Almost every dental manufacturer has a Web site, which means the dentist does not have to keep mountains of catalogs for reference. Not only are the sites space-efficient, but are indexed very well, enabling staff members to quickly find the information they are looking for. Some are strictly listings and descriptions of products, while others are more elaborate, allowing online ordering, updated product information, procedure instructions, links to other dental sites, and more.
One very well constructed site is 3M dental. It was among the first to have a full-time Webmaster and the site shows his expertise and experience. The site - www.3m.com/ dental - allows the dentist to look up and print out step-by-step technique guides for all of 3M's materials. This is quite helpful in setting up a practice manual for new employees. There are also articles and links to other areas of the Web, both dental and non-dental. In fact, you can download a 30-day free trial of electronic "post-it notes," which cost $25 if you decide to keep using them.
The ultimate commercial site is from Procter and Gamble - http://www.dentalresourcenet. com. This elaborate site is probably the most useful dental site around. If you are a Web novice, it is a definite starting point. Although Crest logos are evident, they are not the primary thrust of this site. It is a wonderful resource for both dentists and patients. The site itself is a mountain of information for dentists and hygienists, including print-ready information sheets on many dental topics. Features include free online continuing education, a peer reviewed journal (Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice), a simple link to Medline and other medical information, and many other areas of interest. There are also periodic special sections, such as last year's Children's Dental Health month promotion which had wonderful animation and information for youngsters. Its links list is extremely varied and will bring you to dental and medical areas which are unfamiliar to most practitioners. The site itself is a technical state-of-the-art marvel, easy to navigate and easy on the eyes. Give yourself a lot of time to go through this one.
