Dr. Vas Srinivasan is an experienced orthodontist from Australia who recently tested the Medit i500 intraoral scanner for orthodontic use cases and supported the scanner validation for the Spark aligner workflow. We took this opportunity to talk to him in order to find out how intraoral scanning benefits his work, and what advice he would give to fellow orthodontists who are considering making the switch to digital impressions.
Could you please tell us a little bit about your dental background, field of expertise, and clinic?
Sure! I am an orthodontist and I would say that I have a lot of passion for my work. As a teenager, I wore braces which, combined with my interest in science and mathematics, laid the base for choosing a career in orthodontics. So eventually, I graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, USA, and completed my orthodontic training at the University of Sydney, Australia. Today, I own three practices and have been in clinical practice for 7 years.
As an orthodontist, how challenging was it to transition to digital dentistry?
I am not going to lie; digital dentistry can be overwhelming at first. Initial setup costs may appear high and you will need to rely on other professionals like IT or operations managers. Most importantly, you need to believe in it in order to succeed. However, I believe it is completely worth taking the leap.
So, how would you say the patient experience has changed thanks to digital impressions?
I wish we had marketed our digital presence better than we did. We continue to have patients who are constantly worried about the “moulds” they require. When you show them a 3D scanner, their perception changes immediately.
What would you consider the biggest advantages for orthodontists with regard to intraoral scanning?
3D scanning has many advantages, one of them being delegation. Secondly would be the speed and accuracy of digital impressions. A key point, however, is that you are investing in technology for a better patient experience which in return will be a great benefit for your clinic in general.
You have tested the Medit i500 for orthodontic cases. How has your experience been so far, and would you recommend the scanner for this field?
We loved our interaction with the entire Medit team! They were fast, efficient and unbelievably quick to interact and respond. Every scanner has a small learning curve, but the Medit i500 performed very well even when we did our first ever scan with the device.
Has there recently been any memorable case for which using the i500 has been especially beneficial?
Certainly! A patient with a large tongue came in the other day. The other scanners’ heads are very bulky, but Medit performed the scan so efficiently thanks to its small tip size, I was very impressed.
Finally, is there any advice you would like to give fellow orthodontists who are considering making the transition to digital impressions and who may be looking for a suitable intraoral scanner?
I would say choose Medit as your next scanner; you won’t be disappointed. The i500’s wand is very easy to use, the scanner is light weight, allows for easy cleaning and maintenance, is highly portable, and works like a plug-and-play machine. The Medit i500 is really making everyone’s life simple and efficient.
Medit is thankful to Dr. Vas Srinivasan for talking to us and supporting the successful validation of the Medit i500 for the Spark clear aligner workflow free of charge. If you would like to find out more about him and his clinic you can visit the website Invisible Orthodontics. Dr. Vas is the largest Spark provider globally, with the aligners being currently available in Australia, New Zealand, China, Spain, Canada and the United States.