Dental patients and dental technology

Over the years, I have successfully implemented new technologies into my practice and have written extensively on the subject. I have covered both the benefits and challenges of integration, and handling the influx of new workflows into an established system. However, I only recently considered the role of technology as a “barrier” between the dentist and the patient.

I became aware of this topic in a conversation with one of my patients, a prominent orthopedic surgeon, while we were marveling at the same-day restoration I had just created for him with my Planmeca PlanScan CAD/CAM system. He could see the preparation, design, and milling of his crown on the screen in front of him, and no adjustments were needed, which spoke to the technology’s accuracy. He mentioned a similar technology used in preparing for joint replacement surgery, in which templates are designed and modeled to fit over certain bones and joints. With these advancements in mind, we discussed how technology is an integral part of our patient care. Yet it raised the question about whether we are looking at the computer screens more than we are looking at our patients. This resonated with me, as I often find myself engaged with the computer monitor - located behind the patient - while conducting my consultation.

While technology has had a positive impact on dental care, there is always the concern that advancements create a barrier between the dentist and the patient, which is the opposite of our intention. However, when the rising use of technology is examined, it can be argued that its positive effects far outweigh any negative effects, and that it breaks down old barriers rather than erects new ones.

Technological prestige: Technology now represents cleanliness, reliability, and progress. Patients associate these attributes with a modern-day dental practice. Along these lines, our office has phased out paper charts, x-ray film, impression material, and stone models, replacing them with digital records and 2-D/3-D images that are uncluttered, secured, and match that same positive image now associated with technology. Our physical offices have compact, sleek technologies that put the modern patient at ease, all while assisting us in providing the best care possible.