Getting marginal design executed perfectly is critical so the digital scanner can pick up the prep scan accurately, says Jeannie Hughes, one of Dandy’s digital dental experts with 30 years of experience. “Digital scanners struggle with picking up knife/feather edge preps.”

In this article, we’ll cover which crown margin preparations are best for digital dentistry, the differences in shoulder vs chamfer, and why some, like the feather edge margin, aren’t ideal for best practices.

Types of marginal designs in crown preparation

Shoulder margin

The crown preparation technique called the shoulder margin is named that, because of its shape. The 90-degree angle resembles a shoulder and is one of the best marginal designs for digital dentistry. 

Prep dimensions for shoulder margin: 1.0mm for zirconia, PFZ, PFM, and emax Lithium disilicate 

Pros of the shoulder margin

It’s the easiest for the scanner to read, ensuring the restoration fits perfectly.

Cons of the shoulder margin

It can be difficult to put a shoulder margin crown on an anterior tooth. It can be challenging to do a shoulder margin in certain posterior teeth, too.

The shoulder margin is one of the best crown prep techniques for digital dentistry because the scanner can clearly see the prep, says Hughes.

Shoulder margin conclusion

“The shoulder margin is the best prep for zirconia crowns,” she says. Zirconia can be milled best with this prep style.

Chamfer margin

The chamfer margin crown preparation technique got its name because of the shape. It’s like a shoulder margin but with a slight angle.

Prep dimensions for chamfer margin: 1.0mm for zirconia, PFZ, PFM, and emax Lithium disilicate, 0.6mm for emax veneer

Pros of chamfer margins

They’re better for anterior teeth because they create a more seamless margin where it’s aesthetically noticeable.

Cons of chamfer margins

These can be more challenging to prepare.

Chamfer margin conclusion

The chamfer margin is acceptable in digital dentistry but it’s not as good as a shoulder margin due to the mill’s capabilities, making it a harder margin to mill. 

Feather edge margin 

The feather edge margin or “knife edge margin” is named such because it’s a very thin margin.

It’s not recommended in crown prep for digital dentistry because it can’t be 0.6mm thick, the value required for digital scans. “If you make a knife edge margin on a zirconia crown, it’s very likely going to break,” Hughes says. 

It goes back to “minimum thickness,” a very common term in dentistry. We know that 0.6mm is the minimal amount of thickness that zirconia needs to be stable, Hughes says. The chamfer style prep limits the space needed to create adequate material thickness on the marginal region.

“When it’s less than that 0.6mm, it’s at risk for breakage and failure. If the margin in this case—the point where the lip of the crown and the tooth meet each other—is open,” says Hughes. That can lead to bacteria getting in and the crown is more susceptible to decay, infection, and other problems, she says.

With the feather edge margin, that thickness goes down to almost 0 and the scanner can’t read it. “When we’re trying to guess where that margin is, and a lot of times it’ll be too short, or too thin, and now we have an open margin, it leads to the crown having to be remade or it breaks,” says Hughes.

Chamfer vs shoulder margins

Now that you know you’re likely to use chamfer margins or shoulder margins with crown prep because they provide optimal room for the scanner to see the crown, you’re probably wondering the best case for using either one.

When do you do chamfer vs shoulder margins? 

Ideally, the dentist should prep shoulder margin whenever possible in digital dentistry.  This enables labs to create a restoration that flows with the remaining tooth structure with no bulge at the near margin, Hughes shares.

That being said, chamfer can make the transition from tooth-to-crown margin look more seamless with anterior teeth.

So how do you make the transition?

We get it.  Not every tooth can be prepped for a perfect shoulder margin. To learn how to adopt a margin style you aren’t as familiar with, make sure you’re using the correct dental burs, suggest Hughes.

Once the crown margin is fully prepared with digital dentistry, make sure you pack cord so the designers can see the margin accurately.

And don’t be afraid to contact the Dandy team. Sure, you’ll have learned this with our trainers during the onboarding but, it’s easy to forget some details. The team is standing by and available for a private call before, during, and after the crown margin prep process.

Prep styles for zirconia crowns

Zirconia crowns are ideal for digital dentistry done with a shoulder margin prep, but they can be done with a chamfer style. They should be done at least 0.6mm thickness to be stable, Hughes suggests.

When prepping for a Zirconia Crown, keep in mind proper marginal finishing lines for clinical success. Intraoral scanners improve the accuracy and efficiency of the preparation process, reducing turnaround time compared to traditional methods.

Prepping crowns and digital dentistry

Why does a certain thickness matter so much when you’re doing restorations with digital dentistry? 

Designing and milling a crown less than 0.6 mm minimal thickness can lead to fractures and chipping, says Hughes. “So if the doctors reduce 0.6mm or less, there could be an overhang, which leaves a trap for plaque and bacteria to get in. Then the doctor sometimes has to adjust the crown, And basically, so now we have something that’s overhanging and adjusted to fit, but now it’s too thin and is at a risk for breaking.”

Best practices for digital dentistry and crown prep involve using cord. “Make sure that you use gingival packing cord and move the tissue out of the way so the digital team can make you a great-fitting crown with digital precision,” says Hughes. 

Verified by Dandy’s Clinical Support Leads: Brian Arias, Matt Hibert, Colin Kreinbrink

The post The ultimate guide to crown margins appeared first on Dandy.

Unlike reruns of Seinfeld, throwback grunge music, and knee socks, clinical concepts need to be left with the times to make way for new and improved models. 

Procera porcelain was stronger than other types of porcelain at the time and they looked great. But these ceramic crowns fractured because the material was fragile, especially when compared to porcelain-fused-to metal (PFM) crowns and advanced porcelain crown materials.

“We saw a lot of them failing due to lack of strength,” says Jeannie Hughes, one of Dandy’s digital dental experts with 30 years of experience. “No one really uses them anymore.” 

Dentistry evolved. The modern alternatives last longer while looking as good as all-ceramic crowns.

What is an all-ceramic crown?

All-ceramic crowns are types of dental restorations that can cover a tooth or cap a tooth that needs restoring. They’re made from porcelain. They came after gold crowns. Most dentists used Procera AllCeram crowns in the 1980s and 1990s for anterior restorations because they were very translucent and it was easy to match the tooth color. They were certainly a few steps up from gold crowns when the patient wanted an aesthetically-pleasing crown.

The full-ceramic crowns were used for anterior tooth restorations and posterior restorations. Initially, they seemed like a great solution. Until they weren’t. 

The all-porcelain crowns showed significant wear and tear in a short period of time. In three-year studies, all-ceramic restorations exhibited deformities, roughness, and signs of being worn down, particularly on the posterior teeth. 

All-ceramic crowns mostly stopped being done in the 1990s. Better restoration materials came along, like lithium disilicate, zirconia crowns, and PFZ (porcelain fused to zirconia).

Limiting factors for all-ceramic crown suitability 

All-ceramic crowns and all-porcelain crowns were well-liked for their translucency but they had problems, mainly:

• Lack of strength
• Showed signs of wear and tear
• Lack of durability on posterior teeth
• Lower flexural strength values compared to alternative restorations

The main problem with all-ceramic crowns:

Strength was the overwhelming significant problem for this type of restoration.

How long do ceramic crowns last?

Most crowns should last 10 to 20 years and beyond (if they are done well.) All-ceramic crowns don’t last as long as an eMax or zirconia crown restoration. 

Ceramic crown alternatives

Upon the proliferation of lithium disilicate (a type of porcelain) crowns dentists moved away from all-ceramic crowns. The best modern-day alternatives are:

eMax crowns

These monolithic restorations are made from lithium disilicate and are a great option when the patient needs to prioritize aesthetics over strength. They’re loved for anterior teeth restorations for single-tooth and multiple-unit cases, as well as crowns, veneers, and bridges up to three units. Dandy has full contour IPS eMax crowns as well as layered lithium disilicate options.

Monolithic zirconia crowns 

Zirconia crowns come in various strengths, aesthetics, and durability levels. High-translucent zirconia is a good option to replace an all-ceramic restoration, says Hughes.

“We try to mimic that light shining through enamel look in our restoration,” says Hughes. ‘The stronger something is, the more opaque it is. Dandy has a very strong zirconia crown product—1350MPa Flexural Strength—that’s recommended for most posterior teeth.”

PFZ crowns

Dandy’s Porcelain Fused to Zirconia (PFZ) restorations are porcelain over zirconia. “They’re a great option for anterior teeth,” says Hughes. “Zirconia gives you the strength while porcelain gives you the beauty.”

Ceramic restorations with Dandy

Dandy offers high-quality Zirconia and eMax crown and bridge products with seamless digital workflows, along with the best restorative intraoral scanner for free.

Learn more about all the ways Dandy’s all-in-one digital lab products and solutions can help transform your practice and give your restorative patients a crown that will last.

The post All-ceramic crowns and their modern alternatives appeared first on Dandy.

The steps for all dental crown preparation materials should essentially be the same, says Jeannie Hughes, a Dandy digital dental expert with 30 years of experience.

To ensure we are starting on the same page, what do we mean by crown prep? The dental crown preparation or “crown prep” is the removal/reduction and shaping of the existing tooth structure in order to make adequate room for the tooth to receive a dental crown. This is performed by the dentist with a dental handpiece. An accurate crown preparation and scan are essential to the success of the final restoration (crown).

PFM crowns are popular amongst dentists mainly because they’re sturdy and reliable. One study found that the five-year survival rate of PFM tooth-supported prostheses was 99.5 percent.

Keep in mind that there are more aesthetic materials available, says Hughes. In the 1970s and 1980s, PFM was often the best aesthetic option but there are now more aesthetic and often stronger options such as, but not limited to:

• EMAX (brand name) Lithium disilicate (material) 
• Zirconia 
• PFZ: Porcelain fused to zirconia 

Steps of PFM crown preparation

Here are the PFM crown preparation steps within Dandy’s digital workflow, as outlined by Hughes:

First take the preliminary impression for the provisional crown (if indicated, it is in most cases), then:

1. Begin preparation (reducing and shaping with a handpiece). The margins have to be obvious, a diamond dental bur is recommended for prepping the margin.

2. Manage soft tissue (retraction, ideally pack cord) 

3. Prepare the area for scanning 

Make it clean and dry: Be sure to thoroughly clean and dry all areas that will be scanned, the preparation, margin, opposing, adjacent contacts, and surrounding tissues should be free of saliva, blood, or debris. Ensure the tissue is not bleeding or control the bleeding before scanning.

Errors above can contribute to inaccurate scans which will lead to a crown having to be remade or refabricated. 

Double-check at this time:

• Margin prep
• Path of insertion 
• Reduction 
• Occlusion 

4. Scan the areas: If you partner with Dandy, employ Dandy’s Chairside Software as a guide

Keep in mind these digital scanning best practices: 

• Keep gloves, tongue, cheek, and lips out of the scan area.
• Capture full arch scans.
• If the shutter noise stops, (it means scanner is “lost”) return to a nearby occlusal surface.
• Reduce moisture by using suction or compressed air before and during scanning.
• Use the Twist Technique for interproximals and hard-to-reach areas
• Ensure that scan in stone model mode 

5. Evaluate the final scans of PFM crown prep, what to check:

A. Margin

• Is it clean and dry?
• Margins have to be obvious or easy to see 
• No tissue, blood, cord, or debris should be obstructing your view

B. Interproximal contacts

• Mesial and distal contacts of the adjacent teeth must be accurately and fully scanned 
• Mesial and distal contacts of the adjacent teeth are smooth, not jagged and/or uneven

C. Accurate bite

D. Guide the patient into centric occlusion and make sure it is accurate on both the left and the right sides.

E. Adequate reduction per material for the final restoration (crown) 

F. Correct path of insertion 

G. Shade capture—always include a shade—and photos (if indicated) 

H. Verify the scans are accurate

6. Finish visit

• Submit the case to Dandy 
• Seat the provisional crown 
• Schedule patient for delivery based on date from the Dandy portal

PFM Crown prep dimensions

“It is very important to consider the material of the final restoration when reducing the tooth,” says Hughes. “Some materials, like PFM, require more reduction than a monolithic restoration.”

The tooth preparation needs to allow room for the porcelain, opaquer, metal, and cement gap. 

“While Dandy’s dental experts understand that there is not always an ideal situation and minimal reduction is necessary, the [final restoration] doesn’t leave much room for proper anatomy or room for adjustments (if needed),” Hughes says.

(Please chat with Dandy’s clinical support or live scan review teams for assistance when choosing the best material for your case.)

Preparations of anterior crowns using PFM

It’s less common for dentists to use PFM crown prep techniques for anterior teeth. The most common reason? Aesthetics.

Preparation of posterior crowns using PFM

When completing PFM crown prep for posterior teeth, Hughes suggests you keep these factors in mind:

• Digital vs. analog:
  • Using an intraoral scanner requires full margin visibility. Pro tip: Digital scans benefit most from shoulder or chamfer prep styles.
  • If you’re following a partially digital or CAD-CAM fabrication workflow, much of the restoration is still fabricated by hand. Whereas monolithic restorations (made from zirconia or lithium disilicate) can often be fabricated using a fully digital or CAD-CAM fabrication workflow.

• PFM vs. monolithic restoration:
  • Make sure to reduce enough considering the final restoration needs room for the metal, opaquer, and porcelain. 

• Is it strong enough? Strength Zirconia vs. PFM
  • Monolithic Zirconia is remarkably stronger than PFM

• Aesthetics: Is the crown on an aesthetic area or an area that might be noticeable? If so, there may be a better option because the metal base will be visible.

Limiting factors for PFM crown preparation suitability

There are a two main reasons a PFM crown might not be the number one choice for your patient:

Inadequate tooth reduction: Follow the guidelines above for each type of reduction method, ideal margins, and prep style.

Metal allergy: If the patient has a metal allergy, you’ll need to use zirconia or ceramic materials.

Best practices for PFM crown preparation with digital dentistry 

If you’re new to these modern digital dentistry practices, try this Dandy-recommended guidance for crown preparation vs analog/traditional:

• Much of the PFM crown preparation is the same digitally as it is for traditional impressions. You need to reduce enough, have the proper taper, and path of insertion. Oftentimes, doctors don’t realize that you can’t get away with a feather edge or knife edge margin prep with digital as you sometimes could with traditional impressions.

• A feather edge or knife edge margin prep usually cannot be picked up by the scanner. 

• Soft tissue management is non-negotiable with digital. Dandy recommends the double gingival cord retraction, aka packing cord. 

• In order to capture an accurate scan the scanner must be able to pick up the entire margin 360 degrees circumferentially. 

• The prep, adjacent contacts, and opposing should be dry and free of saliva, blood, and debris prior to scanning. The experts at Dandy like to say, “If you can see it, we can see it.”

Why do patients love this innovative process? Dandy’s experienced Live Scan Review experts check your scan before the patient leaves the chair, preventing patients from having to rebook another visit.

PFM crowns with Dandy

Dandy offers a seamless process of producing PFM crowns and more modern zirconia options through digital dentistry—explore the differences between the two types of crowns here. When you partner with Dandy we can help guide you through scanning, clinical support (including prep advice), and material selection. Contact us to learn more about Dandy’s digital lab workflow, turnaround times, and pricing.

The post PFM crown prep appeared first on Dandy.

A DSO implements a dental provider contract between you, the dentist (and often the business owner) and them, the management company. They’re legally binding and need to be abided by on both sides.

Note: Dandy is not a DSO but a digital dental solution powered by a proprietary workflow to produce best-in-class lab work.

DSO dental affiliations are on the rise, in particular amongst newer dentists. In fact, 23% of dentists affiliated with DSO have been out of dental schools for 10 years or less, according to an American Dental Association 2023 survey. That number drops to 11% for those with 11 to 25 years of experience after dental school and 7% for dentists with over 25 years of post-dental school experience.

So are the newer dentists just looking to off-load part of their business tasks? Or, are they believing that DSOs can grow their businesses in other ways? Read on and form your own conclusions.

How are DSOs structured? 

DSOs provide a centralized structure that provides administrative support, insurance claim support, operating support, marketing, and other nonclinical support. A DSO can buy and/or work with a dental practice brand, like Aspen Dental’s management group, The Aspen Group. 

Other DSOs often work with brands and individual companies or specifically individual dentists practices. They’re working with a team. While that includes perks, it may also mean giving up some autonomy that comes with running your own business.

What services are provided by DSOs?

• Administrative/clerical work
• Patient scheduling
• Procurement
• Billing and insurance reimbursement
• Marketing and development
• Human resources
• IT
• Mentoring programs and continuing education 

What types of deals can you sign with DSOs?

While dentists can, you don’t have to “buy into” a DSO. There are different types of deals an owner of a dental practice can sign with a DSO. They include:

• 100% affiliation: With this model you sell all of your practice to the DSO and handle patient care—or step away from the business completely!

• Joint venture model: In this model, you can sell about 60-90% of your practice and get cash right now but you’ll retain ownership that falls in the 10-40% range. The DSO and dentist both invest in the growth of the practice while the dentist controls the day-to-day clinical operations.

• Equity roll: The practice owner sells 100% of their practice to the DSO dental group. They then trade their equity into the DSO so their investment keeps growing.

• Sub-DSO: The practicing dentist who owns a business can be paid a large upfront payment, exit the transaction without debt, and maintain 40% ownership and profit share.
• Non-captive DSO: Some dentists can opt-in for certain non-clinical support for 3-6% of gross revenue.

• Direct investment with private equity: This is when an investor purchases ownership and bypasses dental service organizations. It can be a buyout or a minority growth investment. Then you, dental practice owner, could be a founding DSO member.

Some DSOs work in certain states, others only work with certain surgical specialties and others provide access to state-of-the-art technology and tools.

The rise of DSO affiliation

So why are we seeing so many dentists join DSOs? And what does the popularity of DSOs signify to the future of dentistry?

According to the Health Policy Institute’s Evolving Dental Practice Model report from 2022, about 13% of dentists in the U.S. are affiliated with dental service organizations. 

Early-career dentists with less than five years out of dental school make up 27% of that demographic.

Dentists who have been out of dental school for 10 years or less tend to be more likely to practice in larger groups than those who have been out of school for longer. Nearly 25% of the dentists who have 10 years or less experience are affiliated with practices that have two or more locations. Of that group, 16% are associated with practices that have 100-plus locations!

It’s speculated that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the rate of dentists examining what is a DSO and joining these groups. That could be due to these DSOs being able to withstand the financial burdens the pandemic placed on the healthcare industry at that time, including closures, new infrastructures, and robust marketing plans to attract new clientele.

Dentists are either joining  DSOs earlier in their careers or selling practices to DSOs to reduce administrative responsibility, have financial support, and enjoy some cost savings as they build their business and scale.

What are the benefits of joining a DSO? 

Now that you’re keen on exactly what is a DSO, think strategically about why you might join one.

Perhaps you’re looking to focus more on your patients’ mouths and less on rescheduling their appointments and dealing with insurance companies and bills. We hear you. Those are some of the major benefits of joining a DSO. Others include:

• Taking advantage of advancements in digital dentistry without cost being barrier to entry: Many DSOs will provide access and training to the latest dental technology and innovative tools that can enhance your skills, like the digital intraoral scanner that Dandy offers free to their partners.
• Practice growth: If you didn’t minor in marketing or excel in your business classes, you might not feel confident in the skills required to find new customers. This is where a DSO can do the heavy lifting and address your practice’s marketing for a 
• Business planning and financial management:  DSOs can help dental practice owners with accounting, marketing, supply procurement, and access to capital they need for expansion.
• Insurance management: You probably didn’t get into dentistry because you were excited about dealing with insurance companies and claims. Hand this job off to a DSO so you can focus on what matters most to you—the clinical side.
• Digital dentistry: As dentist owners want to adopt more technology as part of their practice, joining a DSO can help with that—through training, integration strategies, and cost-saving measures. If this is a factor for you, please learn about the free digital setup and continued training Dandy offers.
• Recruiting & HR: When you’re part of dental service organizations, they can help you attract and hire qualified candidates as well as let you know about candidates they already have in the system that may be a fit.
  

What are the drawbacks of joining a DSO? 

• Loss of autonomy: You will have less of a say in your business, including marketing, day-to-day admin operations, practice hours, and even vacation time. Relinquishing some control can be difficult for business owners.
• Changes in patient care: Change will likely be uncomfortable at first and come with some hiccups. The DSO might implement new processes that you don’t agree with and come with some grumbles from patients.
• Potential for reduced income/burnout: Depending on the contract you signed, there could be restrictions with income caps for you and employees.
• Culture clash/staff turnover: Some of your employees might not like the changes and will seek employment elsewhere.
• Less or zero equity in your business: You’ll probably need a different retirement plan from selling your business depending how much of a stake you released.

Dental Service Organizations and what they mean for your practice

The decision to join a dental service organization is entirely up to you and your practice needs. The biggest factors include your appetite for being a small business owner as well as a doctor, with autonomy and equity also top-of-mind. Before making any decisions, we’d suggest looking at your dental practice benchmarks to see where you think you may need help. 

The post What is a DSO? appeared first on Dandy.

While the scientific community at large hasn’t confirmed the superiority of using one technique over another to get the ideal impression of a crown or bridge, using the retracted cord to deflect gingiva seems to be preferred by the majority of dentists. That’s probably because some techniques just work better when it comes to creating proper margins for taking digital dental impressions. In fact, we love the double cord retraction technique in particular.

Discover gingival retraction techniques to consider, their pros and cons, as well as the best gingival retraction techniques for digital dentistry.

Gingival retraction techniques

There are different techniques, some are better than others when it comes to clarity of margins, some are better than others at providing a more comfortable patient experience. Here are retraction cord dental techniques to think about as you consider the best options for your practice and your patients.

Retraction paste

What is retraction paste? Expasyl is a clay-like material type of retraction paste that can be dispensed from a syringe-apparatus or a delivered through a heavy-duty delivery gun. Other retraction pastes can be putty-like materials. This can be used for gingival displacement during the impression and cementation stages when a patient is getting ceramic veneers or crowns. It can be cleaned off after two minutes with an air/water syringe and the sulcus will be prepped for the impression.

Advantages of retraction paste

• Good for when preparation margins are at the gingival level or slightly intrasulcular prior to impressions
• Can be performed without local anesthesia
• Has no chemical or setting reaction
• Minimal or no physical damage to gingival tissues
• Doesn’t require cords
• Saves time

Disadvantages of retraction paste

• Not as effective for subgingival margins
• Results in washed margins
• Can be more expensive
• Inhibits the setting of popular definitive impressions, polyvinyl siloxane and polyether impressions

Suitability of retraction paste for digital impressions

Retraction paste can be an option for taking digital impressions as the dentist can get from final gum prep to final impression in a few minutes. That being said, it’s the farthest removed from any sense of mechanical retraction and often results in suboptimal scans so we do not promote it as a technique for digital dentistry.

Gingivectomy

What is gingivectomy? This type of retraction technique is beneficial because it can be relatively painless as the diode dental lasers are used to penetrate soft tissues minimally for the impressions. The laser is inserted into the sulcus approximately 1.0 mm apical to the restoration margin at a low power setting which can be increased as needed to effectively cut if gingival tissue is particularly fibrous. Lasers are a form of dental technology to invest in as it can be implemented in many ways.

Advantages of gingivectomy

• Produces minimal damage of collateral tissue
• Less discomfort for the patient
• Sulcus is sterilized
• The tissue shrinkage is reduces
• Requires minimal time to implement

Disadvantages of gingivectomy

• If you’re using a CO₂ laser, it doesn’t provide tactile feedback so there’s an increased risk of damage to junctional epithelium
• There is a cost barrier
• Minor tissue oozing might occur
• Tougher to capture deep placed margins

Suitability of gingivectomy for digital impressions

Lasers lend themselves to being beneficial for gingival retraction and gathering digital impressions. This technique can be faster and more comfortable for the patient when done correctly and efficiently which can lead to less tissue damage while capturing the impression. That being said, the lack of mechanical traction makes it a less than ideal option for digital dentistry.

Cord retraction

What is cord retraction? Gingival cord retraction techniques involve a piece of thin string that gets placed in between the crown-prepped tooth and the surrounding gums. A retraction cord can sometimes can be packed beneath the margin of the prepped tooth, or, it is packed at nearly the same level as the margin. The depth usually depends on the patient’s gums on a case-by-case basis. The gingival retraction cord technique can be done with a single cord or a double retraction cord.

Advantages of cord retraction

• Double cord retraction results in increased accessibility and placement of the tissue
• Single cord technique is adequate if the margin is visible
• We believe it is the best way to take impressions with a digital scanner

Disadvantages of cord retraction

• Can lead to gingival bleeding and root sensitivity in some patients
• Can be relatively time-consuming procedure
• Leaving the gingival retraction cord in for a long time may cause damage to the gingiva

Suitability of double cord retraction for digital impressions

This impression technique is optimal for digital scans, particularly when the dentist uses the shoulder style margin prep for its visibility. 

Gingival retraction techniques for digital dentistry 

When it comes to preparing your practice for digital dentistry, the traditional techniques for retraction may be less important while intraoral scanners continue to add to their accuracy and ability to capture soft tissue. Going digital can impact the way you prepare for different prosthesis, but in the end can lead to more accurate restorations that require fewer adjustments. If your practice is ready to go digital or still has more questions, get in touch with our team today!

The post The best gingival retraction techniques appeared first on Dandy.

You might need a refresher, ‘what is the double cord technique?’

The double cord technique is a dental procedure that involves placing packing cord between the tissue and the tooth when taking prosthetic impressions. One cord goes deep and one is shallow. 

The dentist needs to displace the gingiva in order to obtain an accurate impression for a fixed prosthesis. Accuracy of gingival displacement using the retraction cord dental is particularly important when the finish line is at or within the gingival sulcus.

This gingival cord retraction technique allows for more significant retraction of the gums.

Often, a dentist can pull out the second cord (which would be closer to the margin and shallower) and keep the first cord (which would be deeper) in place if it sits below the margin for a final impression scan.

By using double cord as part of the dental impression technique, your margins are better when it comes to getting an accurate impression. Packing cord dental practices with two cords can help prevent tissue collapse when getting the impression so you’re able to do the best prosthetic impression possible without worrying about a single dental cord tearing.

Here, learn more about how the double cord retraction technique is best suited for margins when taking digital impressions and how an intraoral scanner can help.

The difference between single cord and double cord retraction techniques

Retraction cord can be thought of as a piece of thin string that gets placed in between the crown-prepped tooth and the surrounding gums. Retraction cord sometimes can be packed beneath the margin of the prepped tooth, but sometimes, it is packed at nearly the same level as the margin. The depth usually depends on the patient’s gums on a case-by-case basis. 

If the dentist “pulls the cord,” the gums do not suddenly snap back into place and cover the margin. Instead, the gums very slowly and gradually return to their original position. When a dentist pulls the cord, he/she must move quickly to scan their final impression before the gums cover the margin of the tooth again. 

Still, polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impressions result in a high-likelihood of pulls/distortions and a high refabrication rate. That’s not an ideal situation for you or your patient. 

A single cord is an adequate option of tissue retraction as long as the margin is visible and the tissue has not collapsed prior to scanning.

If you’re following the single cord retraction technique, follow these steps:

• Ensure the retraction cord dental is soaked in hemostatic material.
• Leave it in place for 5 minutes.
• Then pull the cord and scan for optimal results.

If you’re using the double cord technique—our preferred one!—follow these steps:

• Pack two knitted cords—soaked in hempstatic material and at different diameters—into the sulcus. 
• Leave the larger cord in place for at least five minutes before pulling.
• Often, a dentist can pull out the second cord (which would be closer to the margin and shallower) and keep the first cord (which would be deeper) in place if it sits below the margin for a final impression scan.
• Blast with air to ensure prep and tissue surrounding prep is dry.   
• Take the impression using an intraoral scanner.
• The dental cord can stay in during the final impression scan if the cord is packed below the margin, and is packed deep enough so that none of the cord is covering the margin.

How digital dentistry changed the technique for packing dental cords

Taking a PVS impression before the age of digital scanners provided physical retraction on the tissue enough to flow in between the margin and the free gingiva. This allowed for all prep styles to be implemented by dentists. Despite this benefit, PVS impressions result in a high-likelihood of pulls/distortions and a high refabrication rate.

Use an intraoral scanner to minimize the chances of a refabrication rate during a cord retraction technique.

• Digital scans benefit most from shoulder or chamfer prep styles—overall we prefer shoulder style margin prep for its visibility. 
• When prepping with a shoulder, the margin is clearly visible on the scan—ensuring the restoration matches perfectly to the finish-line. In clinical situations where this is not possible, a medium to heavy chamfer style of margin will work. 
• Keep in mind, the ideal occlusal space should be at least 1-1.5mm
• For optimal scanning results apply the Double Cord Technique (available in sizes 000, 00, 0, 1, and 2) due to the increased accessibility and improved displacement of tissue. 

Another benefit to using an intraoral scanner for a digital impression? If you see that the scan isn’t ideal, minimal effort is required to re-scan for optimal results.

Producing better impressions with double cord retraction

As your digital dental partner, we want to produce the highest quality prosthetics and restorations for our doctors. The first step to a successful restoration is an accurate digital impression and clear margins. Whether you’re prepping a zirconia crown, prepping for veneers, or prepping for another crown or bridge restoration, gingival cord retraction using the double cord technique is what we recommend to get consistent results, every time.

The post Why we love the double cord retraction technique appeared first on Dandy.

You’re not alone in bringing up these problems in dentistry as technological advancements are made. In fact, 25% dentists in the US don’t have plans on picking up an intraoral scanner yet. Their concerns might be some of the dentistry challenges mentioned above or, they don’t understand the benefits of digital dentistry.

Discover the challenges of dentistry many dentists face before moving forward with technological advancements and learn how to bring your practice up to speed with digital health improvements. You’ll find out the answer to ‘is digital dentistry the future?’

What challenges does digital dentistry bring?

The biggest challenges facing dentistry in general right now include staffing shortages, finding new patients, keeping up with tech-focused treatments, paying off dental school student loan debts, and staying relevant with popular dentistry practices.

Some of the answers to those challenges of dentistry could be brining your practice up to speed with digital dentistry solutions.

But there are concerns tech-cautious dental professionals bring up when discussing the challenges of dentistry you’ll need to consider before transforming your practice into one that includes the latest digital dental technology. Yes, the disadvantages of digital impressions is on this list!

There is a (short) period from switching from analog to digital dentistry that will challenge you and your staff

Chances are, your dental technicians are ready to move into a digital dentistry practice and they’re waiting for you to get on board. There’s a large gap between dental technicians, dental assistants, and dentists in terms of advancements in digital dentistry. Your technicians have likely been using a digital workflow for years and were exposed to digital technologies in their curriculum.

One of the problems in dentistry is that it’s hard to let go of old workflows and processes you’ve used for years—even decades. Learning new technology can be challenging and uncomfortable but, at the end of the day, it’ll speed up clunky admin, help you get the products back faster.

Explore the many reasons from turnaround times to patient chair time that digital dentistry creates peak practice efficiency.

Digital dentistry is a new clinical skill that needs to be learned

Just because something takes skill, precision and time learning how to use the tool doesn’t mean you avoid it. After all, perfecting your dental drill skills took time and practice before mastering dental procedures. 

The same will be true when it comes to digitizing your internal processes and adopting new technology like an intraoral scanner. You and your staff will need training, even if you’re already running a good lab. 

Keep in mind that an intraoral scanner is more comfortable for patients, is time-efficient for the dentist, and will ultimately simplify clinical operations once you’ve mastered how to get the perfect digital file for the lab. 

Overall, it seems that the benefits of digital impressions outweigh the challenges in dentistry you might think they bring to table. And with Dandy you and your entire staff receives free training and always-on expert support.

Digital dentistry can be expensive

The cost of an intraoral scanner is one of the biggest barriers dentists have to adopting this new technology. If that’s the reason you haven’t transitioned to a digital IOS, we get it.

But digital dentistry doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In recent years, improvements to intraoral digital scanners has made them less expensive to use in your practice. 

Historically, as technology advances, prices come down. Apple’s first laptop in 1989 cost about $6,500! Now, you can get a MacBook for under $1,000. Fortunately, you won’t have to wait that long for prices to come down in order to take your practice up to speed in the digital world.

Some labs will invest in your practice in exchange for a minimum spend with their lab. In fact, when you become a Dandy customer, you’ll get a free 3Shape TRIOS scanner (valued at $30,000) absolutely free.

While digital dentistry requires an initial investment—just like your practice did when you opened it—digital technologies in dentistry will be a cost-effective move for your business in the long run.

Analog vs. digital Impressions

In an ever-automated world, doing things by hand—in particular using plaster casts—has become (dare we say it) old-fashioned. While no automation can replace the clinical expertise and craft of dentistry, digital tools are designed to streamline.

Some challenges of dentistry that are raised are that it can be difficult to detect deep margin lines in prepared teeth with an intraoral scanner. It’s one of the most commonly touted disadvantages of digital impressions. And of course, there’s a learning curve which adds to dentistry challenges, particularly if the dentist isn’t as tech-savvy with new equipment.

But digital impressions are good for patients—and less patient discomfort means it’ll be easier to retain patients and have them recommend you to their friends. (Which is another problem in dentistry—finding new patients.) 

Intraoral scanners also allow for better communication with the dental technician and with patients.

What are the latest advancements in digital dentistry?

There are a lot of advancements to be excited about in dentistry. Here are some digital technologies to consider adding to your practice that can enhance efficiency, productivity, production, and customer experience:

• Intraoral scanning with CAD/CAM technology: Dental professionals can leverage CAD/CAM technology to craft dental restorations like crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays, onlays, dentures and more with unparalleled precision and accuracy.
• Digital impressions systems: These systems do a good job of capturing images of the gums and teeth so the dentist can eliminate conventional impressions.
• Digital radiography: A digital dental radiograph is a type of X-ray that uses less radiation than traditional X-rays. They can show small areas that aren’t available through a visual dental exam, the images can be easily stored, and they can enhance patient education through detailed images.
• Artificial intelligence: Yes, the robots are taking over dentistry, but in a good way that can help address challenges of dentistry; I suppose we should say taking over the jobs that are cumbersome for dentists. AI can enhance digital dentistry by analyzing large amounts of data quickly, improving diagnosis and treatment planning, and even helping you write better advertisements and marketing materials.

How will technology affect the future of digital dentistry?

Digital dentistry can help dentists improve efficiency, give you more time for patients, and help your practice grow, leading to higher profits. Though there will still be dentistry challenges with some of these advancements—from learning curves, to initial costs, to working through initial disadvantages of digital impressions—eventually technology should help reduce some of the challenges of dentistry you’re facing now.

Is digital dentistry the future? Yes.

Your patients will appreciate and come to look forward to a more comfortable experience in a dental practice that makes it easier for them to understand their dental health and improve upon it through patient education before their next visit.

Here’s everything you need to take your dental practice digital.

The post Challenges holding back digital dentistry appeared first on Dandy.

“In the past PFM was often the most aesthetic option,” says Jeannie Hughes, one of Dandy’s digital dental experts with 30 years of experience. But now, there are more aesthetic and often stronger options that include:

• eMax Lithium disilicate (material) 
• Translucent aesthetic monolithic zirconia 
• PFZ: Porcelain fused to zirconia

The progression of stronger materials with better aesthetics over the past 10 years has given dental professionals more options to consider.

“With the introduction of eMax crowns and other innovative options like translucent monolithic zirconia and PFZ, dentists now have the advantage of choosing from materials that not only look better but are also stronger,” says Hughes.

More options of aesthetically pleasing and stronger crowns are good for dentists and patients alike.

PFM & Zirconia crowns with Dandy

Dandy offers a variety of zirconia and PFM crowns. Explore all the crown and bridge materials offered by Dandy labs!

Explore crown and bridge lab

What is a PFM crown?

A porcelain-fused-to-metal-crown (PFM crown) is a popular type of restoration that combines the strength of a metal substructure with the aesthetic appeal of porcelain, for a natural-looking crown that gets high marks for durability.

A  metal core is covered by porcelain, leaving no metal exposed, or a metal collar visible around the base. The collar is fabricated from a variety of metals, chosen for their strength and/or biocompatible properties.

The base used to create the metal core of PFM crowns are mostly made from the following metals:

• Non-Precious
• Semi-Precious Noble (61%)
• White-High Noble (60%)
• Gold-High Noble-Yellow (41%)
• Gold-High Noble-Rich Yellow (88%)

For decades PFM restorations were the most aesthetic option for dental crowns and bridges. The advances in the ceramic materials most accurately mimic a patient’s natural enamel but, often leave a visible dark line or shadow at the gumline.  

As the price of gold steadily rose and the demand for dental crowns grew (thanks to a growing population living longer, dental insurance became more common, and the cosmetic dentistry boom), the industry was challenged to find more affordable and digital solutions.

That’s how Lithium Disilicate and CAD/CAM restorations were introduced to our industry in the early 2000s, says Hughes.

Pros of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns

The continued improvement of crown material technology in dentistry has been iterative. Whenever a new dental lab material is introduced, it has likely been through a rigorous R&D process, perfected, and marketed as stronger, more aesthetic, and possibly more affordable than the previous options (not modern materials).

PFM crowns are more aesthetic than full contour metal restorations, stronger than all-porcelain restorations, and often more affordable than almost all modern options.

For long-span bridges, metal substructure can sometimes be more beneficial than zirconia restorations.

Digital dental technology, manufacturing, and materials are quickly evolving.

Cons of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns

Porcelain and PFM crowns are going the way of the traditional impression, now that we have digital intraoral scanning. They have been a durable, fine-looking tooth replacement for decades, but when compared to ultra-durable zirconia, they are less aesthetically pleasing and less durable. They also may require more complicated implant procedures, because a hand-made PFM crown, determined and fabricated from an impression mold, is a less precise prosthetic than something milled from a digital scan.

Other cons of PFM crowns are not cons by comparison but long-running negatives about the crown type. “The metal coping is sometimes visible and appears as a dark line or shadow along the gumline,” says Hughes. “Over time, as the gingiva recedes, that dark line will become more visible.”

Biocompatibility can also be an issue for some patients with metal allergies, this is more common with non-precious metals in PFM restorations. For cases where a conservative preparation is necessary, PFM may not be a suitable option. “Because there needs to be sufficient clearance for the metal coping, opaquer, and porcelain additional reduction is necessary compared to monolithic restorations,” says Hughes.

What are zirconia crowns?

Zirconia crowns are a newer material found in tooth replacement—made of a translucent metallic oxide that does a great job approaching the look of natural teeth while still providing unbelievable toughness and durability.

Full contour zirconia restorations can be fabricated 100% in the digital CAD/CAM workflow and are not as labor intensive as fabricating PFM—a restoration which is extremely labor intensive says Hughes.

“There is also no risk of bond failure since the material is monolithic versus PFM where there are a few layers where bond failure can happen and the porcelain can easily break and/or fracture,” she says.

Unlike PFMs which are porcelain layered and baked over a metal coping or frame, monolithic zirconia is one solid material throughout. 

Before all porcelain, lithium disilicate, and zirconia restorations, the only monolithic restoration was a full gold crown or any metal crown that lacked aesthetics for anterior restorations (unless the patient’s aesthetic is rapper or pirate).

Another consideration in the zirconia vs porcelain-fused-to-metal debate? Strength. While monolithic restorations are stronger due to their simpler construction and materials performance, the metal in the substrate can be indicated as a better restoration if there is enough reduction.

Pros of zirconia crowns

Zirconia crowns are more expensive than the old-fashioned porcelain and PFM crowns, but compared to some modern materials, still relatively cost-effective. And you get what you pay for: they are much, much more durable and resilient than porcelain. They are biocompatible and won’t cause reactions, last quite long, and do incredible work covering stained and off-color teeth. 

Cons of zirconia crowns

Compared to a PFM crown, zirconia can sometimes be too strong: those who have strong jaws and/or grind their teeth at night may find that a zirconia crown could do minor damage to other, opposing teeth. However, some strong biters (those with bruxism) have had success, as zirconia itself will not fracture typically, no matter how strong the jaw. In general, zirconia is a terrific option that is quickly helping make porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns a thing of the past.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal vs zirconia crowns

So: which do you imagine is “better” between porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and zirconia crowns? Let’s look at use cases to guide the way.

When to use zirconia crowns

Zirconia crowns are praised for their durability and strength, which is why they’re often recommended for posterior teeth as they do the majority of the heavy lifting when it comes to breaking down food.

In general, as you’re considering PFM vs zirconia, the functionality of a zirconia crown is still typically better than PFM. They are stronger, easier to install, and leave more tooth base—that last factor alone might help your patient avoid gingivitis.

“Full contour zirconia is a great restoration for patients with bruxism, cases where there is limited room for reduction while still keeping aesthetics,” says Hughes.

If you’re analyzing the porcelain-fused-to-metal vs zirconia cost differences, usually PFM crowns will be more affordable initially. That being said, zirconia is more cost-effective in many cases if you consider the long-term durability of the product. 

As far as appearances go, zirconia crowns have more translucency and tend to be better at tooth-matching than porcelain. Your patients will also appreciate that there is no small metal ring at the gumline or risks of discoloration down the line.

This zirconia vs porcelain fused to metal debate might just be tilting in one direction…

When to use PFM crowns

There might be times when PFM crowns are the better solution based on a patient’s mouth, budget, and oral health. PFM has been around and championed since the 1950s. It can have excellent aesthetics if a skilled technician is doing the job. It’s also good for small spaces, like certain dental bridges, and when there’s minimal distance for implants.

But, PFM poses a lack of strength in comparison to zirconia restorations. “Porcelain is weak, fractures easily, and considering the megapascal (MPa) of porcelain is only around 120 versus around 900 to 1,400 for full contour zirconia, you’ll get more bang for your buck with zirconia,” Hughes says.

Other potential issues with PFM include bond failure, when the bond between the metal, opaquer, and porcelains often fails and causes a broken or fractured crown, she says.

“There are some instances where a metal substrate may be the most suitable option for long-span bridges but this depends on the case and the doctors’ preferences,” Hughes says.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal vs zirconia crowns—which is better?

There is nothing wrong with PFM crowns, but there is a better option (or two) on the market. Zirconia crowns are stronger, fit better, are easier to fabricate through a fully digital workflow (by digital labs like Dandy), have better aesthetics, and give your practice trickle-down benefits, like more efficiency, more chair time available to grow your practice, and less waiting time after scanning and deciding on treatment.

“There are some instances where a doctor might choose PFM over zirconia but we are likely to see less and less of this as knowledge, technology, and materials advance,” says Hughes.

The time comes in all industries when technology improves to a point where adoption is a no-brainer. A small cost difference is worth all the benefits for patients and practices when comparing PFM crowns to Zirconia, milled by a lab that has perfect digital measurements from an intraoral scan. You get stronger, longer-lasting, prettier, and more functional replacement crowns and bridges with easier implantation. Zirconia is the way of today, and digital dentistry advancements and do-it-all labs like Dandy are helping clear the way.

Learn more about all the ways Dandy’s all-in-one digital lab solutions can help.

The post PFM vs. zirconia: What’s the difference? appeared first on Dandy.

The dental industry is going digital and finally catching up with the modern world. While it’s unlikely that you’ll have robotic staff or AI-predictive scheduling tomorrow  (or ever?), there are emerging technologies that can improve patient and staff experience right now. Read on for the best in dental technology for 2024.

What is the latest technology in dental care? From intraoral scanners and laser cavity detection to AI and zirconia crowns, here are the most exciting new technologies to merge with your traditional care practices to increase productivity, improve patient experience, and drive more business in the long run.

Technology in dentistry has come a long way and it’s time to modernize your practice where you can afford to. The newest dental technology improves patient and staff experiences. It can help you make better insights into clinical decision-making, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and better-personalized care for each patient.

Here, we’ll explore why you should consider the latest dental technology and use it to attract new patients while upgrading the experiences of existing patients and making your staff’s lives easier once they’re up and running with the latest dental tech.

The latest in dental technology for 2024

The newest dental technology enhances what you’re able to do in your practice. Here are some of the latest innovations you need to know about that address the question of, ‘What’s new in dentistry 2024?’ and, more importantly, how to introduce your patients to new dental technology.

Intraoral scanners 

With intraoral scanners, we can finally say goodbye to the uncomfortable, gag-inducing, time-consuming, error-prone practice of physical mold impressions.

Taking physical impressions has been one of the necessary (and unpleasant) hallmarks of modern dentistry. For generations of dentists, mold impressions have been needed to make dentures, implants, and orthodontic appliances.

• For patients – The mold impressions can be uncomfortable, especially for patients with a strong gag reflex. 
• For dentists – The process is prone to error, time-consuming, and requires back and forth with the dental lab. 

Intraoral scanners are the solution to this dental problem. 

With a handheld intraoral device like the one Dandy provides, a dentist rapidly scans a patient’s oral cavity to create a perfect data render of the patient’s mouth. This scan turns into a 3D digital dental model that can then be used to create high-quality dental products, including dentures and crowns. And while this technology is more accurate and comfortable than physical impressions, it also skips the back and forth with labs, by leveraging intelligent processing for rapid scanning and high-precision accuracy.

If you have yet to adopt, this is the top pick to catch up to the newest dental technology in 2024.

CAD/CAM technology

The next piece of the Intraoral scanning puzzle is computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies. With CAD/CAM dentistry, we can rapidly design and fabricate complex restorations that fit, feel, and look better. Those are important benefits of adopting new technology for dentistry!

Thanks to CAD/CAM digitalization, dental treatment processes that used to take weeks to complete can now be done in hours. After the lab receives the 3D model, they can make minor tweaks to ensure proper spacing and alignment.  

When it comes to what can increase productivity in a dental office, together, intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM advanced dental technology reduce patient chair time and improve patient experiences and outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence

What’s new in dentistry in 2024? AI technology is on the rise in every industry and dentistry is a part of that boom. Augmented intelligence and AI provide opportunities to enhance patient care, diagnostics and administrative processes.

Some ways AI can be used in dentistry include:

• Imaging and diagnosis: Helping dentists diagnose oral diseases better and faster. AI tools are also helpful when it comes to calling attention to tooth decay in bitewing and peripheral radiographs.
• Robotics and automation: New dental technology is looking at how robots could be used to automate repetitive tasks like tooth preparation, the placement of implants and even orthodontic adjustments.
• Data analysis: As AI systems acquire health data, they can help dentists offer more personalized care and better diagnose particular dental conditions. 
• Administrative support: New dental technology like AI tools can help streamline admin tasks, from handling appointment scheduling, to improving billing processes, and even helping you write copy for your mailers and marketing emails.

There are numerous ways AI can improve efficiency in your practice and enhance your patients’ experiences as long as its done ethically while keeping patient safety and data privacy in mind at all times.

Laser detection

One of the results of more widespread fluoride use over time is stronger enamel, which is great — one small caveat is that harder outside enamel may make it more difficult to detect early caries, especially in X-rays.

Enter dental laser detection, a form of technology in dentistry that is over 90% accurate in finding decay not found with an explorer or bitewing x-rays. Painless, non-invasive, and working without x-ray exposure, new dental technology like laser detection can help your patients with early detection and give your practice more data-driven, reliable measurements.

Digital radiography 

X-rays are still widely used across the dental industry for daily operations. But traditional x-rays relied on film processing. That was a slow and costly process that also required dental offices to physically store and share the copies. 

Direct digital radiography has changed that. This advanced form of X-ray inspection quickly renders digital radiographic images on a computer screen. 

A dental professional can take digital X-rays both inside (intraorally) and outside (extraorally) of the mouth. Once scanned, that file is then stored in a physical server or the cloud, making for much easier dissemination. 

Other advantages of this dental technology include: 

• Reduced exposure times
• Real-time dental applications 
• Improved detail, SNR, and linearity
• Ease of storage and transfer 
• Immediate feedback 

Teledentistry

The ideal dental relationship has historically taken place face to face (masked face to open mouth, if we’re being specific), but technology in dentistry makes it possible for dentists to communicate with patients and even remotely perform examinations with teledentistry.

And while teeth can’t be cleaned and cavities filled over Zoom, teledentistry appointments can extend the reach of your practice, especially in situations not requiring a recommendation of acute care. Not all appointments are created equally, and with the right management and careful application, teledentistry can save you time and your patients’ travel time by expediting follow-ups, second opinions, or pre-authorizations over a phone, tablet device, or computer.

Zirconia crowns 

Dental crowns made of porcelain-fused-to-metal (or full-gold) have been the standard for decades. Materials technology is finally finding superior, non-metal replacements, including zirconia. 

It’s hard to fit all of the benefits of these crowns in a small space, but zirconia crowns are:

• Stronger, whether using either a monolithic, layered, or high-translucency zirconia
• Customizable, as the material when molded is extremely malleable — matching the existing tooth with precision

• Biocompatible, because zirconia is non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and metal-free, meaning little to no negative patient reactions.  
• The right color, especially when combined with Dandy’s intraoral scanning technology, with shade-matching workflows.

Digital records and charts 

Maintaining comprehensive and accurate patient records is an essential part of general dentistry and to keep up with dental technology in 2024. Diligent record keeping is a vital skill that empowers a dentist to deliver quality patient care and follow-up. 

But paperwork can be a significant administrative burden for every dental clinic. 

Dental records can contain information about clinical examinations, diagnoses, dental procedures performed, prognosis, and the patient’s medical history. Much of this paperwork consists of highly sensitive, personally identifiable information, which you’re legally required to maintain and safeguard. 

Yet, many dental clinics still rely on outdated paper charts and documentation for their record keeping. It’s messy, disorganized, time-consuming, and requires a lot of storage space.  

Enter dental technology for the win to simply your office!

Maintaining digital records is the better, more efficient way. Advantages of electronic dental health records include:

• Easier to maintain and access accurate, up-to-date information about patients at the point of care
• Enables secure sharing of health records with patients or other clinicians 
• Reduces costs related to paperwork and administrative burden 
• Strengthens privacy and security of patient data  

Virtual reality

Virtual reality is one of the latest developments in dental technology that can help provide better care to patients—through distraction techniques!

Augmented reality or virtual reality (VR) headsets can help transport patients to a relaxing, serene environment while you’re performing work on them in your chair. Research has shown that there’s a drop in a patient’s perceived pain when they’re using AR or VR.

Dentists can also use augmented reality to explain dental information to patients in an easy-to-understand format, showing patients what the treatment will look like so they feel more prepared and the dentist can improve their accuracy.

Overcoming challenges in adopting new dental technology

The challenges of digital dentistry are practitioners’ proximity to new dental technology, industry training for new processes, and financial blockers. However, taking your practice digital does not just mean adopting intraoral scanning but instead, it can look like digitizing patient records and scheduling and partnering with digital dental labs that use cutting-edge technology to fabricate restorations.

Keep your team informed

You might face some pushback from staff as you bring in new dental technology and it takes time to learn the systems. Remind them that ultimately, this will make their jobs easier and no, AI won’t replace them! Enlist professional help teaching them the new dental tech and show them your human side as you encounter struggles and make mistakes while learning. With some dedicated learning, you’ll all be pros in no time.

How to navigate training and implementation

Seek out user-friendly systems – Do research into the various types of dental technologies available as well as the brands within each niche. Use systems that are vetted and well-reviewed by your peers.

Set aside time for learning and training – Join your staff during training sessions and address any questions or concerns they have. Take your time as you bring innovative dental tech into your practice. Ensure you and everyone are using it properly before rolling it out to use on patients.

Remind everyone of why you’re doing this – Technology can feel clunky at first but once you’re comfortable using it, it should enhance your practice and make everyone’s jobs simpler while speeding up systems. You’ll also have an easier time attracting new hires—and new patients!—once they see your dental practice is an innovative one that’s constantly looking to revamp for the better.

Think about where you’ll be a year from now

The benefits of dental technology are that once you’re comfortable using them, you’ll be able to free up time and energy for other things in your practice. Your patients will appreciate the enhanced care and improved analysis of their health and you’ll be able to make better assessments that systematizes procedures and reduces time.

As you’re pondering what is the latest technology in dental care that can improve your patients’ experiences and integrate processes, keep the new technology for dentistry mentioned above in mind to help bring your practice up to date.

Dental technology 2024: Go digital with Dandy  

The dental world is changing rapidly. Technological advancements in dentistry are spurring that transformation.

With increasing marketplace competition and more demanding patients, a dental clinic can’t afford to simply stick with the status quo—not when their competitors are embracing the digital future. By adopting new dental technology, you can create internal and external efficiencies that empower you to better serve your patients.   

That’s where Dandy comes in. 

Our platform is designed to modernize dental practices by making their entire process digital — from start to finish. With intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM design, our goal is to create lift in everything you do. 

Have you considered going digital? Dandy can help you get started today.

Sources: 

Journal of the American Dental Association. Intraoral Scanners. https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(21)00312-3/fulltext 

NCBI. Understanding Dental CAD/CAM for Restorations—Accuracy from a Mechanical Engineering Viewpoint. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26734668/

International Atomic Energy Agency. Digital Radiography. https://www.iaea.org/resources/rpop/health-professionals/radiology/radiography/digital-radiography 

Health IT. Advantages of Electronic Health Records. https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-are-advantages-electronic-health-records

ADA News. Artificial intelligence and dentistry https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2023/june/artificial-intelligence-and-dentistry/

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