With everything in our life, it’s constantly being improved by technology. Whether it’s your phone, car or what food you eat throughout the day, advancements in technology have made them better and more accessible to everyone. The same thing goes for dentistry, technology is making the dentist chair less scary for everyone and increasing the chances of the everyday person getting excellent oral healthcare.
- 3D Printing
3D printing is used to print caps, crowns and bridges for patients that are accurate and cost effective. EZ Smile clear aligners state that this isn’t a new advancement and has been used for teeth straightening procedures for a while now, the technology is being improved for the dental industry. Trials are testing chemicals that could be incorporated in the 3D printed parts that stop tooth decay.
- Augmented Reality
Augmented reality isn’t something we usually think of we when visit the dentist. However, it’s not just tech used for video games. Augmented reality will play a big role in dentistry going into the future. From education and training to surgical procedures computer generated images have a far-reaching impact on dental work. Already being used to educate and train future dentists, augmented reality is not new to dentists. However, in 2021 we will see it being used for oral surgery. Being able to study and explore a patient mouth before surgery can be particularly useful for a dentist about to perform major surgery.
- Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is leading the way for dental implants. Dental implants are used to prevent or replace teeth loose because of tooth decay or accidents. Modern dental implants in 2021 use robotic technology to help during the drilling process of the procedure. While dentists are still in control of the drill, robotics help guide and stabilise the to tool to ensure the procedure is accurate and safe.
- Intra-Oral Camera
Intra-oral cameras are being used to help both the dentist and the patient. This simple technology uses a small camera and minor to inspect the inside of the mouth. The patient no-longer needs to sit there uncomfortably with their month open for what seems like eternity for the dentist to inspect their teeth. Dentists also don’t need to manhandle the patients mouth and jaw to see every tooth and area of the mouth and they get a clearer and more detailed inspection of the mouth.
