If it ain’t broke… why conventional techniques continue to prevail
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 12th October 2022
The marketing around digital dentistry is strong; stronger than ever since the pandemic, when practices had to find different ways to work and connect. Many took it as an opportunity to review their processes, and assess what could be done differently to improve workflows and elevate their service.
Digital technologies – whether we’re talking about practice management software or CAD/CAM – offer, according to the marketing, better ways to communicate and gather, store and share data. Being able to show patients a detailed picture of their mouth, for example, so they can see changes for themselves, supports acceptance of treatment plans. More information also means improved diagnostics and ways to monitor progressive conditions, such as tooth wear.
An area that is moving fast is 3D printing, which has been hailed as a “disruptive” technology, with many potential applications in dentistry.[i] An accurate restoration can be produced in-house while the patient is in the chair being prepped; a highly efficient way of working, which represents good use of resources (time, energy, materials) and creates little wastage.
Full treatment delivered in a single visit is appealing for busy people as well as practices. Cutting edge tech also looks impressive, and can be a way to differentiate yourself from your local competitors and it demonstrates that you are modern, advanced, forward-thinking. When it comes to digital innovation, we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg too and who knows what DCPs will be able to achieve in the future.
Expecting a revolution? Don’t count on it yet
Convenient, fast, cutting edge and ‘greener’, as well as a means to do more… we can predict a future where digital is set to dominate. But not take over. Despite all the advances, traditional methods and materials for things like impression taking are not only continuing to prevail, but they are also evolving. They have their place now, and will continue to do so.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”: this is probably the number-one reason why dentists, for a number of reasons, including clinical ones, have held off on going digital. For conventional impression-taking, for example, manufacturers have pushed boundaries to develop materials that give exceptional results even in the most complex cases. There are now options that flow beautifully in the mouth, and that are available in amazing colours, such as silver and black, to mix and match for an astonishing level of detail. There are different working and setting times available, plus consistencies. Silicone impression materials are heat tolerant; addition silicone is autoclavable for clean, sterile impressions. There are heat-resistant trays too which can also be autoclaved and reused – ticking both the infection control and green/more sustainable dentistry boxes.
The latest generation of impression materials are easy to work with, supporting efficient workflows. When a situation is challenging, addition-type silicones offer various physical properties that really give them the edge; they are amazingly accurate and stable. They offer an ideal working time and excellent readability, and an almost-perfect reproduction of the marginal contours. Patient tolerance in the mouth tends to be good too, far better than the messy and unpleasant options that were the only choice for so long.
Modern impression materials are also the ideal basis for better teamwork. The combination of precision and predictability means technicians rarely need to request retakes from supplying dentists, and can get on with crafting a beautiful restoration for their patients. Because the materials can be relied on every time, dental nurses can go ahead and mix, saving time. As for the convenience factor, people desire an enduring, as well as beautiful and functional result above everything and would not wish to compromise success just to get their treatment completed faster. That said, conventional impressions can be delivered efficiently, and in a seamless, hassle-free way.
With so many benefits, there is a strong case for digital and traditional dentistry being able to co-exist in the future, side-by-side. Especially with so much talk of touch financial times ahead, your practice simply might not have the resources to go digital just now. As well as the initial investment, there is potentially the cost of upgrades as well any physical changes you might have to make to the practice, plus training.
Exceptional care, that will really raise levels of oral health, is about reviewing all the options, and choosing the most appropriate course of action on a case-by-case basis. Digital dentistry is certainly exciting, but what science and technology has been able to achieve for ‘conventional’ materials – and the techniques needed to use them – means that that these methods will continue upgrading everyday practise for some time to come.
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[i] Dawood, A., Marti, B., Sauret-Jackson, V. et al. 3D printing in dentistry. Br Dent J 219, 521–529 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.914
