Advances in digital technology are revolutionizing the dental industry, making oral health care easier for both dentists and patients.
But change is happening so quickly, especially in cosmetic dentistry, that sometimes patients are unaware of the new technologies and how those can help their appearance and confidence, says Gary Michels, DDS (www.cosmetic-dentistry.net), author of New Smile, New You! Creating a Happier, Healthier You with Cosmetic Dentistry!
“These technologies are being used to streamline most of today’s dental care and expand the dentist’s capabilities – in everything from designing a perfect smile to completing an entire treatment in one visit,” Michels says. “It falls on practitioners to explain how these means work better than old approaches and how the patient will benefit.”
Dr. Michels describes three of the most modern technologies in digital cosmetic dentistry:
- Digital smile design. ”Digital technology makes smile design a truly magical experience, allowing for the complete personalization of your smile,” Dr. Michels says. This technology, he explains, combines the use of digital photography and specialized computer software. A staff member takes a picture of the patient’s smile and uploads it to a computer screen. There, the staff member duplicates the image and begins manipulating the smile on the second image. “The technology can be used to change aspects of your teeth like colors, shapes, sizes, angulations, and position,” he says. “It allows you to look at the image of your ‘before’ and ‘after’ smiles side by side.”
- Digital cosmetic sculptures. This entails taking a digital scan of the entire mouth and uploading it to a computer, which will then display a three-dimensional image of one’s teeth and gums. “Using specialized computer software, the digital wax-up process can be completed on the computer screen, with no messy wax, hot instruments, or dust,” Dr. Michels says. “Another positive aspect is that a talented technician, with the aid of this technology, can create digital wax-ups of various smiles. And that talent can be shared among thousands of patients, as these digital models can be saved on a computer as templates.”
- CAD/CAM. One of the newest innovations in cosmetic dentistry is a technologically-advanced machine that uses computers to both design and fabricate restorations. “It allows treatment to be accomplished quickly, often in one day,” Dr. Michels says. The process starts with a digital scan of the prepared teeth. The data is uploaded to a computer, and the cosmetic restorations are designed virtually. “Once the dentist is satisfied with the cosmetic aspects of the digital design,” he says, “the data is sent to a separate milling machine, where a CAD/CAM unit fashions the restorations from blocks of material. The new restorations can then be polished by the dental team and placed in the mouth to be evaluated for fit and appearance.”
“The global pandemic has made us rethink our lives, what we want to prioritize, how we want to feel and look,” Dr. Michels says. “Dental practices need to respond the best way possible to their patients’ needs, and digital technology offers them the best options, not to mention the best smile.”
About Gary Michels, DDS
Dr. Gary Michels (www.cosmetic-dentistry.net) is the author of New Smile, New You! Creating a Happier, Healthier You with Cosmetic Dentistry! He has been practicing dentistry for 40 years, combining his scientific knowledge with an artist’s touch to create beautiful smiles at his state-of-the-art practice in Greenville, N.C. He graduated second in his class from Emory University Dental School and trained with masters including Dr. Ronald Goldstein, who is considered the founder of modern cosmetic dentistry, and New York City’s “Dentist to the Stars” Larry Rosenthal. Dr. Michels has served as an adjunct professor, lecturer to dental societies, founder of a postgraduate dental learning center, and mentor to countless young dentists. He is also co-founder of the Dream Factory of North Carolina, a charity for seriously ill children.