One of the most common childhood fears is visiting the dentist. The memories of sitting in a huge chair, and enduring lengthy seated sessions with a dentist looking inside your mouth using frightening devices stays with us.
However, new innovations have had a great impact on how dentistry will be practiced and how patients will take care of themselves in the future.
So, without further ado, let’s explore what dentistry in the future will look like:
Digital Radiography
Digital radiography (X-rays) provides a quicker, easier, and more environmentally conscious way to take dental radiographs, while minimising our patient’s exposure to radiation when compared to traditional methods. Advanced digital radiography such as Cone-beat Computed Technology (CBCT) are important in diagnosing and planning in fields such as implant dentistry.
Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM)
Computer-aided design and 3D printing are already revolutionising the way that dentists and labs fabricate dental appliances such as dental crowns, orthodontic models, surgical guides, occlusal splints and so much more.
Traditionally, when a patient needs a crown, the dentist must take a mould of the prepared tooth and fashion a temporary crown to put over the tooth whilst waiting for the dental laboratory to make the permanent crown. With CAD/CAM technology, the tooth is scanned using a computer and the data is either sent to the lab or to an on-site 3D printer. The introduction of this technology makes this process quicker and easier for the patient.
Surgical Microscope and Loupes
Magnification devices help dentists to provide a better-quality result for the patient. These technologies include equipment like dental loupes and surgical microscopes. Dental loupes are the magnifying glasses that dentists wear to enlarge everything they see in the mouth, which ultimately results in more precise dental work. Using surgical microscopes allows the dentist to see things that are not visible to the naked eye, providing benefits to the patient such as early diagnosis, greater precision, improved aesthetics, and an improved standard of treatment.
Photography
Photography allows the dentist to keep records, monitor dental disease or lesions, and can act as a visual aid for patients to better doctor-patient communication. Intraoral cameras, SLR cameras, and microscopes can be used for photography.
Advanced Technology at Soothing Care Dental
Soothing Care Dental is working at the forefront of dental technology, constantly adapting to the latest innovations, and keeping pace with the growing possibilities in dental healthcare.
Our dentists have access to and are trained in computer aided design technology, and we have an in-house 3D printer which can be used for the fabrication of same day crowns. Our digital radiography system and equipment are cutting-edge, with an in-house unit capable of taking panoramic and 3D (CBCT) radiographs. All our surgeries are equipped with intra-oral cameras and digital cameras. Our dentists own dental loupes with a variety of magnification levels, and we also have a Surgical Operating Microscope (SOM) which can be used for magnification and/or photography.
For more information regarding the advancement of technology in dentistry, or to book your next check-up, contact Soothing Care Dental, the Drummoyne dental practice locals trust, on 02 8311 6699 .
