Implant Dentistry Today No 14

Implant Dentistry Today 4 T he many benefits of digital implant dentistry are now within reach for Australian dental practices. Here’s how Avant Dental Leaders can get you started on your digital implant journey in three simple steps. The next era in dental innovation is no longer an ambitious promise for the future. Digital dentistry has well and truly landed in Australia, and its benefits are now within reach of every forward- thinking dental practice. But the new tools and processes that drive digital dentistry can be challenging to navigate on your own. That’s where a partnership with a good dental lab can help. “Your dental lab can be much more than just a generic supplier of dental implants and crowns. We strive to create genuine partnerships with our clients and can directly help practices use digital dentistry to deliver better patient outcomes.” Richard Salter, Managing Director at Avant Dental Leaders. Avant Dental Leaders has been servicing dentists across Australia for more than 40 years, and are today at the forefront of a new generation of dentistry for business-minded dentists who see technology as a competitive advantage. But what does that competitive advantage actually look like in your day-to-day operations? “Take digital dental implants, for example,” says Salter. “Digital technology can reduce the clinical time required to place an implant from around 90 minutes to about 30 minutes. And the patient outcome is safer, more predictable and more cost effective than manually placed dental implants.” “Our team of expert, trained technicians are here to assist you through the entire digital implant planning process, from the initial patient consultation through to guided surgery, implant placement, and the final restorative outcome,” explains Kylie Harris, Operations Manager at Avant Dental Leaders. Ian Feigen, Technical Director at Avant Dental Leaders, breaks down how a dental lab can be an integral partner in the digital implant process into three simple steps. Step 1: Digital scans Intraoral and CBCT scans of the patient are taken at the practice. Or, if you don’t have an intraoral scanner, traditional impressions are taken and sent to the dental lab. “At the lab, we digitise the impression or take the intraoral scan and overlay it on the CBCT scan in our intuitive software,” says Feigen. “This shows us a much more detailed view of where the nerves, bone density and potential problem areas are, and enables us to identify the optimal placement for the implant with a high degree of accuracy.” Step 2: Virtual review The Avant technicians create a digital simulation, and the dentist is invited to virtually review the proposed implant placement plan. “The dentist can talk to the technician and make on-the-spot alterations in real time through our software platform,” says Feigen. “If desired, we can also give the patient a preview of what the final restoration would look like before the implant is placed.” Step 3: Surgical guide Once the implant plan has been approved, Avant produces a 3D-printed surgical guide for guided surgery. “The surgical guide is a drilling template that locks into place like a splint,” says Feigen. “A metal sleeve is used to stop the drill at the exact level in the bone required. The clinician can start with either a 2mm pilot sleeve, or larger drilling sleeves can be inserted into the guide as required for fully-guided surgery.” The benefits of digital dental implants Digitally planned implants not only reduce clinical time for the dentist. They also assist in achieving predictable patient outcomes. “Dentists can utilise a laboratory such as Avant to produce a temporary crown at the time of surgery to assist in gum healing,” adds Feigen. “This improves the emergence profile and leads to a better final outcome.” The digital process also ensures greater accuracy and significantly reduces the risk of human error, concludes Harris: “The surgical guide will assist in the exact trajectory and final placement of the implant. It eliminates the guesswork, ensures the nerves and sinus are not compromised, and greatly reduces the need for expensive custom abutments due to inaccurate placement. Digital implant dentistry is the pinnacle of modern dentistry for both patient and dentist.” n Avant Dental Leaders can help put your dental business on the path to digitisation. Call us on 1800 287 336 or visit www.avantdental.com.au for expert advice. Digital implant dentistry: 3 steps to success Innovations