| | November 20208UTLOOKHealthcare Tech IN MY OPINIONA Comment on Digitalization in Dentistry This is a comment on the today's world of the dental profession, seen from 40 plus years of experience in three different milieus, large bureaucracy--military--, private practice, and a medical network. Dentistry has been inundated with the digital explosion that started with computer dental management software thirty to forty years ago, when we went from peg board systems to DOS based practice management systems, not a "mouse" to be seen, to Windows and Apple based platforms. Next came the digital radiography revolution. After that came the dental version of digital records. This has been followed by the digital/scanning systems that are commonplace in dental laboratories and dental offices alike. All of these changes have brought about significant alterations in the way dentistry is practiced as compared to dental care delivery in the 60's, 70's and earlier. The biggest changes that have been made are in the use of reliable ways to replace teeth, namely implants and all the technology associated with that treatment modality. As these improvements have made for substantial increase in the quality of care and how it is delivered to our patients. I cannot imagine trying to read a radiographic image by starring at 2x3 inch piece of film held up to a view box. Our diagnostic abilities have jumped multi fold to say nothing of the lowered exposure to ionizing radiation for our patients. The capacity to view a 3-dimensional image of our patients is just mind boggling. Endodontic techniques have made quantum leaps to make them more successful, predictable, and comfortable for the patients and dentist. For the most part root canals do not have to be two of the most feared words in the English language. Rotary instrumentation has become standard operating procedure and has been a major reason for these advancements. CBCT or 3-dimensional imaging has yielded substantial improvements in our diagnostic abilities. By S. Clarke Woodruff, DMD, FAGD Chair, Department of Dental Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network
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