In March, the 2019 edition of the IDS, International Dental Show was held. And if a trend seems to have emerged from this edition, it is the preponderance of digital among dental innovations.
What are the main features of this digital revolution which seems to blow on the dental sector ?
1. 3D intraoral scanning: deep dental radiography
Digital comes first of all to shake up the intraoral radiography. We have seen innovations in terms of intra-oral scan, such as TRIOS 4 from 3Shape or Primescan de Dentsply Sirona.
Trios 4 of 3Shape
These new types of intraoral 3D scan allow for greater depth sharpness and especially very fast scanning. The dentist will appreciate being able to perform more accurate and faster dental scans. The TRIOS 4 has in particular the possibility to detect surface caries and interproximal caries thanks to its fluorescent technology allowing to prevent upstream the appearance of hard to identify caries that could degenerate in patients.
2. 3D visualization of dental restorations: better convince patients
Another aspect of dentistry that is being illuminated by digital technology is the visualization of dental restorations. Thanks to new 3D technologies, patients can now visualize the possible results of restoring their teeth. If 2D visualizations tend to convince patients to do dental restoration, imagine what 3D can do to increase the acceptance rate of restoration treatments in your office !
Ivoclar goes one step further by adding augmented reality to 3D technology. Where the Bellus 3D scan offers a simple scan and a 3D result, with the Ivoclar application, the patient can see the restoration result in real time on his screen.
These technologies, like any innovation, however, have compatibility disadvantages. The 3D Facial Scan is available on iPhone X, but is only compatible on Android or computer with the help of the 3D Scan camera. The IvoSmile application is only compatible with iPhone and iPad.
IvoSmile from Ivoclar Digital
3. Digital and new dental prosthesis materials
Finally, digital technology is revolutionizing certain practices that were still very traditional or limited to certain specialities. This is the case in particular for dental aligners which were formerly mainly reserved for orthodontics. From now on, brands are offering more and more alignment solutions for general dentistry .
The evolution of digital technology is also revolutionizing dental impression taking and prosthetics, the last bastion of traditional techniques. Today, the creation of dental models in 3D and with new materials and techniques makes previous techniques obsolete. For example, in terms of dental prostheses, the new version of Digital Denture de 3Shape™ D