Implant Dentistry Today No 14

Implant Dentistry Today 36 P artnering with a tech-savvy dental lab can help you unlock access to the latest in digital dentistry. Three experts from Avant Dental Leaders explain how. Digital dentistry has been widely tipped to completely transform the dental industry. The promises are ambitious. From improving patient outcomes and driving more personalised treatments, to boosting revenue and improving the bottom line of your dental practice, going digital has been presented as the golden ticket for dental practices facing the challenges of the 21st century. The understanding around digital dentistry — and how it applies to the day- to-day business of running a busy dental practice — is far less advanced. Yet even the most digital-adverse dental practitioners may already be on the digital train. “Most dentists in Australia are already on a digital journey,” says Richard Salter, Managing Director at Avant Dental Leaders. “Every physical impression that comes into our dental lab is digitised and converted into a 3D model ready for manufacture on our state-of-the-art computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems.” Beginning your digital journey Sydney-based Avant Dental lab has invested heavily in digital dentistry. The company has been servicing dentists across Australia for more than 40 years and is today at the forefront of a new generation of dentistry for business- minded dentists who see technology as a competitive advantage. “We’ve invested so you don’t have to,” says Salter. “While we certainly still work with dentists who use traditional physical impressions, practices that embrace new digital technology stand to benefit significantly.” Salter is referring to intra-oral scanning, and the barriers to getting started are surprisingly low. “Dentists just need an intra-oral scanner and a relationship with a good dental lab,” explains Ian Feigen, General Manager and Technical Advisor at Avant Dental Leaders. “At Avant, for example, we can provide independent advice on the best intra- oral scanner to purchase for your needs. We can also organise a trial of a scanner so that you can test drive the technology and equipment before investing, and offer live virtual support to help get you The digital dilemma: Why you can’t afford to ignore digital dentistry comfortable using it.” Improving the patient experience According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA), there are several principal benefits of intra-oral scanning. Defective scans can be redone while the patient is still in the chair. The ADA has also stated that digital impressions may be more accurate than conventional impressions, defects in tooth preparation can be identified and face scans can be included to optimise the aesthetics of anterior restorations. Kylie Harris, Operations Manager at Avant Dental Leaders, believes these benefits can significantly improve the patient experience your dental practice is delivering. “For starters, your patients don’t have to sit through uncomfortable physical impressions, and don’t need to be called back for a second appointment if the physical impression contains defects. “Dental practices that embrace intra- oral scanning also no longer have to store dental models, and the dentist can show patients the digital image to demonstrate evidence of the issue they’ve identified.” Harris adds that after a little training, dental nurses can scan the patient during their initial visit to set a baseline for future treatments. “This can be done while the dentist is treating another patient, and future scans can be overlaid to give the patient a clear picture of any new or further deterioration caused by teeth grinding or caries for example.” Feigen also points out that digital intra-oral scanning largely removes the human error element of taking physical impressions, which significantly reduces remake rates and gives dentists access to modern materials purpose-designed for oral scanners such as Avant’s Aidite 3D Pro Zir. Building a better practice This all adds up to better quality patient outcomes, delivered faster and without time-consuming human and environmental errors associated with traditional impressions. However, Salter warns dentists not to fall for claims that adopting intra- oral digital scanning means immediate financial benefits. He says, as with any new technology, there is a learning curve and the savings will come from clinical time efficiency. “Intra-oral scanning has the potential to improve the overall long-term profitability of your practice as patients begin to experience better treatment outcomes and you become known as a high-quality operator.” Salter also wants dentists to know that you don’t have to start out on your digital journey alone. “Avant has been on our digital journey for well over a decade. We have developed the expertise our clients can call on to deliver faster, better and more accurate patient outcomes now and into the future.” n Avant Dental Leaders can help put your dental business on the path to digitisation. Call 1800 287 336 or visit www.avantdental.com.au for expert advice.