A team of entrepreneurs and healthcare experts is seeking to improve dentistry in Canada through adoption of emerging technology.
OraQ offers a clinical decision support system that aims to improve patient care through leveraging AI and machine learning in the dental sector.
The Calgary-based startup was founded by Dr. Amreesh Khanna, Dr. Mike Parchewsky, and Wayne Madhlangobe with a mission to empower forward-thinking dental professionals to make the best decisions for their patients and their practices.
“In my clinics, trying to align all the dentists regarding patient evaluations was always difficult,” Khanna, who serves as chief executive, informed Lou Shuman for Oral Health. “We spent a lot of time on continuing education, mentorship, creating templates, holding in-office meetings, and other things.”
Those burdens and distractions can cause doctors to miss “potential opportunities for care and practice growth,” according to Khanna.
OraQ operates on a “philosophy around ‘total patient care,'” which the startup says is more rewarding for both patients and professionals.
“We’re bringing together dentists, patients, and stakeholders who share our vision for a new future,” the company states online. “We believe patients should have full visibility of their dental health data to help them make informed decisions and be active partners in their care.”
The platform leverages AI to optimize decision-making, while an online portal “gives patients a more active role in their care,” according to OraQ. Evidence-based treatment planning assists with patient care while data analytics help drive strategies that increase revenue and enhance predictability. And all of this is supported by a multi-disciniplinary team of professionals and advisors, the company says.
But how does it all work?
Pre-visit, patients complete a form outlining their medical history and other information. This form is examined by the doctor before the patient arrives. Sound familiar so far?
Post-examination, AI technology begins to play a role by tapping into the combined expertise of thousands of dentists. This tech-forward approach can make diagnoses more accurate and treatment plans more precise.
Or as Khanna put it for Oral Health, “We’re supporting the dentist in presenting treatment recommendations by uncovering all opportunities of care.”
With an aim to challenge “traditional thinking by harnessing advancements in technology,” the Google-accelerated OraQ was recently named as one of Calgary’s 10 most promising startups ahead of Innovation Week’s signature event, Launch Party powered by Platform Calgary.
The top 10 companies are nominated by the Calgary innovation community and selected by a committee of Launch Party alumni. To be selected, companies must be in operation for less than three years, be revenue positive, and demonstrate potential for growth.
Launch Party will be hosted at the The Big Four Roadhouse on November 23.
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