Dentistry has come a long way since its earliest days when cavemen used bones to scrape their teeth. Today, dental professionals are able to use cutting-edge technology to improve the lives of their patients in many ways.
The dental industry is constantly evolving, with new innovations coming out every year. Some of them are more transformational than others, and some are more useful to certain practices than others.
However, a lack of awareness about innovative dental practices and general anxiety linked to dental procedures prevent a majority of individuals from getting the required treatment. Roughly 20% of US adults have some level of dental fear and anxiety, which prevent them from receiving dental care.
We firmly believe that cutting-edge innovations that promise minimally-invasive treatment and lesser pain will encourage needy individuals to seek oral treatment without any self-created anxiety.
In this article, we’ll go over four of the most important innovations in dentistry today and how they can help you grow your practice.
Custom 3D Printed Dental Materials
In the past, dental materials were made using a single mold shares this dentist who does inlays and onlays in Redwood City. The mold was designed to fit specific teeth, and it would be used to create an impression of the patient’s teeth for their dental lab to use in making the crown, bridge, or other restoration. However, this process often resulted in taking multiple impressions from different angles so that a dentist could get a complete view of the patient’s mouth. This added time and expense to the process.
With the advent of various types of samples that are 3D printed for dentists, it has become easier for them to design a model that fits perfectly over individual patients’ teeth without having to take multiple impressions. This process can also help prevent further damage to healthy tissue by eliminating unnecessary impressions altogether.
The use of custom 3D-printed dental materials has also made it possible for dentists to create models with more detail than ever before. This allows them to create crowns and bridges that look more natural than traditional models while still providing protection against tooth decay and other damage caused by bacteria build-up on tooth surfaces due to food particles trapped between teeth.
In addition, renowned prosthodontist Dr. Ryan C. Lewis is optimistic about the possibilities that 3D printing brings to the industry. In an interview, he says, “3D printing has transformed the way surgical guides are produced.” Plus, 3D printers are extremely precise and cost-effective, so that any dentist can afford them in his office and print surgical guides and casts for diagnosis at a lower cost.
Invisible Orthodontics
With the rise of invisible orthodontics, many people are opting for a less-invasive treatment. Although traditional braces are still popular, it can be difficult to convince patients to undergo treatment when they have to wear metal wires and brackets on their teeth.
Invisible orthodontics allows you to straighten your teeth without having to pay attention to your appearance. This means that you will not have any wires or brackets on your teeth, which makes it easier for you to talk, eat and smile with confidence.
The best thing about invisible orthodontics is that it is not painful at all. Most patients do not feel any discomfort while wearing these braces because they are made of clear plastic material so they are not visible from the outside even though they are inside your mouth.
Advanced Imaging Techniques
The dental industry is evolving at a rapid pace. With advanced imaging techniques, dental professionals are able to better diagnose and treat their patients. The most common imaging techniques used in dentistry include X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. They are used to detect dental problems like cavities, TMJ disorders, and cancerous growths.
X-rays are useful for detecting decay underneath the tooth’s enamel. A dentist may also use an X-ray to determine whether a patient has excessive bone loss due to periodontal disease or bone loss caused by gum receding from the tooth’s root surface (also known as a recession).
CT scans are used to detect cavities in the teeth or jawbone and determine if there is any damage to the jawbone caused by tooth decay or other types of diseases such as osteomyelitis.
MRI scans provide detailed images of soft tissues such as muscles and nerves inside the mouth. They can be used to detect tumors or cysts inside the head and neck area that may be causing pain in these areas; they can also determine if there is any damage done to these tissues due to cancerous growths like malignancies.
According to ScienceDirect, approximately 50% of the individuals in the US experience oral infections like periodontitis. In addition, one more study estimates early childhood caries are prevalent among 73.3% of preschool children. To appropriately diagnose and treat these and other oral conditions, radiographic evaluation through advanced imaging techniques work best.
Dental Robotics
Dentists have a lot of tools at their disposal. From drills and drill bits to dental instruments, they can perform all kinds of procedures on a patient’s mouth. But what if you could reduce the number of hours dentists spend on each patient while providing higher precision?
Dental robotics has become a reality, and it is poised to change how dentists perform their work. Working in tandem with dentists, robotics can emerge as a boon by providing accurate diagnosis and treatment in a reduced time and cost. In fact, the Yomi robotics system developed by Neocis, a prominent leader in dental robotics, claimed to complete over 1000 dental implantations.
Such adoption and integration of robotics in the dental industry are indicative of an environment, which is enriched with and optimistic about the use of robots in dental treatments.
But how does it work? A robot arm is attached to the existing dental chair and controlled by software that guides its movements based on input from a dentist or other medical professional. The device works by taking impressions of teeth or performing certain procedures like removing decay or placing fillings within them without requiring any manual intervention from human hands whatsoever.
Summing Up
The dental industry is currently undergoing a revolution. The introduction of innovative technologies and advancements in the field have helped make dental care more accessible, affordable, and effective for patients all over the world. The future of dentistry looks bright.