North Texas Dentistry Special Issue 2018 NTD SP ISSUE 2018 DE | Page 28

TRENDING
TOPICS
in the world of dentistry
DENTISTRY
FACTORS OF
INFLUENCE
BEYOND THE
RADIOGRAPH
3D PRINTING
TODAY, BIOPRINTING
TOMORROW
CHANGING THE WAY
WE ORDER SUPPLIES
THE ROBOTS ARE
COMING
TRAINING WITH VR
TECHNOLOGY
The Digitization of Dentistry
Technology ( tekˈnäləjē/) noun
In today’s dentistry, the term “all-digital” is more of a
moving target than a finish line. A decade and a half
ago, the word was typically used to describe the
latest tools for radiography or sleek electronic
patient records that left the steel file cabinet to
inhabit the digital realm. At the time, it felt like
a revolution.
On the heels of digital radiography came Cone Beam
CT imaging, which transformed diagnostic imaging
and treatment planning, and intraoral scanners that
captured detailed digital impressions. In conjunction
with digital impressions, CAD/CAM technology
migrated into dentistry from the manufacturing
world to provide advanced options for creating
restorations and prosthodontics. Digital milling made
it possible to produce crowns and implants with
tremendous efficiency, predictability, and value.
Turnaround times were slashed. But the digital revo-
lution in dentistry didn’t end there, and there is no
end in sight.
CAD/CAM is subtractive technology, meaning that
material is removed until the desired result is
achieved, the way a sculptor chisels marble to reveal
a refined form from a solid block. Now, additive digi-
tal technology is allowing dentists and dental
laboratories to utilize 3D printing to fabricate ortho-
dontic aligners and appliances, nightguards, and drill
guides in-house with a piece of equipment the size
of a desktop printer or with the help of an online
printing service. In the laboratory, 3D printing is
being utilized to create models, wax-ups, and surgical
guides. High-tech biocompatible printing material
makes it possible to print high-quality crowns and
dental implants.
Where manual methods are time-intensive, 3D
printing accelerates production by enabling faster
fabrication or even the simultaneous creation of
28 NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY | www.northtexasdentistry.com
multiple copies. Accuracy is enhanced by the highly
precise layering of just microns of material. The
resulting improvement in production capacity and
precision is beneficial for both dentists and patients.
On the near horizon, we see promising develop-
ments in the area of bioprinting, the potential use of
3D printing techniques to lay down layers of soft
tissue and bone.
Dentistry is poised to receive another migrant tech-
nology, this time from the field of medicine –
robotics. Although obvious crossover applications
exist in dental surgery, robotics could eventually help
endodontists precisely control endo procedures via
a robot arm, or be used to perform minimally invasive
procedures in-office.
Dental practices looking to increase profitability are
embracing electronic supply ordering, and many find
that it has both streamlined the task of purchasing
office necessities and cut costs. Small, specialized
online vendors can provide essential consumable
items like mirrors and wipes without the need for a
traveling rep or the high premiums that support the
traditional model for dental product sales. Other
services have emerged that let dentists easily
compare prices, manage inventory, and access prod-
uct information across multiple distributors.
Digital technology is also finding its way into dental
training. Someday soon, virtual reality could be used
in dental education and CE courses to let dentists,
hygienists, and other members of the dental team try
out the latest tools and techniques or refine their
skills in a virtual world.
Today, the digitization of dentistry is expanding into
every corner of the dental practice. J ust when we
suspect that digital technology has reached its trans-
formational limits, a new application for digital
technology enters the industry. It’s an exciting trend,
and one that promises many more surprises ahead.