Dentistry has historically been an “analog” profession that depended on the hand skills of both dentists and laboratory technicians for successful treatment. Restorations made using stone models, precious metals, waxes and porcelain often required methods that were both time consuming and costly. In recent years, the advent of improved technology has revolutionized the dental field and led to a shift towards digital dentistry. Laboratories once filled with casting machines and denture flasks are now occupied by computers, 3D milling machines, printers and scanners. Workflows are now being streamlined and optimized, allowing for a higher level of accuracy and efficiency for dental treatments.
Diving into the digital realm often requires significant financial investment and can be crippling if the transition isn’t embraced by all members of your team.
This has led to a major shift in the way that dentists treat their patients. Many practices are ditching impression materials in favor of intraoral optical scanners. Traditional film radiographs have almost entirely been replaced by digital radiographs and three-dimensional imaging. Crowns that were once made by laboratory technicians over the course of several weeks are now being milled and fabricated in the dental office in a matter of hours. Analog workflows are quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Digital technology and digital workflows are here to stay. When implemented correctly, they can improve patient experiences, increase efficiency, and lead to greater profitability.
So how do you stay ahead of the digital revolution in dentistry and avoid being left behind? Diving into the digital realm often requires significant financial investment and can be crippling if the transition isn’t embraced by all members of your team. Starting with the right equipment for your practice is critical for a seamless transition. Learn from other practitioners which technologies to embrace first in your practice and how to avoid headaches from making too many changes too quickly.
Digital technology and digital workflows are here to stay. When implemented correctly, they can improve patient experiences, increase efficiency, and lead to greater profitability. At Dental CoNexus, we hope to connect you to a network of dentists that can share their experiences with digital technology to help you better choose which upgrades may be right for your practice.
