New Technology Makes Dental Care More Efficient
The dental technology world comes out with many devices and processes that focus on giving dentists a way to help patients more effectively. By rolling out these new technologies in the office, dentists can improve everything from patient outcomes to imaging safety. Here are five of the latest exciting innovations.
SmartCap
It took seven years of research and testing for a Creighton University project to develop a new technology for fixing dental cracks and damage. The researchers came up with microencapsulation, which they incorporated into a product called SmartCap.
SmartCap works by remineralizing the tooth’s surface. It delivers essential minerals through the cracks and starts to create new enamel to cover the damaged area. The risk of tooth decay greatly decreases, as the bacteria no longer has an easy way to enter the crack. Now that the research team has finished this project, they’re setting their sights on the next powerful innovation: bioactive orthodontic cement. Keep an eye on this team, because they’re going to continue changing the dental world.
3D Imaging
3D imaging provides dentists with a more comprehensive view of the patient’s teeth and jawbone. They can map out critical areas to prepare for oral surgery, look for abnormal growths for early detection of cancer in the area and help patients understand what’s going on inside their mouths.
A 3D image also streamlines the imaging process, as the dentist gets data that used to require multiple 2D scans. The time from diagnosis to treatment decreases, giving the patient a better overall experience.
Intraoral Cameras
This digital camera, designed for dental use, gives dentists a way to create images of a small area. When they only need to look at a limited amount of teeth, this device quickly gives them a way to convey information to the patient and get a better understanding of the potential dental problems.
Diagnodent
The diagnodent might look similar to a laser pointer someone uses in a presentation, but it serves a valuable purpose. This laser light is a fluorescence detector. The dentist can see where tooth decay has set in, even if a tooth otherwise looks perfectly healthy. This device detects decay problems faster than manual processes, so the dentist and patient can work on a treatment plan that remedies the situation earlier on.
Digital Impressions and X-Rays
Digital impressions and X-rays bring many benefits to dental practices. The digital imaging process goes quicker than traditional methods, which limits the patient’s exposure to radiation. They feel safer and more confident in getting the necessary imaging for their dental health.
Digitizing impressions and X-rays also reduce the time it takes to create dental prosthesis and other supplies. The dental office can send it right over to the lab via email or a lab portal. The lab gets all the information it needs without running into any problems with the data being incomplete or other issues.
The patients get their restorations or treatments started faster, which improves their outcomes, returns them to their best dental health and raises their satisfaction with the dental practice.
Dentists have many technologies available to address key areas of their work. Whether they’re looking for a way to find tooth decay more effectively or limit the imaging required for a patient, they can find what they need in the latest crop of devices and supplies.