Integrated Technology
July 1, 2017
Volume 13
,
Issue 7
,
July 2017
Page(s): p. 22
These words, spoken in 2010, summarize the ongoing transformation of dentistry, which is occurring at an astronomical pace. To a dentist, a surgeon, or a laboratory technician, the concept of “digital dentistry” may have subjectively different definitions on any given day. Despite this, they may all agree that it is using a digital means to acquire, analyze, diagnose, and ultimately produce an analog restoration or product that will benefit the patient.
The goal of integrating technology into dentistry is to enable the delivery of the highest quality oral healthcare in the most efficient manner possible. Accomplishing this goal requires a well-thought-out technology plan and an understanding of how every aspect integrates with all of the necessary components to achieve the best possible outcomes. Lack of proper planning can not only be extremely expensive, but also can result in major inefficiencies, leading to disorganization and increased stress for the entire dental team. On the other hand, practices that put the effort into understanding, planning, integrating, and implementing appropriate technologies in the proper order become more capable of attaining their goals, while also providing a systematic practice environment with enhanced workflow and reduced anxiety for the patients and staff alike.
It may seem counterintuitive, but one way to start considering which technologies are most needed for the practice is by focusing on the end product—essential procedural outcomes. What types of procedures are being (or should be being) performed? What are the needs and expectations of current and prospective patients? Keeping in mind future goals for the practice, while maintaining honest and realistic expectations, should help focus practitioners on the most valuable modalities to accomplish these procedures effectively and efficiently. The next step is understanding how the related technologies (eg, practice management and communications systems, diagnostic modalities, imaging, lasers, etc.) need to integrate to obtain these outcomes seamlessly.
For example, as clinical procedures have become more technically sophisticated, the need for more detailed and integrated practice management systems and electronic dental records (EDRs) has necessarily increased. Being able to communicate between the practice and the patient, professional colleagues, and other necessary third parties in a manner that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 is now mandatory. In addition, scheduling, inspecting, servicing, and when necessary, calibrating the practice’s technology must become part of the management plan and routine protocols. As the volume of patient and practice data that needs to be recorded and tracked is rapidly increasing, efficient input devices such as bar code scanners also may need to be incorporated to facilitate the process.
The Right Tools for the Job
Many general dentists began their digital equipment journey with digital radiography—one of the most beneficial additions to dentistry in the mid-1980s. This change benefitted the patient by decreasing radiation exposure and the practitioner by improving efficiency, among other clinical advantages.
Now, lasers and light-based technologies are rapidly becoming more mainstream and are being used in ever-expanding ways in every aspect of dentistry. These devices are enabling earlier detection and documentation of abnormalities in both the hard and soft structures of the oral cavity, expanding the ability to perform detailed surveillance as well as proactive and minimally invasive treatments when appropriate. The precision use of lasers allows many procedures to be comfortably performed without the need for a local anesthetic, reducing treatment time while enhancing outcomes.
Additionally, lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are being utilized in a process known as photobiomodulation (PBM)—often referred to as low-level laser (or light) therapy (LLLT) in the past—to stimulate or inhibit various biologic processes. PBM is used both pre- and postoperatively to reduce the pain, inflammation, and side effects related to more invasive treatments, such as extraction, endodontic therapy, and soft-tissue surgical procedures, as well as to enhance the healing process. In a University of Pittsburgh pilot study, the use of PBM in the treatment of oral mucositis related to cancer therapies virtually eliminated that condition.
The integration of 3-dimensional imaging, such as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), with CAD/CAM has greatly increased the accuracy and simplicity of implant planning and surgical placement. Completely integrated CBCT and CAD/CAM systems allow for extremely detailed and accurate implant treatment planning, addressing occlusal, restorative, and surgical concerns concurrently. Additionally, these systems can enable the fabrication of surgical guides in the office, thus reducing the overall time and cost.
Digital scanning (ie, the use of a camera to produce impressions) has also become invaluable to everyday dental practice. When compared with conventional impressions, scanning is proving to be more accurate and more satisfactory to the patient.1,2 In addition, it is more time efficient for the practitioner.3
With a digital scan, the options are endless when it comes to producing a final product. The majority of scanners utilize an open digital format and produce a .stl file. The scan can be used as a diagnostic tool or in the fabrication of dental devices. For indirect restorations, the dentist now has the option of using laboratory-fabricated products or milling them chairside, which affords many possibilities.
Finally, another revolutionary technology, 3D printing, is becoming more available for dentists to explore. 3D printers are becoming more affordable for the average dental practitioner, and a range of printers with varying price points and production speeds have been developed for use in private practice.
Reap the Rewards
Well-organized and implemented management, diagnostic, and treatment modalities enhance all aspects of the practice. These systems help patients understand and appreciate the overall value of the oral healthcare that the dental practice provides, and properly implemented technology differentiates the practice through treatment that is minimally invasive, offering reduced time and discomfort, while attaining better-quality outcomes.
Clearly, the digital landscape of dentistry is ever changing. For practitioners who choose to embrace it, it is an exciting and empowering time for the profession. To help with acquisition, Inside Dentistry has compiled the following "Shop and Compare" charts, which provide details and specifications for useful products in eight different categories of technology.
