Digital Technology Makes Dentistry Better for Doctors, Labs, and Patients
Digital technology has revolutionized the dental industry, and those dentists who are yet to embrace this technological advancement may want to evaluate the positive impact that embracing digital can make. Some have the attitude that patients have done well enough with how things have always been handled and may feel it is too much of a bother to change late in their careers. However, the outcomes are not only much better for dentists and patients, but dental laboratories can make integrating the digital process easy while adding immediate and long-term value to the practice.
One of the areas where digitizing the relationship has had the most significant impact is communication and collaboration between practices and the labs. In this blog post, we'll discuss why dentists should use this technology to enhance this relationship and the advantages that come with it.
The traditional process involved sending RXs, physical models, and/or impressions through the mail or by courier. This was not only time-consuming and expensive but also prone to errors and delays. Digital technology has simplified the process, while making it far more accurate and satisfactory for everyone, most importantly the patients. This is due to the ability of dentists to communicate with dental labs through digital channels, such as software applications associated with their preferred intraoral scanners, web portals, email, and even texting. Of course, the digital technology can be supplemented with phone calls or visits to the lab (or arranging lab staff to go to the practice).
Another significant advantage of digital collaboration is speed. This enables dentists to send and receive information from dental labs almost instantly, reducing turnaround time and allowing for faster delivery of dental prosthetics to the office. This also means that patients can receive theirs quicker in many cases, while also reducing their time wearing temporary prosthetics. Perhaps the most important advantage of using digital technology when working with dental labs is accuracy. It enables dentists to send very precise digital impressions, reducing the possibility of errors and misinterpretation. Digital impressions are also more consistent and reproducible, making it easier for dental labs to create prosthetics that are perfectly fitted to the patient's mouth.
Consider that a scan is an exact copy of the patient's mouth that is being worked on, while physical impressions are analog copies of the mouth, which are then copied in stone and then again in scanning, in most cases. Impression material and stone both have expansion and contraction to factor in, which does still work, but consistency is lacking when compared to intraoral scans. Digital communication also enables better collaboration between dentists and dental labs. Dentists can share digital images, X-rays, and patient records, enabling lab technicians to have a better understanding of the patient's dental condition and treatment plan. This ensures that dental labs can create prosthetics that meet the patient's unique needs and preferences.
Furthermore, it makes possible full customization of dental prosthetics. Digital technology enables dentists to see digital mockups of prosthetics by lab technicians before production to better meet the patient's specific needs. Customization of dental prosthetics ensures that patients receive prosthetics that are perfectly fitted and comfortable, enhancing their overall dental experience. Digital communication also makes it easier for dentists to track the progress of prosthetics. With digital communication, they can receive updates from labs, reducing the need for follow-up calls and visits. This ensures that dentists have accurate information on the progress of prosthetics and can provide patients with regular updates.
Moreover, setting up digital workflows for prosthetics means dentists can store patient records and digital impressions on secure servers, reducing the need for physical storage space in the office. This not only saves space but also reduces the risk of loss or damage to physical records and impressions. Without the need for storing and shipping physical models and impressions, the cost of prosthetics for patients can be lowered, making dental care more affordable and accessible.
Dentists who fully embrace the digital revolution in collaborating with their labs will find the work of creating prosthetics is much easier and results in patients who are happy and loyal, the foundation for long-term practice success.
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At Modern Dental USA, our Digital Support Services are available to help dentists make the transition to digital dentistry painless. From assisting with your digital scan needs and troubleshooting to supporting the advancement of your digital dentistry knowledge, we got your team covered. We love digital technology and want to make your journey fun, simple, and productive.
