. Over the course of a few treatments, ink is broken down and fades, eventually removing the tattoo. Again, these machines are easy to use, with a qualified nurse carrying out the training course. If you invest in one of these machines, you can enjoy a two year warranty, so you know they'll cope with daily use and be as reliable as possible.
If you'd like to explore some new ways to make money and increase your patient numbers, then offering some extra services in your dental practice could be the solution. People with medical experience already know the human body well, and are good candidates for learning these types of skills. Qualified dentists will often find the training much easier than non-medical staff, as they're used to working with different equipment and can pick things up easily. However, when it comes to using laser hair and tattoo removal machines, they are becoming so easy to use that anyone with the proper training can learn to use them over time. Investing in new equipment to carry out treatments can be an excellent way to promote your practice, and to get new people through your door.
F.A.Q.
What kind of training will I need?
The type of training you'll need will depend on the kind of treatments you want to do. Dentists will need to go on a short course to give Botox and injectable treatments, and anyone who wants to offer tattoo or laser hair removal will need training. This can often be carried out in the workplace by a registered, experienced nurse.
Will people want aesthetic treatments at a dentist?
People want to know they are getting treatments from a qualified professional, and a clinical setting such as a dentist gives them peace of mind that they will be treated by someone who knows what they are doing.
What investments will I need to make?
In terms of tattoo and hair removal services, the main investment is the machinery, and it's worth investing in the highest quality equipment for reliability and safety. Since the machinery doesn't take up much space, you probably won't need to expand, and things like maintenance costs are usually minimal.
How much can I make from offering aesthetic treatments?
Treatments such as Botox and hair removal can potentially make a good profit. Have a look at some of the prices charged by local providers, as this will give you an idea of the prices that you will be able to charge.
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