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- Align Technology to unveil findings of whitepaper report at 2nd Digital Health MENA Forum (September 26 – 29)
- Report showcases results of survey and findings from expert-led advisory council into best practice for the dental industry for the continued and post-COVID era
- Report underscores the need for a blend of digital technologies with traditional dental services in order to further enhance the industry into a technology lead future
Dubai, UAE: According to a new survey commissioned by Align Technology, a global medical device company and pioneers of the Invisalign system, nearly 88% of residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia (KSA) value the benefits of digital communication and tele-dentistry more now than they did pre-COVID-19. The results of the survey on patient responses to the pandemic were today unveiled as part of a wider whitepaper report showcasing the findings of an expert-led advisory council, following an analysis into trends and challenges for the dental sector.
The YouGov survey revealed that 78% of respondents will continue to use online communication with their dentists for non-emergency cases in the future. While only one-third (32%) of the respondents used digital communication tools to interact with their dentists during the COVID-19 lockdown, a majority (78%) of those who did said they found digital tools convenient.
The research indicates an almost even split in sentiment around the safety of visiting a dental appointment during the pandemic: 44% of respondents visited a dentist between March to June 2020, compared to the 42% who opted not to attend appointments due to concerns around potential risks. Despite this, consumer trust in dental practitioners remained high, with 80% trusting that their dental practitioner/dental practices were taking the necessary precautions to safeguard patients amid the pandemic.
According to the research, early lockdown measures that prevented dental visits appear to have had a positive impact on awareness around the role of lifestyle habits in supporting good oral health. 75% of respondents said they are willing to adopt preventive measures to keep dental health in check such as drinking water instead of sugary drinks, brushing their teeth twice daily and changing their toothbrush regularly.
To further explore the key learnings from this crisis for the sector, Align Technology established an Advisory Council bringing together leading orthodontists from the region to initiate a dialogue around the impact of the pandemic. The Council’s main task was to analyse on-ground challenges as a result of the pandemic and explore measures which could be taken to enable practitioners to be future-ready in line with the aspirations of today’s digitally-focused consumers, as well as in the “new normal”.
During a series of interviews and virtual roundtable sessions, the participating experts explored four key themes: the importance of flexibility and adaptability, the role of teledentistry and digital workflow, business continuity planning and delivering quality dental care and improving patient confidence.
The Council found that practitioners who implemented virtual platforms were much more likely to be able to maintain business continuity during the pandemic, compared to those who were yet to embrace digitisation.
The key takeaways and recommendations from the Advisory Council included:
- Value of adaptability: A call for greater flexibility and adaptability throughout the dental industry, to safeguard the ability to deliver the best possible care to patients and futureproof the industry. The council found that practitioners who implemented virtual platforms were much more likely to be able to maintain business continuity during the pandemic, compared to those who were yet to embrace digitisation
- Shift in mindset at an industry level: The need for the dental industry to come together to instil a shift in mindset in line with the aspirations of today’s digitally- focused consumer
- Integration of a digital ecosystem: The need for dental practitioners to incorporate a digital ecosystem to complement their practice workflow and make processes more efficient and convenient for both doctors and patients. The key is to have a workflow in place that allows practitioners to navigate between offline and online treatments seamlessly and efficiently
Angelo Maura, General Manager, Middle East and Africa of Align Technology, said: “Long before the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed how we work and live, we understood the potential of information technology and digital tools to transform the dental sector. Commissioning this research and establishing the Advisory Council committee of local experts highlights our collective commitment to better understand how we can integrate a seamless blend of digital technology into our practices to make processes more efficient and convenient for doctors and patients alike. We firmly believe that nothing replaces the personal touch of a medical or dental professional. Nevertheless, we want to help dental health practitioners to understand how they can leverage the power of digitisation to transform their practices, whilst continuing to deliver exceptional care for patients in this rapidly-changing landscape.”
The results of the whitepaper titled, ‘Digitisation and Patient Care: Mapping New Opportunities in the Dental Sector’ will be launched by Align Technology today at the 2nd Digital Health MENA Forum, a high-profile event that brings together senior stakeholders and thought leaders in the healthcare ecosystem from public and private sector entities.
Align Technology will present findings from the study during a presentation titled 'Telehealth virtual visits: Improving experiences, efficiency and outcome' at the conference, and will host a discussion on telehealth and telemedicine.
Advisory Council attendees
The Advisory Council members include: Dr. Suliman Shahin (KSA), Vice Dean for Studies, Development & Community Service, College of Dentistry, Member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Orthodontic Society; Dr. Mubarak Alsaeed (Kuwait), Chairman and CEO at UltraMed; Dr. Osama Basri (KSA), Craniofacial Orthodontist, Board Member of the Saudi Orthodontic Society; and Dr Al Bawardi, an Orthodontist based in KSA.
Dr. Reem Alansari, Board of Directors at Saudi Orthodontic Society (SOS), Consultant/Assistant Professor of Orthodontics, Establishing Director of the Dental Sleep Medicine Unit, Head of the Alumni Unit, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Dentistry (KAUFD) also attended the session, moderated by Tzvetan Deyanov, Business Owner (Dental Tribune MEA & CAPP MEA and Asia), and attended by Angelo Maura, General Manager, Middle East and Africa of Align Technology.
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About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs, manufactures and offers the Invisalign system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero intraoral scanners and services, and exocad CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 200 thousand doctor customers and is key to accessing Align’s 500 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Align has helped doctors treat over 10.9 million patients with the Invisalign system and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.
For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero systems and services, please visit www.itero.com . For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com
About the Invisalign system
Invisalign clear aligners are a removable and transparent teeth-straightening solution produced using digital and 3D technologies. This type of solution differs from other orthodontic devices in that they are more comfortable and can be easily removed for eating or drinking. Used to treat minor to complex types of malocclusions, Invisalign clear aligners are replaced every one or two weeks, depending on a doctor’s recommendation, gradually moving teeth towards the projected final position.
For more information, please contact:
Natalie Flavin | Definition PR
natalie@definitionagency.com
© Press Release 2021
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