I have heard many dentists complain that digital technology cannot make you a better dentist. In my opinion, that is not the case. I know because I am proof. I am just an average clinical dentist, but because of digital pathways, I can do things in dentistry that I could never imagine doing, and I can do the basic tasks effortlessly.
It should not be a question of one over the other
When it comes to dentures, implants and full-mouth reconstructions, digital pathways have made my work more predictable and time efficient, but I am not ignoring analogue techniques because I employ more digital ones now. Ever since adopting intra-oral scanning almost ten years ago, I have only made a small handful of physical impressions for routine crown and bridge cases, but I still use analogue workflows for larger cases.
Analogue and digital workflows are like good friends, especially for complete dentures and implant workflows. They just work together. When dentists ignore digital pathways because they believe it can only be one or the other, they are mistaken.
I am a better digital dentist because of my analogue mindset. In my mind, the digital pathways that I take are no different from the analogue workflows, except that I eliminate the polyvinylsiloxane. In addition, digital technology enables me to leverage the data I collect for design and production or, at the very least, share it more easily with a treatment partner.
In a denture workflow, for example, you can choose the analogue workflow, taking a traditional custom tray impression using polyvinylsiloxane, or the digital one, using an intra-oral scanner. You scan the identical arch, do a fully digital design, but ultimately, you get to that same point as you would with a physical impression.
Our inclination is to separate digital and analogue workflows, to treat them as if they are competing, but I argue that there is no such thing as a 100% digital dentist, just like there is no longer a need for a 100% analogue mindset. Our clinical reality is that we should be thinking about how analogue and digital can live together.
Studies have clearly documented that digital pathways for any number of indications are at least as accurate as analogue. I am not sure that anyone would argue about which one is faster or more comfortable for the patient. But again, I am not saying you need to choose one over the other. I think we should be taking advantage of both digital and analogue techniques to provide the optimal treatment for our patients.
To post a reply please login or register