For more on this topic, go to www.dentaleconomics.com and search using the following key words: DentistryIQ.com™, print media, digital media, PennWell®, Dr. Paul Feuerstein.
For many years, we found our new music and new stars while listening to the radio as new releases were played. Radio was king, starting with floor models and followed by portable “transistor radios,” the Walkman, and more. All of a sudden, music videos on MTV showed up as the medium to find new artists. Now the Internet has become a major vehicle for new releases, bringing new music on the scene in just minutes or days instead of months.
Journalism has followed a parallel path. Newspapers and radio were followed by TV, cable news, and once again, the Internet. Today, news comes to us instantly. Thus, we have had the demise of many major and minor newspapers, as well as magazines. In my area, The Boston Globe came within hours of closing. I tell you this as you read these words here on the printed page of a column that I wrote two to three months ago.
Still, many of us are not ready to give up the printed page and handling the paper instead of the Amazon Kindle. At PennWell® Corporation, publishers are not standing still. They realize that the future is to use electronic media in addition to print. So they have put together a fascinating new online vehicle. I urge you to explore this Web site, DentistryIQ.com™.
When you open the main page, you will see an array of areas to explore. Before you even get to these, though, you will see the latest dental news — new product releases, information about dental companies, current stories on colleagues, news related to the profession, and more.
The sections to explore are a portal to all things dental, and are arranged neatly in five categories — hygiene, clinical, practice management, front office, and products. Each of these sections posts three new exclusive articles per week — 15 in all — that are current, and of course, well ahead of the print media.
This is not to say that you can ignore the pages in this magazine. The online articles are exclusive to the Web site, but they may be expanded later for print purposes (such as in Dental Economics®).
According to Kevin Henry, one of the editors for this site, “The exclusive articles found on DentistryIQ.com™ also offer readers what could be considered a companion to the print articles found in DE. Often, authors are asked to write from different viewpoints — on topics that range from investments to implants — than what can be found in print. This gives visitors to DentistryIQ.com more opinions on the same subject. It’s an effort on the part of PennWell® to allow you to make decisions about what is right in your practice rather than hearing just one viewpoint.”
All of the online as well as print articles (for the past eight years) are quickly searchable on the Web site. Since the site is dedicated to dentistry, a search here for information will filter directly to dentistry. Thus, for example, a search for “composite” will not give you answers relating to mathematics or guitar materials.
As a commercial venture, you will find some advertising. But rather than raw “pitches,” you will see new product introductions as they occur, as well as practical information and applications of these products. “Specials” for the readers also appear.
Another interesting DentistryIQ.com™ feature that I have been a part of is the “Community,” where discussions abound on dental topics.
I was made aware of a discussion about electronic health records and “got into it” with a few people. It was eye- opening to me since I found that I had a bias about its necessity, and was being intelligently challenged.
Many people who have (and continue) to participate in this and other forums have much to give and much to learn. The community regularly runs contests and encourages dental professionals to form their own groups, as well as find groups with people who have similar mindsets. You can even make the group private if you like.
Think about the possibilities of setting up an online interactive group between you and your local study club or peers, or connecting with other dentists from around the country to share problems, concerns, or success stories. The world as we know it is shrinking every day, and DentistryIQ.com™ brings the dental world a little closer to you.
Dr. Paul Feuerstein installed one of dentistry’s first computers in 1978. For more than 20 years, he has taught technology courses. A mainstay at technology sessions, Dr. Feuerstein is an ADA seminar series speaker, including annual appearances at the Yankee Dental Congress. He has been named 2010 “Clinician of the Year” at Yankee Dental Congress. A general practitioner in North Billerica, Mass., since 1973, Dr. Feuerstein maintains a Web site (www.computersindentistry.com) and can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].
