Enhancing visualisation and communication with digital dentistry

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Posted by: Dental Design 13th January 2024

Many factors influence the relationship between dentist and technician, which in turn impact the quality of dentistry that is delivered to patients. One of the most important aspects is how the two communicate with each other.

This is something that Dr Eoin O’Sullivan believes all dental professionals should consider carefully in order to improve the efficiency and standard of their dentistry. With more than 30 years of experience as a dental practitioner, Eoin is a Specialist in Prosthodontics. He is also a well-known teacher, lecturer and mentor in the UK and abroad, having become a Fellow of the world-renowned International Team for Implantology (ITI).

Eoin reflects on what he feels are the main barriers to effective communication between dentist and dental technician in today’s profession:

“Unless you have had the privilege of an on-site lab, analogue workflows will have meant sending prescriptions and impressions to the lab by post or courier. We are all aware of the potential risks of damage or delays associated with this process, which can hinder communication between dental team members.

“The main consequence of this poor communication is unpredictable treatment outcomes. This is likely to lead to more remakes, as well as increased cost and stress for both the dentist and the dental technician.”

For these reasons dental professionals are constantly striving to improve communication methods in order to minimise the potential risks and optimise treatment workflows. Eoin continues:

“In recent years, the advent of digital technology has provided an ability to take and transfer photos and impressions between practice and lab digitally. This is faster, more convenient and generally better for the professionals and patients involved. We now have access to a variety of digital platforms to communicate, including email, web-based data sharing platforms, and social media options like WhatsApp. Essentially, digital dentistry is about enhancing visualisation – when it comes to communication, this means giving both dentist and technician better visualisation of the case information, planning and design processes.”

Though there are many benefits to digital communication, there are also some risks that dental professionals need to be aware of in order to avoid falling foul of the pitfalls. Eoin continues:

“With so many different digital tools, there is a risk that information can get lost in translation or simply missed altogether. It can be challenging to check multiple platforms for each case you are trying to collaborate on, so it can be helpful to focus information in core places.

”There are technologies available today that make this a reality, offering a single platform from which to exchange information and interact with colleagues anywhere in the world. This also means that all the data from the dentist is transferred to the technician as one package, including scans, prescriptions, radiographs and photos.”

Eoin will be discussing this in more detail at BDIA Dental Showcase 2024, where he will be speaking in the Clinical Theatre on behalf of Align Technology at 14:00 on Friday 22^nd March. About his session, Eoin says:

“We are in an era of exciting digital technology across dentistry, with new things constantly coming along. However, this can be overwhelming, which can be a barrier to adaptation. So too can the initial financial outlay for the relevant equipment.

“I will share what I use, what works for me and how it could impact other practices. I’d like to show that moving into digital dentistry can be straightforward and it doesn’t have to be too different from traditional workflows. Adopting technology can improve predictability, convenience and efficiency of the clinical workflow, significantly improving communication as well. The return on investment can also outweigh the initial cost much quicker than some believe. But you don’t have to radically change everything about your practice to start benefitting. I will ensure that my session is very relevant to the general dental practitioner who wants to get started in digital.

“I will also be discussing the iTero-exocad Connector™ digital planning platform. With both dentist and technician having access, verbal and visual queries can be communicated with ease, improving how restorations are planned, designed and fabricated, first time.”

Don’t miss BDIA Dental Showcase 2024 to engage with more than 300 dental exhibitors, discover innovative new technologies and find new ways of boosting patient care, staff retention and business growth. There will be hands-on workshops, lectures and lively debates to get involved with – secure your place at what is set to be the event of the year and register for free today at https://dental-showcase-2024.reg.buzz/register-free-pr!