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Laurence Bohan 
Content Writer
Laurence Bohan 
Content Writer

Laurence is a copywriter and trained journalist. His passion is creating insightful and educational content for dental professionals of every level. Outside of work, he enjoys watching sport, quizzing and spending time with his family.

Dental care has undergone a huge transformation in recent years with significant technological advancements. It is important for dental professionals to stay up to date with the latest developments to provide the highest quality of care.

Investing in new tech for your practice can speed up procedures, make outcomes more predictable, and turn dental visits into a smoother and more comfortable experience for patients.

How Tech is Changing Dentistry for the Better

Dentistry has long had a reputation for being painful, both physically and psychologically. But the arrival of new technology is helping the industry shake off these negative connotations as it continues to move towards a greater emphasis on minimally invasive treatments and preventive care.

With most dental schools now incorporating the latest technologies into their teachings, the next generation of dentists are gaining first-hand experience and a greater understanding of new equipment and software.

The availability of this tech in practice is therefore becoming an expectation. This would include CAD/CAM technology, intraoral scanners, intraoral cameras and digital imaging scanners.

Patients are also more likely to accept your recommendations when they can visualise the situation their oral health is in. Intraoral cameras are also key to detecting problems at an early stage so that any subsequent treatment becomes less invasive, expensive and time-consuming.

Modern intraoral cameras, such as the C50 from Acteon, have unique modes that can detect cavities, plaque and inflammation with the click of a button without the need of any messy dyes or solutions needing to be applied to the teeth.

Digital imaging

The use of digital X-rays has truly revolutionised the way oral health problems are diagnosed. By removing the need for traditional film, patients are no longer exposed to high levels of radiation and X-ray processing times have been drastically reduced.

Digital imaging comes in various guises, each with its own unique benefits. The choice of how advanced to go with your digital X-ray setup depends on several factors, including chair number and budget.

Phosphor plate radiography is generally considered the least expensive way to convert from analogue to digital imaging and the method with the smallest learning curve.

Digital imaging plate scanners like the PSPIX2 can receive images in seconds.

As well as being quicker and more sustainable versus analogue X-rays, digital imaging can produce sharp, high-quality images that can be blown up to any size for accurate examination.

For more information on the different types of digital X-ray methods, see our Ultimate Guide to Digital Dental X-Rays.

The Ultimate Guide to Digital Dental X-rays | Kent Express
Guide To Digital Dental X-rays
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Convert to Phosphor Plate Radiography | Kent Express
Phosphor Plate Radiography
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So, What’s Next for Dentistry?

There is a feeling that the current digital evolution taking place in dentistry is only the beginning.

Inventions that are already being tested or in use around the world that we can expect to hear more about in the coming years. These include 3-D printing, the use of soft-tissue lasers for minor gum surgery, biomaterials to fill cavities and bioprinting.

For now, switching from analogue protocols to digital workflows with the aid of widely available technology and equipment can increase efficiency and improve patient care.

The likes of CAD/CAM, intraoral scanners, intraoral cameras and digital imaging are therefore steadily becoming a necessity for modern-day, forward-thinking dental practices.

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