Digitisation has enhanced every industry with the medical field now able to provide patients with drastically enhanced care, in a fraction of the time. This extends to the specialised field of dentistry where innovative technology has completely revolutionised tooth restoration design. Here’s a look at why leading dental practices are now incorporating digital dentistry.
What is digital dentistry?
This is where dental technology and equipment are incorporated into dental treatment, relying on computer-based technology. This is effectively eliminating manual dental treatments by automating almost all processes to deliver a more efficient treatment method.
What are the benefits of digital dentistry?
There are several reasons that dentists, and specialists in the dentistry field including orthodontists, periodontists, prosthodontists, and oral surgeons, are incorporating digital dentistry into their practices. Here are some of the benefits associated with digital dentistry.
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Improved accuracy and precision
Digital dentistry relies on cutting-edge technology and software to ensure you’re benefitting from more accurate and precise dental restorations.
One example is computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology which is used to quickly and efficiently design and create dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, and veneers. Dental professionals use CAM and CAD technology to customise restorations in a much quicker time than would be achieved with manual restorations.
Another example of the digital dental technology used in digital dentistry is intraoral scanners which create incredibly precise digital impressions of your teeth. By using intraoral scanners, dentists don’t need to rely on outdated messy and uncomfortable impression materials that can’t provide as accurate a depiction.
By leveraging this technology, dentists are also improving the visualisation accuracy which means the restorations are more consistent and accurate. It also eliminates the need for repeat adjustments, and costly re-dos, and there is less cost associated with impression equipment.
2. Faster results
Another incredible benefit of digital dentistry is the speed with which tooth restoration can be performed. Something like creating a new crown, which would previously take days or even weeks to complete, can now be done within a day. This is because, in traditional dentistry, designing and developing dental products – crowns, bridges, dentures, and aligners – had to be painstakingly performed by hand. 
One of the technological advances that have contributed to this increased speed is 3D printing technology. This has, quite simply, revolutionised the medical field including the fabrication of dental restorations. Using 3D printers, dentists are now able to create physical models of teeth, surgical guides, and even temporary restorations. This doesn’t only improve accuracy, it increases turnaround times and reduces costs.
3. Improved patient experience
The biggest overall benefit of digital dentistry is how it improves the entire experience for the patient, from start to finish.
One of the ways is the use of virtual planning whereby the dentist uses specialised software to visualise and plan the restorative dental treatment before beginning. This can be shared with the patient so that they have a clearer picture of what the process is, and what they can expect from the outcome. Through this virtual software, patients are much more involved in the entire restorative process than they would be with traditional methods, allowing the opportunity to provide feedback and enjoy more understanding of the process.
Another way that digital dentistry enhances the patient experience is through the final aesthetics. Digital dentistry allows for much more highly aesthetic restorations by using more advanced imaging and technology that allows for colour-matching. Once an intraoral scanner has been used on your mouth, dentists can capture the details and choose the correct shade, translucency, and more for your tooth restoration, resulting in a much more natural aesthetic.
4. Better communication and collaboration
It’s clear that digital dentistry allows for much better communication and collaboration between the dentist and the patient, but it also allows for enhanced communication and collaboration between the dentist, other specialists, and dental laboratories.
Digital dentistry means that a patient’s digital files can be created and uploaded quickly, and then shared directly with other specialists and dental laboratories. The digitisation process eliminates the risk of human error and miscommunication that can be detrimental at a later stage.
Once your dentist takes a digital scan of a patient’s mouth, the digital impressions can be saved for future use and shared with authorised providers with lab technicians. This digital communication allows for the quick creation of dental replacements that can be incorporated into the dental treatment plan.
Where to go for digital dentistry in Melbourne
Manningham Dental Specialists (MDS) offer professional care in prosthodontics using the latest in digital restorative technology. There is open communication between dentists and patients, with the practice offering comprehensive, high-quality care. Using dental technologies, MDS can deliver specialised treatment options for cosmetic, restorative work, and the replacement of missing teeth.
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