Advances in dental technology bring new ways of diagnosing diseases and planning treatments more effectively than ever before.
Jacob G. Park, DDS, has been using a complete computer-aided design/fabrication system since 2000, including an intraoral scanner, mill, and oven, and recently added a 3D printer to his office. Procedures that once took an entire day in dental school now take about an hour.
“Today, I can complete an entire procedure — a single ceramic inlay, inlay or crown — in 50 to 90 minutes using a complete chairside CAD/CAM system,” said Dr. Park, ADA Scientific Affairs Council member and chair . of the ADA Dental Products Standards Committee Subcommittee 9 on CAD/CAM in Dentistry. “I think this explains the impact of technological advances for dentists. Over 95% of my corrected cases are made in-house.”
But navigating the technology landscape can be challenging. Here are key points about some technologies that dentists may want to consider purchasing for their practices.
Cone CT scan
- What are its uses?
Dentists can use 3D images created by cone computed tomography to plan implants, visualize abnormal teeth, evaluate the jaws and face, evaluate cleft palate, and diagnose tooth decay, endodontic conditions, and dental trauma. - How does it improve over prior technology?
CBCT imaging captures the dentition, soft tissues, nerve pathways and facial bones, all in one scan. This allows dentists to compile a comprehensive reference file and effectively plan a variety of dental treatments and improves their ability to diagnose conditions that they could not observe using 2D radiographs. However, CBCT devices produce a radiation dose that is higher than traditional X-rays, but generally lower than other medical CT scans. - What does the purchase cost?
$50,000-$100,000 - What training is needed to use it?
Dentists who use CBCT devices must receive appropriate training and continuing education in the safe use of these imaging systems, according to the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs. Although vendor-provided training may be appropriate in some cases, dentists should review the source of any radiation safety information and comply with applicable regulations to ensure a safe environment for staff and patients. patients. A health physicist or other qualified expert should perform a shielding analysis prior to installation, followed by equipment performance and compliance evaluations during installation and at least annually thereafter.
3D printing/additive manufacturing
- What are its uses?
Dentists, labs, and companies can use 3D printing to produce crowns, bridges, implants, veneers, molds, retainers, aligners, indirect bonding trays, models, and preoperative and surgical guides. - How does it improve over prior technology?
3D printers use digital images to create customized dental objects and models more quickly and cost-effectively than traditional manufacturing methods. Models for surgical planning offer advantages over 2D and 3D imaging and can help patients better visualize and understand their treatment plans. - What does the purchase cost?
$300-$20,000 - What training is needed to use it?
Dentists can take continuing education courses on how to incorporate 3D printing into their workflows. Manufacturers and dental labs can also offer training and guidance on their specific systems.
Intraoral scanner
- What are its uses?
Dentists use intraoral scanners to take digital impressions that can be used to create crowns, inlays, inlays, fixed partial dentures, aligners, chewing appliances, and surgical implant guides. - How does it improve over prior technology?
Intraoral scanners may provide a faster and more comfortable experience for patients than the traditional method of impression taking. In a 2021 survey by the ADA Science & Research Institute, dentists who used intraoral scanners reported better results than conventional methods and improved efficiency as the main benefits of using the technology. However, while intraoral scanners can provide accurate impressions for tooth- and implant-supported crowns and short fixed dentures, full-arch digital scans for tooth- and implant-supported dentures and removable partial and full dentures can be less accurate from conventional methods. - What does the purchase cost?
$5,000-$23,000 - What training is needed to use it?
Dentists may need guidance on how to select the most appropriate intraoral scanner for their clinical needs and training in managing variables that can reduce scanning accuracy. In the survey, most dentists reported receiving training from a manufacturer, while others learned by doing, watched a video, attended a CE course, or received training from a dental laboratory.
