Latest Emerging trends in dentistry
Thanks to advanced technologies, such as AI or blockchain, the dental care industry has evolved at an astonishing pace. These innovations bring forward new trends that improve patient comfort, as well as simplify dentists’ tasks. Let’s take a closer look at the hottest trends in dental care.
1. Emotional Dentistry
When going through major dental procedures, patients make decisions based on their emotions. Precisely because of that, emotional dentistry is one of the most significant trends in the dental care industry.
Namely, with virtual mockups and technologies such as augmented reality, patients can envision what they will look like once the makeover is finished. That builds trust with patients, as well as gives them the confidence to undergo complex procedures.
Emotional dentistry allows patients to personalize their makeover processes. For example, they can virtually try on different solutions, such as smiles and teeth shapes, and choose the right one.
2. 3D Printing
3D printing has revolutionized the dental industry. These technologies provide many benefits, such as saving time and reducing costs associated with the production of crowns, inlays, replacement teeth, aligners, etc. A patient receives the desired treatment faster and pays less to get the same quality.
For orthodontic practices, having a 3D printer means reducing costs. Namely, dentists no longer need to rely on third-party labs and companies to create dental products. They can develop them in-house. A 3D printer can produce any dental products that would otherwise be created by lab technicians.
Unsurprisingly, 3D printers are still costly, but they are an investment in the long-run. While these technologies are still in their infancy, industry experts hope they will soon be able to create full sets of teeth using 3D printing.
3. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is not a sci-fi concept anymore. Businesses across different industries use AI technologies to automate repetitive tasks, make data-backed decisions, and predict industry trends. And, dental care is no exception.
From booking dentistry appointments to patient treatment and reviews, a lot of data is created every day. With the help of digital health intelligence technology, patient information will not sit unused in dentists’ folders anymore. AI will analyze these data for you and provide you with deeper insights into patient patterns.
AI provides greater accuracy when it comes to disease detection and patient treatments, thus eliminating the risk of human error. Overjet, for example, is an AI software solution for dentists that identifies oral anatomy and diseases from x-rays and other patient records and recommends correct treatments for each patient.
4. Blockchain
From helping governments fight illegal drug markets to providing healthcare organizations with greater transparency of patient data, blockchain technologies are improving dentistry and healthcare on multiple levels.
There are many blockchain solutions specifically designed for dental care. For example, Dentacoin is a platform offering a blockchain solution for dental companies. They created many tools, such as a secure platform for incentivized reviews or a cryptocurrency for dental care. Their goal is to make dentistry available to all strata of society, regardless of patients’ financial status. Instead of paying per treatment, patients need to pay a dentist a low monthly fee in Dentacoins to receive lifelong care.
5. More Convenient User Experiences
With the rise of omnichannel customer support, users’ convenience and experiences have become a priority for companies in any industry, especially healthcare and dentistry. Patients do not want to waste time filling out forms and answering questions about their medical history while waiting in pain. They can now do that online, from the comfort of their homes.
Take the example of Dental and Facial Aesthetics of South Florida that provides general dentistry in Boca Raton. Once you land on their website, you will see a contact form where patients can book appointments and ask questions. They also have a clickable phone number that lets mobile visitors make a call without leaving the website. Patients can also book virtual consultations.
6. Lasers
Laser technologies play a fundamental role in dental care. They are commonly used for teeth whitening, removing lesions, altering the shape of the gums, and eliminating bacteria in root canals.
Laser technologies also improve patient experiences, minimizing pain and discomfort. The use of anesthesia is not necessary anymore, which is particularly beneficial for patients having allergies to anesthetic agents.
Most importantly, lasers reduce health risks. They sterilize the hums without the use of sutures, which lowers the risk of infections. Lasers also minimize blood loss and damages to patients’ teeth, shortening the healing time.
Conclusions
The dental care landscape is changing fast thanks to innovative tech solutions. They simplify dentists’ jobs, automating repetitive tasks, eliminating the need for third-party labs, and reducing the costs of developing dental products.
For patients, these technologies bring more personalized and accurate treatments, faster results, and lower health risks.
