What is digital dentistry?
Digital dentistry is just as it sounds: the mix of dentistry and the digital world through the advancements in dental technology. Today, the CAD/CAM system is carving its place in dental clinics and labs around the world. Scanners and CAD/CAM complement each other to make restorations for patients without the needs of old traditional models. CAD/CAM companies, such as exocad, are working together with scanner manufacturing companies to create a wonderful open system for dental professionals to improve their workflow. New literature is published each year, praising the new technology and convincing dentists and technicians to make the transition from traditional dentistry to digital dentistry.
So by now, you have accepted that the future of dentistry is to go digital. You have read about the success of new technology such as intraoral scanners, the benefits of making the switch, and are ready for your clinic or practice to go digital. But there is one final question you may be asking.
How do you best make the transition to digital dentistry?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to enter into the digital world of dentistry and begin to reap the benefits of doing so. We break down the process into four stages of entry: Start, Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3.
Start
During the first stage, you are currently not using CAD/CAM in your clinic. This is beginning of your journey into the digital realm; the information and planning stage. You must decide what systems would work best for you, your budget, and in which direction you want to take your clinic.
Phase 1
It is now time for you to move on to phase 1. Before making an intra-oral scanner purchase, you should first find a lab that uses CAD/CAM. The lab will become your partner through the digital experience and will be able to provide you with great insight about the system. They will also be able to help you discover which brands may be best for you and your collaboration.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is the one you may have been waiting for; it is time to purchase an intra-oral scanner and incorporate the digital workflow into your clinic. During this phase, you start sending digital cases to your partners at the lab and begin strengthening the partnership between you.
Phase 3
Now that you have your own equipment, are working closely with a lab, and are more used to how digital dentistry works, you can move on to phase 3. In this final phase, you begin integrating chair-side CAD/CAM solutions and head toward one-day dentistry to save time and increase the number of patients you can see.
By following these four simple steps, your transition to digital dentistry should be smooth and without hiccups. Enjoy the digital workflow and your new and improved clinic!
Medit will soon be launching its very own intraoral scanner, the Medit i500! If you are interested in learning more about the latest product, click here. If you enjoyed our blog, please read our other posts about digital dentistry!