The Ultimate Guide to Digital Dentistry

No matter how you keep up with your annual CE, whether hands-on courses, online webinars or dental conferences and association meetings, you're going to hear about the digital transformation happening in dentistry.

Digital dentistry has transformed how dental professionals deliver patient care, streamlining workflows, improving accuracy, and enhancing patient experiences.

Voxel Dental is at the forefront of this revolution. Starting in 2016, our Founder James Bonham, recognized that the future of dentistry would revolve around digital technologies. Since Voxel's inception, our goal has always been to be your digital dental workflow partner in devices support and consultation, from intraoral scanners to 3D printing.

With over 80 years of combined dental experience, our services range from lab service consultation, additive manufacturing, and intraoral scanning to CBCT, pan/ceph imaging, robotics, lab products, sales and support.

We wrote this ultimate guide to digital dentistry to help dentists at any stage of their journey. We'll cover everything from intraoral scanning to 3D printing, giving dental professionals no matter of specialty a comprehensive overview of how digital tools can elevate your practices.

What is Digital Dentistry?

Let's start with the basics...

Digital dentistry refers to the use of digital technology in diagnosing, planning, and executing dental treatments. By replacing traditional analog methods with advanced digital tools, clinicians can deliver more precise, efficient, and patient-friendly care.

Digital dentistry encompasses various technologies that are replacing traditional methods, such as intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM systems, CBCT imaging, 3D printing, and digital workflows that integrate these tools.

Why Digital Dentistry is the Future

• Increased Accuracy: Digital tools reduce the risk of human error, improving the accuracy of diagnostics, restorations, and implant placements.
• Streamlined Workflows: Digital workflows enable faster treatment planning and execution, reducing chair time and the number of patient visits.
• Patient Engagement: Digital dentistry enhances patient communication and education by providing visual tools like digital scans and 3D models to explain procedures.
• Cost-Effectiveness: By eliminating many manual processes, digital tools can reduce costs related to lab work, remakes, and extended treatment times.

Core Components of Digital Dentistry

1. Intraoral Scanning: The Foundation of Digital Dentistry

Intraoral scanners (IOS) are a core technology in digital dentistry. By capturing accurate, 3D digital impressions of the patient's teeth and soft tissues, these devices replace traditional impression materials, which are often uncomfortable and prone to inaccuracies.

Intraoral scanners not only improve accuracy but also reduce discomfort for patients, resulting in faster and more predictable outcomes.

Benefits:

• Speed and Comfort: Patients experience a more comfortable and quicker process compared to traditional impressions.
• Accuracy: High-resolution digital scans ensure that every detail is captured, minimizing errors and reducing the need for remakes.
• Improved Communication: Scans can be shown to patients in real-time, helping them understand their treatment options better.

2. CAD/CAM Systems: From Design to Production

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems are essential tools for creating custom dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and inlays. Once the digital scan is captured, CAD software is used to design the restoration, while CAM tools manufacture it using materials like zirconia, porcelain, or composite resin.

By using CAD/CAM, dental professionals can produce restorations with greater precision and efficiency, often completing treatments in a single visit.

Benefits:

• Same-Day Restorations: Practices can mill or print restorations in-office, reducing the need for multiple appointments.
• Customization: CAD/CAM technology allows for highly customized restorations that fit perfectly and match the patient’s esthetic needs.
• Efficiency: The streamlined process eliminates the delays associated with sending impressions to a lab, speeding up treatment times.

3. CBCT Imaging: 3D Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) provides three-dimensional imaging that is invaluable for diagnostics, especially in implantology, endodontics, and orthodontics. CBCT scans allow clinicians to visualize bone structure, nerve pathways, and soft tissues with remarkable clarity.

Whether placing implants or diagnosing complex cases, CBCT improves diagnostic accuracy and enhances patient outcomes.

Benefits:

• Detailed 3D Visualization: CBCT scans provide a comprehensive view of the patient’s oral anatomy, allowing for more precise diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Improved Implant Placement: Accurate visualization of bone density and nerve pathways ensures safer and more effective implant procedures.
• Orthodontic Planning: CBCT is invaluable in creating accurate treatment plans for orthodontics, allowing for better monitoring of tooth movement and jaw development.

4. Digital Workflows: Connecting the Entire Process

The strength of digital dentistry lies in its ability to connect various tools into a cohesive digital workflow. From the initial scan to the final restoration, everything is connected in a seamless process that improves efficiency, reduces errors, and enhances patient care.

Voxel Dental’s Insight:

Voxel Dental focuses on creating a fully integrated digital workflow, allowing clinicians to move seamlessly from diagnosis to treatment. By integrating intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM, CBCT imaging, and 3D printing, Voxel Dental empowers practices to deliver faster, more efficient care while maintaining high standards of precision and quality.

Benefits:

• Consistency: Digital workflows reduce the risk of errors and inconsistencies, ensuring that each stage of the treatment is connected and accurate.
• Time Efficiency: With a digital workflow, processes that once took days or weeks can now be completed in a single appointment.
• Reduced Costs: Digital workflows minimize the need for multiple appointments and lab work, making treatments more cost-effective for both practices and patients.

5. 3D Printing: Transforming Custom Restorations and Appliances

3D printing is another revolutionary technology that is reshaping the world of digital dentistry. With the ability to print dental restorations, models, surgical guides, and aligners, 3D printing offers a cost-effective, fast, and accurate way to manufacture custom dental products.

In fact, 3D printing was a foundational technology when Voxel first began our business. We recognized the potential impact 3D printing could cause in dentistry, with a variety of clinical applications and expanding uses every day (see the revolutionary SprintRay MIDAS for 3D printed crowns).

From nightguards and retainers to crowns and bridges, 3D printing allows dental practices to take full control of production, reducing reliance on external labs and improving turnaround times.

Benefits:

• Customization: 3D printing allows for personalized treatment plans and customized appliances, ensuring an accurate fit for each patient.
• Speed: Practices can produce crowns, surgical guides, and other dental appliances in-house, often in a matter of hours, significantly reducing treatment times.
• Cost Savings: By bringing production in-house, dental practices can lower costs and increase profitability while providing patients with faster service.

The Future of Digital Dentistry

Voxel Dental is committed to driving the future of digital dentistry by offering cutting-edge technology solutions that streamline workflows, enhance patient care, and improve clinical outcomes. Whether you are just beginning your digital journey or are looking to upgrade your practice’s current capabilities, Voxel Dental provides the tools, training, and support to ensure a smooth transition.

With digital dentistry becoming the new standard, investing in digital tools and workflows is no longer optional—it's essential. Practices that embrace these technologies are better positioned to provide fast, accurate, and high-quality care that meets the needs of modern patients.

READY TO GET STARTED? REACH OUT!

We have a team of dental technology experts ready to help you find the right equipment for your practice, with specialists trained on the latest digital workflows for orthodontics, full arch and restorative, milling and much more!

We’ve worked with thousands of dentists across the US. We know what it takes to get up and running quickly, especially with new technology. 

That’s why we back all of our products with a comprehensive warranty, product support, installation, and perhaps, most importantly, online and on-site training to help get you and your staff started with your new technology as quickly as possible.

Ready to begin? Give us a call at (281) 789-7270 or fill out an online inquiry form below. We look forward to earning your business.