Dental technology has advanced, and patients expect dental practices to have the latest headways in treatment. Laser Dentistry is at the fore of this transformation, from the quality of therapeutic care to the delivery. When experiencing a laser procedure, patients can contribute less time in the chair and curb their needles or anesthesia. Dentists can also deliver a more vital number of methods in the same sitting, preserving both the patient and provider time. In enhancing lasers, we also see a drive towards symptomatic cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), radiology, and digital scanning of the mouth on the shortlist of what’s to come.
While high-level technology assists an essential purpose in presenting patients with comfort, patients’ expectations start before they step foot out. Excellent management policies can further your organization’s appointments and make things easier for all individuals involved. These practices administer many functions, including automating everything from billing and scheduling to the referral systems to help drive new patients.
Fortuitously, new technological headways make visits to the dentist quicker, more accessible, less painful, and more reliable. Due to these advancements, the dental industry is snowballing and looking much different from past years. A greater emphasis on treatment and prevention will mean fewer cavities in patients and less risk of periodontal disease. Similar to innovation within other health care professions, these new technologies will have a massive impact on how dental professionals treat their patients and how people take care of their oral health at home.
Here are few of the top innovations held in the dental professions in the recent years:
1. Smart Toothbrushes:
Homes of the future are filled with intelligent devices. We already see smart tech found in kitchen appliances and other instruments in our bedrooms and living rooms. Why should our bathrooms be any different? At first, the idea that our toothbrushes can have sensors in them to monitor our brushing habits might seem strange. However, a smart electric toothbrush can make sure you brush your teeth correctly for best results. This can be an excellent option for kids learning how to brush their teeth as well. The intelligent toothbrush can offer kid games and other incentives within linked apps for regularly and adequately cleaning their teeth.
2. Digital Dentures:
Earlier, it would take weeks and multiplied stays to your dentist to get a pair of dentures designed and fitted. Now, digital dentures propose a new system for building precision-fitted dentures in a section of time. The process applies advanced software, devices, and materials to create dentures with ease. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing are the methods making this new process possible. It provides dentists and dental technicians with fabricating new dentures using material discs to make prostheses.
3. Augmented Reality:
Augmented reality has recently become better known through popular gaming applications. This type of technology is going to change the world as we know it in virtually every industry. There is enormous potential for augmented reality in the dental profession, with many uses for students’ and professors’ coursework development at various schools and programs. It is handy for demonstrating techniques on dental models and allowing the students to practice.
4. Teledentistry:
Many people are reluctant to visit the dentist for personal reasons. Imagine how difficult it can be for persons with disabilities, the elderly, and people with special needs. This is where teledentistry can come in handy. Offering certain dental services over the internet can provide much-needed services to individuals who do not have regular access to a dentist. This technology can also be helpful for people who live in rural areas where no dental offices are located. The service can allow dentists to capture images, take clinical notes and send that information to other dentists. The consultation with the dentist is conducted live through video chatting software. If the dentist sees an issue, they will suggest an in-person visit to a local dentist for further evaluation.
5. Intra-Oral Camera:
One of the main complaints of dental patients is sitting in the dentist’s chair with their mouths open uncomfortably wide. With the use of new technology such as an intra-oral camera, this discomfort will be a thing of the past. It allows the dentist to look inside the patient’s mouth using a dental mirror with a camera. The dentist can see the images taken by the camera on a screen outside of the patient’s mouth without discomfort.
6. Robotic Dental Implant Surgery:
Dental implants are one of the leading ways dentists help patients restore teeth that would otherwise be lost to decay. Modern dentistry relies heavily on plastic drill guides when placing a dental implant, but that is all changing. With this new technology, a computerized navigational program provides sensory information and holds the drill in position. You remain in control but get assistance through feedback provided by this robotic technology. Robotic dental implant surgery can aid in both preoperative and surgical stages.
7. 3D Printing:
By enabling its users to create any physical shape on-demand, the invention of 3D printing completely changed the world. This technology allows dental professionals to develop prostheses and dentures with laser precision without leaving their practice. With the invention of multi-nozzle 3D printing, scientists can print with multiple materials in a fraction of the time.
8. Continuous Liquid Interface Production(CLIP):
3D printing is a slow process, but CLIP could make the process much faster for dentists. The amount of time 3D printing takes is mainly due to the steps a 3D printer must take to replenish materials, cure those materials, and reposition itself. Continuous Liquid Interface Production allows a solid object to grow out of a liquid bath.
9. Teeth Whitening With LED Light:
There are lots of teeth whitening options out there – both over the counter and professional. Oberoi Dental Clinic offers the best Zoom LED teeth whitening procedure. LED Teeth Whitening eliminates the need for kits with hydrogen peroxide or potentially painful and inconsistent results from a laser.
10. VELscope:
VELscope is a particular type of light that a dentist will shine in a patient’s mouth to detect any abnormalities. This new technology is effectively used to detect early forms of cancer or disease during an oral cancer screening.
11. Digital X-Rays:
Digital X-rays are faster and contain less radiation than traditional X-rays. When a patient has a digital X-ray done, the image appears on the computer in a matter of seconds. Your dentist can then zoom into the image to better assess and educate patients regarding their oral health. Digital X-rays are also less harmful to patients as they contain up to 90% less radiation than traditional X-rays.
12. Invisalign:
Invisalign is a clear, practically invisible brace that can gently straighten your teeth. They provide an effective and comfortable way to straighten your smile without the inconvenience of wearing heavy, metal braces. Invisalign braces are easy to take out for cleaning and don’t require restrictions on what type of foods to eat. They get the job done in less time with less hassle.
13. Laser Dentistry:
Lasers are used to improve efficiency and eliminate discomfort in several dental procedures, including filling cavities, reducing tooth sensitivity, getting rid of tumors, and whitening. Laser dentistry is fast, painless, and can effectively eliminate any form of bacteria during the procedure to avoid any further complications or problems.
14. HealOzone:
HealOzone is a fast, easy and painless way to eliminate tooth decay. HealOzone is effective because it contains ozone (O3), a typical natural gas that effectively kills bacteria and fungus. HealOzone is a great tool to detect and get rid of any early signs of tooth decay before it progresses to a more advanced stage.
15. DIAGNOdent:
DIAGNOdent is a new, state-of-the-art device that dentists use to detect cavities hiding in places regular x-rays can’t find. It ensures that your mouth has been thoroughly checked for early signs of cavities to avoid you having to spend more in the future if the cavities progress and expand.
16. Nitrous Oxide and (Intravenous) IV Sedation:
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, can calm a patient down to the point that they are relaxed but can still interact with their dentist. On the other hand, IV sedation puts a patient to sleep completely to be unaware of what happened during their dental session. This is usually recommended for patients who are fearful of going to the dentist or for painful procedures such as wisdom teeth extraction.
This list is only the tip of the iceberg, as dental technology is constantly evolving. As new patient care needs are discovered, dental innovations are poised to completely revolutionize the world of dentistry and the way we look at oral health.
With the help of advancements in dental technology, patients have much less reason to dread trips to our clinic. Our job is to educate them on how the latest technology can help assuage their fears. Dentists can now quickly assess what issues patients are facing and accurately determine a course of treatment. Before long, those treatments will become more efficient and be performed with technical precision. Advancements in robotics will make the human error less likely. With 3D printing technology, dental prosthetics can be made quickly and at a lower cost.