CATEGORY 14 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST INNOVATIONS For decades, dentistry has mostly leaned on verbal explanations and static X-rays to help patients grasp complex oral health issues. Too often, those conversations end with polite nods but little true understanding. Patients may leave the chair unclear about what can be addressed immediately and what may warrant consideration in the future. This is where Align™ Technology, with the iTero Lumina™ Series scanners, is helping to drive technological innovation. The Align™ Oral Health Suite1 is a software feature that moves the conversation beyond description and into demonstration. A quick iTero Lumina scan provides a vivid, real-time portrait of the mouth from crowding and occlusal wear to gingival health and plaque accumulation. While diagnostic conversations have long relied on tools like X-rays and intraoral photos, the iTero Lumina scanner brings a new level of visibility, allowing treatment discussions to be anchored in real-time, high-definition images of the patient’s own teeth. Most surveyed doctors and their staff prefer the iTero Lumina intraoral scanner for its easy scanning experience.2 The iTero Lumina scanner is more than just a replacement for analogue impression-taking. It enables a diagnostic workflow while the patient is still in the chair. In many ways, it is the diagnostic dream and the foundation of the modern dental practice. Dr Jack Milgate, Dentist, Barwon Heads Dental says, “If a picture paints a thousand words, then the Align Oral Health Suite helps create a clear, consistent narrative for every patient. Traditional records, whether The diagnostic dream transforming digital dentistry from periodontal probes, lighting variations in photography, or x-ray angles, are often open to interpretation. But with the iTero™ intraoral scanner integrated into the AOHS, we get accurate, reproducible records that allow us to reliably measure changes over time.” Importantly, the Align Oral Health Suite can help establish a new baseline for preventive care. Each scan becomes part of a digital record, allowing clinicians to track changes over time through the iTero Timelapse™3 feature, which compares patient scans to highlight any differences or changes over a period of time. Early signs of caries, bruxism, or periodontal concerns may be identified. Recall appointments are transformed into progress reviews, where patients can compare “then and now,” discuss improvements, and explore opportunities for early intervention. Scan to plan: A new standard in patient-centric diagnostics In the past, when impressions were required – the patient journey began with messy materials and at times, incomplete records. Digital impressions are 59% quicker than conventional impressions.4 Today, digital innovations like the iTero Lumina scanner and the Align Oral Health Suite allow clinicians to begin treatment planning from the very first visit. The phrase “scan to plan” encapsulates the power of this approach, not just digitising impressions, but digitising diagnostics: real-time, comprehensive, and deeply visual. Whether for hygiene visits, provisional restorations, or complete smile makeovers, the process starts with a simple scan. This is where dentistry can meet design. From soft tissue detail and occlusion mapping to photorealistic smile simulations, every scan can become a roadmap for clinical precision. Facial recognition: Personalising treatment beyond the tooth What truly sets the Align Oral Health Suite apart is its integration of facial recognition into diagnostics. This technology aids to bridge a potential gap between intraoral precision and extraoral aesthetics – placing the patient’s face, not just their dentition, at the centre of the planning process. Using the Invisalign® Outcome Simulator Pro5 with Multi Treatment Simulation, clinicians can now show patients not just “what” needs fixing, but “how” and “why.” 80% of surveyed doctors expressed satisfaction with the Invisalign Outcome Simulator Pro in-face visualisation.6 Imagine this: a patient sits in your chair, uncertain about restorative treatment and its outcome. With the iTero Lumina scanner, system and software including facial integration and photorealism, you can help patients visualise potential outcomes prior to treatment, supporting informed decision-making. What is interesting is these simulations may be more than visual aids. They can become diagnostic assets. They can assist in occlusal planning, functional analysis, and provide a platform for better aesthetic forecasting. This approach supports co-discovery, helping patients better understand their oral health and actively engage in their care.
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