Technology has come a long way over the years and each passing day seems to bring bigger and better technology. Technology makes our jobs easier and even helps us do our job better than ever, so there is no doubt that dentists and orthodontists can greatly benefit from investing in modern technology. Here are a few of the latest trends in dental technology that are worth keeping up with.
Dentists Are Going Digital
Not only are more dentists enforcing a paperless system of practice and patient management, but they are also using digital technology to aid in their procedures.
More specifically, they are turning to 3D dental printers. These 3D dental printers enable dentists and orthodontists to create custom clear aligners to straighten their patients’ teeth and give them a healthier smile. Utilizing 3D printing helps cut production costs while also providing faster service to your patients without sacrificing quality.
Many dentists and orthodontists are using intraoral scanners to complete dental impressions, which aid in the development and execution of dental braces treatment. As intraoral scanners are improved upon, they provide precise measurements to ensure each impression is as accurate as possible while also minimizing the discomfort patients feel when getting impressions for dental braces.
Augmented Reality
Although augmented reality may be used more often by students in dental school, augmented reality is here to stay and can add immense value to just about all industries. In dentistry, it can be used to demonstrate procedures and help patients visualize what treatment they will receive.
Smartphones In The Workplace
Every day, more applications become available for smartphones, and websites become more mobile compatible. However, the applications you download do not have to be exclusive to your personal life and entertainment.
Envisioned by dentist Kathy Nguyen, OrthoPhoto App is a smartphone application for dentists that redefines dental record keeping. Rather than relying on a specific braces camera used in dental photography, uploading the images, cropping them, placing them in a slide show, and manually sorting them into patient files, dentists can now take their patients’ clinical images right on their mobile phone.
The application automates this once lengthy process. After dentists and orthodontists capture the relevant clinical photos, OrthoPhoto will automatically place them into a template that organizes them in the correct format (crop, size, order) and places them in the designated and easily exportable patient file to help you save more time and become more efficient. With OrthoPhoto App, practice better dentistry and improve your own quality of life as well as your patients’. Download it today for iOS and Android.
