Thanks to advances in digital dentistry, visits with your dentist are faster, safer, more convenient and more reliable than ever before. But what exactly is digital dentistry and how does it have such an impact on the level of care you receive? If you’re curious about digital dentistry, we’ll explain how computers can help improve your smile.
What is Digital Dentistry?
Digital dentistry encompasses any digital or computer-based technology your dentist can use to examine, diagnose and treat the health of your mouth.
Types of Digital Dentistry Used Today
Digital dentistry is transforming almost every aspect of professional oral care, from the moment you check-in to your appointment, to the moment your dentist evaluates your oral health, to the diagnosis and treatment of any ailment or condition you may have, to how your dentist behaves. Follows and interacts with you between appointments. Some digital dentistry tools you may encounter at your appointments include:
Intraoral cameras
Tiny cameras are fast replacing the tiny round mirrors that dentists used to examine inside your mouth in the past. One of the biggest advantages of these cameras is the magnification. When they can make your tooth approximately the size of your head on a flat screen, they can better identify potential issues with your oral health that need to be addressed. Another benefit is that they can share what they see with you, allowing you to better understand and improve your oral hygiene. Images can also be shared with lab technicians to match crowns and bridges to the color of your real teeth.
Digital radiography
X-rays have been used in dental offices for a very long time, but the traditional X-ray process required film processing, which was time consuming, expensive, and prints had to be filed in cabinets and physically delivered to other practices. experts if needed. Digital radiography is faster. Images can be viewed immediately on a computer screen. The files are stored on a server or in the cloud and the images can be easily shared with experts if necessary with an internet connection. In addition, according to the published X-Rays and Radiographs summary, radiation exposure in digital radiology is less than in the use of x-ray film.
Intraoral scanning and CAD (Computer-aided design)/CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing) technology
Not so long ago, there was a time when dentists put a sticky substance (imaging material) in a mouth guard and placed it in the correct position in your mouth and bit it off until it hardened. They use this form to make a mold and send it to a lab where a dental technician creates whatever device you need to repair, replace or better align your teeth. However, thanks to intraoral scanning and CAD/CAM technology, it is no longer necessary for the impression material to stay in your mouth for days. Scanners create a 3D digital image of your mouth that dental technicians can use to design a denture (crowns, veneers, onlays, inlays, bridges, implant-supported restorations or dentures), and then the denture is milled from either a solid block of material or 3D-printed.
Cancer screening tools
Fluorescent imaging can help dentists see abnormalities and signs of cancer that may not be visible to the naked eye. Diseases can be treated at an earlier stage when diagnosed early with these tools, providing the patient with a better prognosis and a shorter recovery time. A review published in the journal Oral Diseases confirms that this new tool can detect lesions and other potentially malignant diseases.
Digitally guided implant surgery
This relatively new innovation is not yet widely used. It still helps dentists determine the most precise and efficient way to place an implant in your specific jawbone structure using intraoral scanning.
Information Management
Not so long ago, dental records were all physical copies stored in file cabinets. A mix of technological innovation and federal regulation has motivated dental offices across the country to update their systems. This has improved scheduling, made it easier for your dentist to access records exactly when they need them, improved workflows, and simplified the sharing of patient information between offices when needed.
Digital technology in dentistry is advancing rapidly, and by leveraging scientifically tested and proven advances in their field, dental hygienists can deliver the best care. Digital dentistry is constantly giving dentists ways to help you in faster, safer, more convenient and more reliable ways than before.
