“We are a true global company”

Mr Leonhardt, Carestream Dental is known for its advanced imaging solutions. Can you discuss how the integration of your latest technologies, such as the 3D imaging systems and SMOP, into dental practices has transformed the approach to dental care, particularly in implantology and orthodontics?
Let me start by describing a little about our history. What most people are not aware of is that Carestream Dental actually has its roots in Kodak. That is where we come from originally. Like Kodak, we are all about making a fantastic, clear picture. We have taken that original inspiration and developed it in new and exciting directions within the dental industry. Nowadays, we position ourselves as the company who is able to create a digital data file, a perfect digital data file, which could be easily managed in an open software process. So that's something that from my point of view is very important. We are able to match our data from CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) with an STL (standard tessellation language) file of intra-oral scanners. Then we are open. We are open to iTero, to Medit, and to other scanners that we can integrate with. This versatility allows a more streamlined and blended workflow, and an enhanced implant workflow. It’s so easy. The ultimate objective is simplifying the workflow for the practising dentist sitting in their office. I can provide an example related to implantologists; they take the data from their intra-oral scanners like the ones I just mentioned, and using our Carestream imaging software, they are able to upload and match the different data and plan an implant using Carestreams’s PDIP (Prosthetic Driven Implant Planning). The data files are then available to be sent over a cloud to the digital lab. In our case, what we offer our customers is that they could send it over to the Swissmeda platform known as SMOP, which is part of Carestream Dental. This simplifies the clinical process in implantology. Finally, at the end of the day, our technology is about providing a guide for accurate and effective treatment,

At DDS.Berlin, Carestream Dental will host the 'Predictable digital implant planning' workshop. What key insights and skills can participants expect to gain from this session, and how will it improve their competency in digital implant planning?
Participants in the workshop stand to learn a lot. Of importance is that the workshop is being presented by two experts, Hugo Patrao, the head of medical services for SMOP by Swissmeda, and Maik Gerullis, from Carestream, a trainer for our CBCT data and key user for our software. Participants in the session were provided the opportunity to could learn how to create 3D images, and how to exactly plan an easy implant process. As I stated earlier, it is mainly about being provided with a guide. Workshop participants were introduced to the whole workflow in this short time and, importantly, provided information on how they could either print by themselves, or send it over to a service center, which would print that on their behalf. This is international show and I think that a key thing that people can take out of our workshop is that wherever country our participants are from, we are there as Carestream Dental. We are a true global company with a presence not only in most European countries but even in the US, Canada, as well.

Looking beyond DDS.Berlin, what future advancements in dental imaging technology is Carestream Dental currently developing? Additionally, how do you see these innovations contributing to the broader goals of improving dental diagnostics and patient care?
There are two parts to my response: the hardware and the software. Regarding hardware, we have some very exciting developments in the pipeline that will come to light in due course. When we talk about software, what I can clearly say is that it is going to be the game changer in the future and where a lot of technological development in the dental industry is going. Software, software, software! Two crucial developments in this sphere are artificial intelligence and cloud solutions. At Carestream Dental, we launched our AI software called  AI Insight, which is for automatic diagnostic. For example, if you are working with a CBCT, on the software screen there is an easy to use button where you are able to automatically generate a diagnostic with AI Insight. Then in 10 seconds you receive a full diagnostic, which is also really precise. It is very sophisticated and reliable AI software. We are continuing to expand in this crucial technological sphere and soon in the market you will see AI for intra-oral as well. The other aspect of the software is cloud solutions and we already have products out in the market. We are working with big dental organizations and we are providing them cloud solutions. As I said in the beginning, we are looking at the perfect data file, about how to bring it into the workflow in digital dentistry, how to manage it, and also how to ensure it is more open and accessible.

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