Top Ways Technology Boosted Dental Accuracy
Over the last few decades, dentistry has come a long way thanks to a steady stream of technological advancements. Modern dentists can easily detect problems early and fix them with superior accuracy, reducing the risk of complications. In my latest lifestyle article, I will share four key areas in which tech has improved dental work. Continue reading for more.
We live in a world of digital innovations that have reached almost every sector (including dentistry). However, these transformations didn’t occur overnight. They evolved from utilitarian tools into instruments that help clinics work smarter (not harder). There is a vast array of new options available for dentists, including 3D imaging, digital impressions, and beyond! (all helping to make the work much more accurate).
In the following points, I will explore various ways that technology has improved dental accuracy, which in turn ensures that diagnosis and treatment are more reliable for patients and providers alike.
Digital Impressions Removed Guesswork
Traditional dental impressions rest upon trays of sticky putty. This method will often be ‘messy’, causing the results to be erratic (either due to the patient or the setting time of the material). Modern digital impressions have upgraded the entire process by utilising intramural scanners, creating precise, 3D replicas of the patient’s teeth. These scans will capture the intricate details that older methods could often miss (making them a more precise option for crowns, bridges and aligners).
The dentist will be able to evaluate the scans in real time and even opt for a rescan if necessary. The whole process takes much less time, and the margin of error drops considerably. Now that there is less tweaking down the line, treatments will be more accurate right from the start of the procedure.
Predictable Implant Placement
The final success of implants largely depends on careful planning and accurate placement. In the past, dentists were limited to using models, two-dimensional X-rays, and approximations by eye to position the implants—modern-day methods ensure digital workflow governs every movement.
Dentists can now integrate 3D scans using planning software to model the procedure before going anywhere near the patient’s mouth. The team behind Bicon Dental Implants highlights that several tools have emerged that increase the placement accuracy and allow the ability to perform guided surgery. Furthermore, it helps the dentist avoid nerves while connecting the implant into hard bone – this practice will result in a more secure fit (with far fewer complications).
3D Imaging Improved Treatment Planning
X-rays are common procedures used by dentists to display a two-dimensional view (however, they do not tell everything). 3D imaging, including cone beam CT scans, offers full models of a patient’s jaw, sinuses, and mouth. This advanced level of detail provides dentists with a much more complete view of where they need to work. When planning surgeries, root canals, or implants, this modern-day tool helps to plot out the exact locations of the nerves and bone density.
As such, dentists can efficiently avoid critical risks and insert tools with far better precision. Furthermore, patients will benefit from this new process as they receive fewer surprises during treatment (plus shorter recovery times). Overall, 3D imaging ensures that treatment is safer and more accurate.
CAD/CAM Systems Enhanced Restorations
Once upon a time, crown, bridge, and inlay design took weeks to complete. Fortunately, dentists now have access to CAD/CAM systems to create precise restorations in-house. These advanced units can scan the patient’s tooth, design the personalised piece, and then mill it from a solid block to material (all within one visit to the clinic).
As the digital restoration conforms to the scanned image, the overall fit will be more accurate than laboratory fabrications, reducing the need for realignments or replacements. Patients enjoy immediate and effective results, and dentists can have total quality control throughout the procedure.
Summary
Technology is seemingly unstoppable and has brought incremental, measurable improvements to dentistry. Whether via digital impressions or guided implant placements, each of these improvements allows dentists to work with greater precision (with fewer mistakes!). Furthermore, patients benefit from shorter appointments, better results and less pain during and after treatment. Dentists can now confidently plan and perform procedures thanks to precise data and clear images. Tools will undoubtedly become even advanced over the next few years, so the level of care offered to patients will expand even further.
What are your thoughts on my latest article regarding dental technology? Please share your thoughts below.
