Some dentists just scan for crowns and bridges, but digital dentistry workflows are the future of all general dentistry, from those crowns and bridges, to dentures, orthodontics, implants, and sleep apnea appliances. We look at how digital technology and workflows can transform your practice while greatly improving patient experience.
Digital dentistry = modern dentistry
Do you remember the first time you used a smartphone? For some of us, it was mind-blowing, and some of us grew up with the technology already implanted in society. That’s how doctors and patients look at digital dentistry today. For some older dentists and patients it is a new novelty; for younger people it is what all dentistry should be
Most everybody has a smartphone today, but many practices have already out-of-date technology or aren’t taking advantage of all digital dentistry can make more efficient—the equivalent of still using an iPhone 7 or having the current model but not using any app other than email. The ability to leverage digital dentistry solutions to improve your diagnosis, treatment planning, and procedures with computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) can shift what is possible in your dental practice.
However, many clinicians don’t realize all the ways a digital workflow in dentistry can transform their general dentistry practice and patient experience. They do not harness all these utilities, opting to continue using the traditional workflow with many treatments and leaving these improvements and enhancements—and the revenue they generate—on the operatory table.
To avoid this fate, let’s take a closer look at what digital dentistry does and the digital dentistry solutions available.
What are all the digital dental treatments?
Digital dentistry advances the delivery of dental care with the help of technology to elevate the patient experience. Precise imaging, efficient treatment planning, and personalized restorations have revolutionized the delivery of oral health and improved dental education and communication between patient and clinician. Digital dentistry enhances diagnostic accuracy, streamlines workflows, and improves treatment outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction.
By contrast, traditional dentistry relies on manual techniques and analog tools. While proven and more familiar than digital dentistry to many dentists, traditional dentistry also takes longer and doesn’t offer the same accuracy and precision that digital dentistry does.
In other words, digital dentistry enhances virtually every treatment you do in your daily dental practice—and a few things you probably haven’t tried. Here are ways general dentists can leverage digital dentistry workflows to transform their dental practices.
Crowns and bridges
Digital dentistry enhances crown and bridge delivery. Digital workflows provide the information necessary to receive restorations that fit consistently, meaning fewer adjustments and less chair time for patients. Digital workflows also allow your lab to deliver crowns faster than traditional workflows. Additionally, a wide range of materials are available for digital crown and bridge restorations, like eMax and Zirconia so that you can treat any case.
Dentures: Full and partial
One of the greatest enhancements digital dentistry provides over a traditional workflow is for full and partial dentures. Digital technology streamlines the denture delivery process, reducing the usual number of appointments to as little as two in some cases. Additionally, digitally-produced full and partial digital dentures have a range of materials available, providing both a superior fit and excellent esthetics, even in complex or challenging cases.
Implants
Dental implants are much more accessible for the general dentist to add to their practice when leveraging the benefits of the digital workflow. Not only does the digital workflow enhance the planning of implant cases, but it also allows for continuous case collaboration and support, including surgical guides that streamline and simplify implant placement.
Surgical guides
For any dentist, especially those new to dental implants, surgical guides take the guesswork out of drilling. They promote a better understanding of the diagnosis, ensuring the most efficient use of the patient’s available bone. Surgical guides facilitate more predictable placement, improved case outcomes, and reduced unexpected issues and remakes.
Ortho – Clear Aligners
Digital dentistry also makes it easier for the general dentist to offer Clear Aligner therapy. The ability to deliver this treatment modality—that patients often ask about—significantly impacts the patient experience. Adding one new clear aligner case per week can result in as much as $200,000 of additional annual revenue for the general practice.
Night guards and splints
When adding new treatments to a general dentistry practice, a digital workflow makes adding night guards and splints easy and convenient. These appliances are valuable to dentists and patients, from treating the rising number of Bruxism and TMJ cases in your patient base to providing an insurance policy on the new crown or implant you just placed.
Sleep Apnea appliances
A new dental treatment category with high revenue potential is mandibular advancement devices, which treat sleep apnea cases. For patients with mild-to-moderate obstructive sleep apnea, sleep apnea appliances are a preferable alternative to CPAP devices. Digital dentistry allows general dentists to provide sleep apnea appliances for these patients.
Wellness Scans
Digital dentistry enables general dental practices to offer wellness scans, a new diagnostic tool that establishes a comprehensive patient record. Leveraging the imaging capabilities of the intraoral scanner, general dentistry practices can create detailed 3D images of the patient’s teeth, gums, and bite. A wellness scan helps clinicians plan treatment, visualize outcomes, and establish a baseline to monitor patient oral health changes over time.
Do all digital dental treatments with Dandy
Dandy is there for general dentists ready to dive deeper into all that digital dentistry offers. Not only do we provide a free scanner, but we are also a 100% digital lab, and can be your all-in-one lab as we manufacture all the above. Plus, all our practices get to experience the Dandy Difference, which includes the following:
- Five-day turnaround on zirconia crowns
- Free training on digital workflows
- Real-time clinical support
- Free wellness scans
- 2-Appointment Dentures
- Straight-to-finish partials
With all of these opportunities available to you, it is time to embrace the future of dentistry with digital dentistry solutions. Taking advantage of digital dentistry’s benefits to your clinical outcomes and patient experience can make the difference you have been looking for in your day-to-day care.
Book a consultation with us to learn more about how digital dentistry solutions can help your practice increase its services and improve the patient experience.
