How Digital Dentistry is Transforming Dental Workflows and Patient Outcomes

Innovations in digital dentistry are evolving rapidly, providing meaningful solutions for providers and patients alike. Providers can rapidly improve the quality of their patient outcomes while patients enjoy faster treatment and recovery times.

Let’s explore the current benefits and some of what’s to come.

What Is Digital Dentistry?

Digital dentistry leverages technology to optimize workflows and improve patient outcomes. Technology doesn’t replace the need for dental health professionals but augments the experience for the practitioner and patient. Current tools that streamline, optimize, and improve precision for dental assistants, dental hygienists, dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, and more.

This includes:

• 3D imaging
• 3D printing
• Digital impressions
• AI technology
• CAD/CAM systems
• Intraoral cameras
• Laser technology
• Machine learning software
• Robotics
• Teledentistry

Benefits of Digital Dentistry

Accuracy and Precision

Digital imaging and impression results are uploaded to modeling software to create life-like, 360-degree virtual models. Zoom in on digital X-rays and intraoral images to view teeth, gums, jaw, and bite like never before. 3D print teeth and gums to strategize the treatment plan.

Workflow Automation

Machine learning software semi-automates treatment planning for smile restorations and restorative dentistry. This includes providing pre-treatment digital workflows and GPS-guided surgical walkthroughs.

Improved Oral Health

Lasers identify and treat dental decay before they’re large enough to see on an X-ray. Predictive analytics help dentists personalize treatment plans for existing oral health issues and potential risk factors. This includes patient-specific predictions and geographic-specific health risk factors.

Patient Comfort

Digital dentistry reduces the need for anesthesia, minimizes surgical incisions, and often reduces recovery time. Office visits are typically shorter, and fewer visits may be required. This minimizes much of what keeps patients from staying up to date with their oral healthcare. For example, when a laser is used to remove tooth decay, no anesthesia or drill are required.

Patient Confidence

The ability to show patients what complete teeth straightening, smile makeover, restoration, or single implant or bridge looks like boosts their confidence. Leverage apps and teledentistry to deliver follow-up care reminders and follow-up visits. 

Expansion Potential

Investing in technology often pays itself back by optimizing workflow and generating new revenue streams.

• Treatment planning and reduced procedure times allow practices to book more patients.

• Printing clear aligners, mouthguards, splints, crowns, bridges, prosthetics, and appliances in-house creates a new revenue stream.
• Teledentistry allows dentists to consult with dentists and patients in rural areas.

Eco-Friendly

Many advances in digital dentistry support the growing trend in green dentistry and biological/holistic dentistry. In addition to digital tools, advances in equipment further practice sustainability.

• Printing dental appliances in-house minimizes carbon footprint.
• Laser dentistry minimizes the need for anesthesia when removing tooth decay.
• Less invasive digital procedures reduce pain, swelling, and infection, reducing the need for post-treatment pharmaceuticals.
• Amalgam separators minimize the amount of mercury and heavy metals that make their way into the water system.
• 3D volumetric scanners/cameras emit zero radiation. However, traditional radiology equipment may still be required.

What’s to Come in Digital Dentistry?

Integrating the tools above expands their applications. As such, most dental doctorate programs and programs for dental assistants and dental hygienists teach both manual and digital patient care.

Below is a look at expanded use cases for existing technology and some predictions for what’s to come.

#1 Predictive Dentistry

AI can be leveraged to predict patient-specific oral health concerns and region-specific oral health concerns. Smart learning algorithms analyze individual patients’ whole-body health factors to prescribe proactive oral health care. For example, predicting that a patient may develop gum disease encourages preventative care.

Universities utilize machine learning to monitor population-specific health risks. For example, whether those exposed to wildfires or extreme weather are more vulnerable to tooth decay or other health concerns.

#2 Dental Implant Robotics

Dental robotics is in its infancy, but there are a few options on the market.

The Yomi is an FDA-approved dental implant robot that enables same-day dental implants in about 1 hour. This revolutionary advance in digital dentistry takes 3D X-rays and utilizes GPS guidance to identify the precise location of the implant. One small incision is required, and zero stitches. Pain, swelling, and bleeding are minimal, and healing time is accelerated.

An autonomous dental robot is currently seeking FDA approval. It can prep a tooth for a crown up to 8 times faster than a dentist. 

#3 Expanded Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is precise, time-efficient, and minimizes (or eliminates) the need for anesthesia, drilling, and incisions. Many practices utilize lasers, but not to their full potential.

Current applications include:

• Reshaping the jawbone.
• Repairing worn-down fillings.
• Accelerating the rate at which fillings harden.
• Accelerating the healing time of cold sores.
• Treating tongue frenulum attachment.
• Removing soft tissue folds and benign tumors.
• Reshaping throat tissue that causes sleep apnea.
• Minimizing the pain and inflammation of TMJ.
• Sealing tubules on the root that contribute to hot/cold sensitivity.
• Stimulating the regeneration of nerves, scars, and damaged blood vessels.
• Faster, easier, and far less painful “gummy smile” and crown lengthening treatments.
• Identifying and repairing cracks and crevices in teeth up to 5 years before decay develops.
• Identifying early tooth decay before it evolves into a cavity that requires a filling.
• Precision targeting decay, preserving more of the tooth when prepping for a filling.

Expanding Your Skills Expands Your Job Opportunities

Staying current with the advances above makes you a top pick for local and global job openings. If you’d like to leverage your digital dentistry skill set to practice internationally, Dental Jobs has a database of employers looking for qualified candidates.

Browse our job openings now!