In a recent article, I mentioned the SmileMe treatment simulation and patient education software platform from Belgium-based Remedent.  Guy De Vreese, CEO of Remedent, shares some more info about his company and the SmileMe product in this edition of 5 Questions With…

Michael Dunn:  Tell us about SmileMe.  What product(s) do you offer?

Guy De Vreese:  SmileMe is a product of Remedent. Remedent focuses on innovative cosmetic solutions. The company is also the owner of the GlamSmile brand with glamSmile veneer studios in 40 countries.

MD:  How did you start SmileMe? What was your “a-ha” moment?

GDV:  My wife, who is a cosmetic dentist, loved doing veneers. We thought it would have been great to come up with a solution to digitize the complete veneer workflow – from design to manufacturing and predictable placement. We started experimenting with a tray delivery system to where we could insert all veneers in one go. This worked amazingly well. The next step was to make sure we attracted the right patients and developed the smile consultancy concept. From these beginnings we started to understand the importance of the communication with the patient. Understanding their needs combined with visual communication about the end result created happy, satisfied patients. We decided that the smile consultancy should also be standardized and created SmileMe software. SmileMe is now an independent product and is serving cosmetic dentists all over the world to achieve their and their patients’ goals.

MD:  What makes SmileMe unique compared to similar products?

GDV:  This is a product designed by dentists actually doing treatment and smile consults day in and day out. This did not come from a software development perspective, but rather from the experience of actual workflow in the dental practice. Dentists love to show treatment simulations, but do not want to spend more time doing the simulation than the actual work. So from day one we set out to be the fastest simulation product in the marketplace.

MD:  What trends do you think will have the biggest impact on the dental industry in the next 5 – 10 years?

GDV:  No doubt it will be digital impressions. The entire back office (labs) is going digital and it is only a matter of time when these labs will only want to deal with digital impressions.  But the digital impressions will do so much more than impressions.  It will be the start of the diagnostics in the office.  It will be the communication tool with peers, labs, and specialists.  It is the start of every dental treatment, and now it will be digital – so the lab can offer quotes, specialists can co-diagnose, etc.  Digital impressions are positively changing and will continue to improve the dental treatment workflow from consultation to final treatment.

MD:  What’s next for you and SmileMe?  What can we look forward to?

GDV:  Integration of SmileMe with the diagnostic capabilities of 3D scanners and being the premier communication tool between patients and their desires.  Making sure that these desires are perfectly communicated with the lab.  This is the short-term mission for SmileMe.

So, what do you think?  I’m sure Guy and his team at SmileMe would love to hear your feedback.  Reply here or contact them directly.

Thank you for reading.