The Future of Dental Technology

When you hear the word "technology," what comes to mind? Perhaps it's modern media – things like video games, websites, and social networks. Still, there's more to current tools than screen-based delight. A lot of today’s technical progress comes from dentistry. Indeed, the dental field is working on many innovations nowadays. The result will be oral care that’s better than ever before! If you’d like the details, read on to learn five technologies you’ll find in future dentistry.

Augmented Reality (AR)

In the last few years, augmented reality (AR) has gotten quite popular. One example is the range of funny filters on Instagram and TikTok. Needless to say, even dentistry is giving this technology a try.

You see, many dental experts think AR is a next-generation tool. Students could use it to learn about oral procedures, including reconstructive treatments. On the other hand, it’d let dentists share virtual depictions of treatment results. This latter option could thus allow for new levels of customized care. (For instance, a provider and their patient might configure the space and height of new teeth).

Teledentistry

Thanks to Covid19, you likely already know about telehealth. This collection of tools lets patients talk to doctors over long distances. Live video calls, especially, allow for detailed consultations without a trip to the office.

Per the name, teledentistry is telehealth’s dental equivalent. It’s fast becoming a great way to access oral care remotely. In particular, the service allows for cheaper preventive options and flexible appointment times. Patients can thus receive a cursory dental checkup from the (relative) comfort of home.

Regenerative Dentistry

Generally, teeth don’t heal themselves. Any enamel and dentin lost from oral damage won’t grow back. As a result, a pearly white needs care to prevent tooth decay and the occasional chip or crack.

All that said, such things might change with regenerative dentistry. This field’s therapies may soon be able to regenerate teeth. Even now, British researchers have created a dental filling to that effect. Its stem cells trigger dentin growth, ensuring teeth can repair themselves.

True enough, this technology is still in its early stages. Everything has to start somewhere. Regardless, visionaries believe regenerative dentistry and its offerings will soon be mainstream.

3D Printing

When they first arrived, 3D printers seemed rather shocking. Could a device “print” 3D objects instead of text on paper? When most people broached the thought, they thought it seemed straight out of science fiction. However, much of society now has machines waiting and ready to print all sorts of tools.

During the Covid pandemic, dentistry really started to rely on 3D printing. After all, the coronavirus’ spread shut down global supply chains. They've since led dentists to make low-cost products via “printing” that save time and money.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Of course, artificial intelligence (AI) has many ongoing advances. Algorithms and machine learning underlie much of the Internet now. Plus, medical professionals have begun doing AI-assisted surgeries. Many even believe artificial intelligence will usher in a new information revolution.

Naturally, dentistry plans to be a part of that revolution. It’s already considering the idea of robots performing oral services. Also, AI algorithms are already helping dentists with diagnoses and judgment calls. They rely on data to make suggestions for a patient’s condition, health history, and treatment plan. Such guidance, in turn, allows dental practices to give effective care for many smiles.

In the wider world, technology conjures images of black phone screens and Internet memes. Even so, dentists continue to build advanced tools that enhance their craft. Therefore, remember the technologies above as dentistry soon enters a brand-new era.