Over the years, the field of dentistry has seen significant technological growth. One of these advancements is digital dentistry.

Digital dentistry refers to dental technology that incorporates digital components as opposed to mechanical or electrical components alone. These could include (but are not limited to):

Computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing and intraoral imaging
Computer-aided implant dentistry
Digital radiography both intraoral and extraoral
Lasers
Caries diagnosis
Photography both extraoral and intraoral
Digital patient education

Advantages of Digital Dentistry for Patients in Greenville, South Carolina

The goal of digital dentistry is to ensure that dentistry services provided to Greenville patients are faster, better and more comfortable. However, specifically speaking, there are three major advantages of digital dentistry:

It improves the efficiency of dental services both in terms of cost and time.
It improves accuracy as compared to traditional methods.
It improves the level of patient outcome.

Adoption and Hurdles

While there is no doubt that digital dentistry has a lot to offer and is expected to continue to change the face of dentistry in the years to come, the biggest limitation to its rapid adoption is cost. Adopting the new technology, acquiring training in its use and implementation, and offering the services to patients can require significant investment. However, if done properly, this investment can provide high returns for both patients and dental professionals.

Application of Digital Dentistry for Procedures in Greenville, SC

With the use of new equipment, digital imaging sensors, and digital X-ray technology, dental services that are being provided today are much more advanced and much more effective.

More and more dentists are now using digital products and technologies such as 3D panoral scanners, intraoral systems, and CEREC. CEREC offers dentists the ability to design and mill a wide variety of restorations including bridges, crowns, inlays and onlays not to mention improved implant planning and custom abutments. In addition, the use of 3D imaging provides greater accuracy and clarity as compared to conventional X-rays. This improves diagnosis and treatment planning and can also help dentists detect oral disease much earlier than usual.

There is no saying that in the very near future, digital dentistry will advance to a level where everything that a patient needs can be designed virtually. Patients could even see the final outcome before they even go through the procedure just to ensure that both the dentist and the patient are on the same page and both are aware of the final results. For example, a patient could go in for an intraoral scan, and the crown could be designed virtually and be ready for insertion with everybody already in the loop and know-how as to what will happen when and what it will look like once completed.

It is projected that approximately 39% of dentists will purchase an intraoral scan within the next three years. This could potentially change the way dental labs work since instead of a conventional impression, they will soon be working with digital files. Not only can digital scans be more accurate, but they can also shorten manufacturing time and improve service time resulting in higher patient satisfaction and a more efficient use of the dentist's time and effort.

Overall, it is evident that digital dentistry offers many benefits to dentists and patients. That is why its use continues to increase in diagnostics, endodontics, implants, orthodontics and other day-to-day dental services. Embracing dental technology is bound to increase patient satisfaction, improve dental practice and increase patient flow. As far as patients and dentists are concerned, digital dentistry is the ultimate way to improve efficiency and effectiveness of dental services.

How Does Digital Dentistry Help My Dentist?

While the benefits of digital dentistry at the patient level are extremely important and beneficial, another major use of digital dentistry is on the administrative side. Digital technology can be very useful for administrative tasks as they can improve patient record management, facilitate instant consultation, improve access to patient history, improve billing processes, facilitation collaboration among different dental professionals, etc. All these elements can go a long way in streamlining dental services and can improve the level of care provided by a dentist and the way they record and manage patient data and history.

There is no doubt that the future of digital dentistry seems very promising. As more dental professionals acquire the necessary skills and training to better use technology, it is clear that dental services will continue to improve in the years to come. Already patients see many changes in the way dental procedures used to be performed and the way they are performed today. This change will continue, and in the very near future, patients will see much more advancement and much more accuracy in the services they receive.

Speak with a Greenville Dentist to Discuss Your Options for Dental Services

At Magnolia Dental, we recognize the impact of technology on dentistry services and patient outcome. We understand that adopting new technology can help us enhance patient satisfaction and improve the quality of care we offer to our patients. That is why our dental team is open to learning about new technology, acquiring training to be able to use this technology and to provide services to our patients that are more accurate, safe and comfortable.

If you have any dental concerns and are looking for a dentist who would be able to take care of your dental needs and would also provide you the highest level of care, call us today, and we will be happy to schedule an appointment. Our goal is to provide the best possible services to our clients, and we believe that using new technology and new and improved procedures is the key to achieve this goal.