Latest Advancements in Dental Technology
Dental technology is continually progressing and evolving as it seeks to keep up with the demand for comfort and convenience from consumers. The advancement of technology has had a significant impact on the dental industry. It’s helped to create products and treatments that are more efficient and ultimately make oral care more bearable.
By sourcing these materials for your own dental practice, you can run more efficiently and create more comfort for your patients.
1. Smart Toothbrush
With ‘smart’ technology being all the rage these days, it’s only natural that toothbrushes had to join the club. The smart toothbrush will monitor your patients’ entire brushing routine. They can identify if they are brushing correctly, and if not, they will let them know. Not only can they track the frequency of brushing, but also how long you spend on each tooth. They can set timings to make sure they always brush the proper amount. All the data uploads to a smartphone app, where they can receive rewards and coaching tips. There are even games to get the kids inspired about oral health. Have your patients show you the app when they come in for their next cleaning.
2. Composite materials
You’ve likely already been using composite material for a while, but the materials have improved over time. Dental suppliers in the UK now provide composite material that looks more natural and is much more durable than its predecessors. This advanced composite is translucent and therefore looks aesthetically seamless compared to the old days of metallic options. It can be perfectly coloured to match the patient’s other teeth. Composite is used for fillings, adhesive bridges, inlays and veneers.
3. Digital X-Ray Machines
Traditionally, dental x-rays were uncomfortable, took forever and emitted high levels of radiation. With new technology, digital x-rays process much quicker and download directly to your computer for review. It makes giving dental x-rays more convenient and efficient, allowing you to diagnose your patients quicker. On top of that, the radiation levels are way lower, making the whole procedure a lot safer and more comfortable for patients.
4. Intraoral Camera
One of your patients’ pet peeves is having to keep their mouths open wide for such a long time. It can cramp up their jaw and lead to an uncomfortable buildup of saliva. With the new intraoral cameras’, you can observe the whole inside of your patients’ mouth using only a small dental mirror. These dental mirrors have cameras on them that can provide live feeds and also take pictures of the interior of their mouth without them needing to open wide.
5. No-Needle anaesthesia
Anaesthesia and numbing needles are the number one reason that patients don’t want to go to the dentist. Everyone would agree that those long needles are incredibly unpleasant, and many patients will cancel appointments rather than go through with it. With the public begging for a solution, technology came to the rescue. Needles are no longer necessary to numb your patient’s mouth before dental procedures or surgery adequately.
While new needle-free options are emerging, the most common is the Injex system. The local anaesthetic is applied to the mucous membrane, where it then spreads deep into the gums. Not only does it numb the area instantly, but it is also completely painless. If your office doesn’t currently offer this option, you should definitely look to add it to your toolkit.
The latest advancements in dental technology allow you to diagnose and treat your patients more accurately. Comfort and efficiency are at the forefront of the innovations and more are expected in the near future.
