In the last few years we have seen many advancements in dentistry which has help dentists provide more efficient and predictable care and provide patients with a better experience. We have seen significant breakthroughs in 3D printing, Laser dentistry, Intraoral cameras, Digital scanners /impression and AI. These technologies are making dental treatments more efficient, accurate, and less invasive, improving outcomes for patients and making dental care more comfortable and convenient.
1.3D PRINTING: 3D printing or additive manufacturing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It can be done in a variety of processes in which material is deposited, joined or solidified under computer control, with the material being added together, typically layer by layer. This allows dentists to create even more precise and personalized treatments tailored to a patient's oral anatomy.
2. Laser Dentistry: The term LASER is an acronym for ‘Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. As its first application in dentistry by Miaman, in 1960, the laser has seen various hard and soft tissue applications. In the last two decades, there has been an explosion of research studies in laser application. In hard tissue application, the laser is used for caries prevention, bleaching, restorative removal and curing, cavity preparation, dentinal hypersensitivity, growth modulation and for diagnostic purposes, whereas soft tissue application includes wound healing, removal of hyperplastic tissue to uncovering of impacted or partially erupted tooth, photodynamic therapy for malignancies, photostimulation of herpetic lesion. Use of the laser proved to be an effective tool to increase efficiency, specificity, ease, and cost and comfort of the dental treatment.
3. Intra Oral Cameras: An intraoral camera is a small camera designed for use inside the mouth. They offer many benefits for both dental patients and practitioners. By providing a close-up view of the teeth and gums, intraoral cameras can help dentists to more accurately diagnose problems and develop treatment plans. They can also be used to show patients the condition of their teeth, which can help to build trust and confidence in the dentist-patient relationship. In addition, intraoral cameras can be used to capture images or video for educational purposes, such as demonstrating proper brushing technique. Intraoral cameras are a valuable tool that can help to improve the quality of dental care.
4. Digital Scanners: Digital impressions provide an array of advantages for dentists as well as patients. More Comfortable Patients and No Messy and Time-Consuming Gooey Impressions: Old school impression material involves the all-dreaded “goo”. Wouldn’t it be nice to avoid the messy and time-consuming preparation, clean up and disinfecting required by this traditional approach, not to mention the frequent patient discomfort or gagging it causes?
Scanner technology Impresses Patients: Patients love the instantaneous 3-D picture intraoral scanners provide and believe doctors using digital impression systems as more expert, accomplished and advanced. This leads to more engaged patients, more likely to move forward with treatment plans. Plus digital scanning is a great marketing tool for new patients!
Accuracy And Lower Remakes: Intraoral scanning is lauded for its accuracy. This technology is as accurate as it gets and essentially eliminates the variables that are inevitability present in traditional impressions like distortion, bubbles, tears and the like. Digital impressions reduce remakes and the resulting restorations take significantly less time to seat. That means more efficient use of chair time for both you and your patients.
Decreased Turnaround Time: Immediate receipt by the lab of the digital impression can significantly decrease turnaround times. Call us today to learn more about our 3 day turnaround time!
Implants – No Problem: Intraoral scanners are also great for implant cases. No more impression copying costs plus greater accuracy. Also if you place implants in your practice or work with a periodontist or oral surgeon that uses an intraoral scanner, optimal workflow decreases your implant restorative chair time by 33%. We are leaders in digital implant workflow, so don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about this.
Facilitates Communication With Patient and With a Digital Expert Lab: Patients love the ability to immediately see a 3-D picture of their mouth. It is easier for you to engage the patient and talk about functional or cosmetic treatment plan options. Additionally, you have the ability to share the scan immediately with a lab, and if the lab is a digital expert focused on support and service, they will be able to provide you timely feedback on the scan and your prep, if desired.
Real Color Representation, Capture and Communication: Many of the intraoral scanning systems generate true-color models. This means it can be much easier to accurately detect and capture tooth and gingiva shades and texture.
Instant Access to All Patient Models and No More Model Storage: Wouldn’t it be great to have instant access to your patient models? And how much room and costs are those physical models taking up in storage? We will retain and archive all of your digital cases and models with us for free and can send them to you immediately upon request.
Essentially Zero Waste: Intraoral scans do not generate any waste products. Great for our planet’s resource conservation and sustainability – while saving you significant costs.
Real-Time Knowledge of Great Digital Impression: Intraoral scanning allows for immediate viewing and analysis of the quality of the digital impression. It is easy to re-scan in seconds, if necessary, just a portion of the scanned area. With the right training, before the patient leaves the chair you’ll know you have a quality digital impression. Dentists can indicate to the lab where the tooth preparation ends (Margin) making it easier for the lab to see the intended design of the final restoration. This is in stark contrast to conventional impressions that could require days of time for the same process with significantly higher material, dental assistant, chair time and freight costs.
5. AI The Future of Dentistry in Imaging and Diagnosis: Artificial/augmented intelligence algorithms are being developed and deployed to analyze dental images, such as radiographs and intraoral scans, to assist dentists in detecting and diagnosing oral diseases with greater accuracy and efficiency. This technology aids in early detection, leading to timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.
Treatment planning: Artificial/augmented intelligence-based software can assist dentists in treatment planning by analyzing patient data, case histories and treatment outcomes. These tools provide valuable insights, helping dentists make informed decisions about treatment options, materials and techniques.
Robotics and automation: Robotics is being explored to automate repetitive tasks in dentistry, such as tooth preparation, implant placement and orthodontic adjustments.
Virtual reality and augmented reality: These immersive technologies are increasingly used in patient education and treatment visualization. Augmented reality overlays digital information onto the real-world dental environment, assisting dentists during procedures and enhancing accuracy.
Data analysis and predictive analytics: Artificial/augmented intelligence algorithms can process large amounts of patient data, including medical records, oral health histories and treatment outcomes, to identify patterns and predict future oral health conditions. This enables proactive care, personalized treatment plans and preventive interventions.
As always Stay Healthy and BE Careful Out There.
James A Vito, D.M.D.