Technology for dentists has come a long way over the years. Not only does it make our job as dentists and orthodontists easier, but it also helps our patients feel like they are in great hands every time we see them! However, as more dentists implement advanced technologies, you might fall behind. Here are a few of the latest trends in dental technology that are worth keeping up with.
Dentists Are Going Digital With Impressions For Dental Braces
Impressions are rather uncomfortable for the patient and, if the patient is extremely uncomfortable, it can be difficult for you as their dentist to get good-quality impressions that will aid in your treatment plan.
Digital impressions are a much more comfortable and efficient way to obtain molds of your patients’ bites, so many dentists and orthodontists are turning to intraoral scanners instead. These scanners provide precise measurements to ensure each impression is as accurate as possible while also minimizing the discomfort patients feel when getting traditional impressions.
3D Imaging For Dental Braces Treatment Planning
When dentists and orthodontists plan their patients’ braces treatment, they often get X-rays so they can get a close look at their malocclusion, thus helping them determine the right treatment. However, X-rays are only 2D. Although a great dentist can come up with an effective treatment plan, 3D imaging takes things to the next level and gives dentists an even more detailed view of their patients’ mouths. 3D imaging has made braces all the more customized and effective.
Smartphones in the Workplace With OrthoPhoto App
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 Houston dentist Dr. Kathy Nguyen, OrthoPhoto App is a smartphone application 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 on their smartphones, 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’. You can download OrthoPhoto for iOS here and for Android here.
