The multiple benefits of digital dentistry

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Posted by: Dental Design 13th February 2024

New technology offers undeniable clinical accuracy and so, so much more.

There’s no denying that the advent of digital dentistry has brought with it a multitude of clinical benefits. Intraoral scanners and digital x-rays provide high-resolution images of a patient’s teeth and gums, allowing for more precise diagnoses and treatment planning; CAD/CAM systems and 3D printers have significantly improved the accuracy, speed and convenience of dental procedures.

Two aspects that Doug Watt will be advocating in the Clinical Theatre at BDIA Dental Showcase 2024, speaking on behalf of Henry Schein on 22^nd March at 13:15, are digital dentistry’s impact on patient consent and treatment uptake.

Doug graduated from Birmingham University in 2003 and was awarded membership of the Faculty of General Practitioners in 2005. Following a decade in general practice Doug became a partner in Euston Place Dental Practice in Leamington Spa. He is currently on the of the board of directors for the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and regularly lectures and mentors other dentists on digital workflows in dentistry.

“Consent is a huge part of the profession these days,” he says. “The UK is one of the most litigious areas in the world and avoidance of any negative contact with the GDC is imperative. Therefore, reducing the risk of any legal action is essential.”

In the digital workflow dental professionals can record exactly what occurred in a consultation, delivering information which can be shared easily and understood more. “The more informed a patient is, the more likely they are to understand potential problems and accept these if they do occur,” he explains. “This all goes towards mitigating any legal action or repercussions.”

Doug believes that digital imaging is a huge boon to the patient experience and their uptake of treatment. “It’s hard to show people their teeth. What I see compared to what a patient sees are very different,” he explains. “Helping patients visualise their own situations is complex and can prevent them from taking ownership of their problems.”

Digital scans have changed all that. “Digital lets you show the patient exactly what is going on in their mouth,” enthuses Doug. “Patients can dissociate from a general photo but a full 3D colour scan of their own mouth gives them a much better understanding of what’s happening and encourages them to get it sorted.”

As well as understanding the reasons for potential treatment, digital scans help to explain the cost of any recommended procedures too. “I find that patients are more likely to accept the cost and feel more confident in what I’m doing because I’m using digital technology,” he says. “There are lots of plus factors – treatments are more comfortable, more efficient and everything is faster. Communication with the lab is instantaneous too!”

Doug believes that many dental professionals hesitate to invest in digital because of the cost. “Some think they have to buy an intraoral scanner for each surgery – which would be a huge investment – but 3Shape scanners mean you only need one model which can be moved around several rooms,” he says. “There is also a degree of fear among the profession regarding the transfer to fully digital workflows. But I don’t think you can afford not to invest in digital now. If you’re the only one not scanning, you’ll pretty much be the outlier soon!”

Doug is also keen to expound digital dentistry’s green credentials. “I’ll also be addressing how digital dentistry helps to reduce the carbon footprint of a practice,” he says. “We were all on an eco-drive before the pandemic and then lockdown forced us into single-use items. But we are turning this around again and digital dentistry is at the forefront.”

Digital scanning is better for the environment: no more polyvinyl siloxane, trays or other impression-making materials. By doing away with the need to process photographic prints of x-rays, the chemicals are reduced and similarly film is no longer wasted and ending up in landfill. The digital design of dental prostheses enables efficient image capture, cloud storage and easy modifications, reducing waste and resource consumption, such as cutting the need to ship impressions to the dental laboratory.

Appetite whetted? Make sure you come along to the Clinical Theatre at BDIA Dental Showcase to hear from Doug and to learn more.

To register for BDIA Dental Showcase 2024 for free, visit https://dental-showcase-2024.reg.buzz/register-free-pr!