It may not have the impact on evolving work spaces that the Internet of Things, wireless presentation or remote collaboration solutions have, but it’s remarkable how technology has impacted the experience of going to the dentist.
It wasn’t long ago that dentist visits were almost universally dreaded and fodder for comedy routines. While cavity fillings and root canals will never be enjoyable, dentist offices have done a nice job of leveraging technology such as pleasantly distracting video displays to improve the patient experience.
Comfort Dental Group, a U.S. franchise with 150 offices in 13 states, is helping to set a high bar when it comes to technology deployment. Patients are familiar with Comfort Dental Group’s “Screen of Fame,” which employs digital signage in its waiting rooms to promote local community accomplishments.
Comfort Dental has since diversified the content displayed on the waiting room screens to better connect with patients as they await their appointments. Each screen attaches to a BrightSign HD222 digital signage media player, and the entire network is managed remotely via BrightSign Network.
All locations receive universal content such as updates from the American Dental Association or special marketing campaigns that span Comfort Dental in its entirety.
Photos of Comfort Dental’s Digital Signage
At the local level, Comfort Dental’s orthodontics offices can cross-promote their services in nearby general dentist offices. Local video content also features sports and other community events, as well as local news and weather.
In terms of revenue opportunities, the digital signage network allows local businesses and other agencies to promote events in their neighborhood dental offices. For example, the Colorado Rockies promotes baseball games and related events in the Denver vicinity. Other advertisers include the Special Olympics, as well as local charities and other nonprofits.
“We now have a turnkey digital signage solution that all new franchisees can take advantage of from day one, and existing franchisees can retrofit with very little expense and effort,” says Neil Norton, executive VP of Comfort Dental Group.
“The robust management capabilities of BrightSign Network enable us to easily push universal or localized content wherever and whenever we need to. And with the ad-generated revenue our franchisees capture via local businesses adver5sing in their offices, in many cases the set-up costs of these screens are recouped in just a few short months.”
The number of Comfort Dental Group offices already equipped with BrightSign digital signage is closing in on 150 and the technology has become standard for future rollouts.
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