A common fear among children is visiting the dentist. Perched in an enormous chair bathed in glaring light, enduring long periods of sitting while someone examines and prods your mouth with sharp and scary instruments, emitting noises akin to the wails of tormented spirits from the underworld. Ultimately, when the suffering ends, that person advises you to avoid your beloved treats and reminds you to maintain a regular tooth-brushing routine.
We've all experienced this as children, and those childhood memories linger with most people. Just the thought of visiting the dentist can send chills down your spine. Nobody enjoys visiting the dentist, even though everyone understands the importance of oral health and its significant link to our general well-being. However, a number of emerging technologies ranging from virtual reality to artificial intelligence (AI) will transform dentistry and your entire perspective on oral health moving forward.
Similar to other medical fields, groundbreaking innovations will significantly influence the practice of dentistry and the way patients manage their oral health in the future. Can you envision receiving your 3D-printed prosthetic in just an hour instead of undergoing 4 to 5 appointments at the dentist? What do you think of scheduling a teledentist consultation? Or having the capability to regenerate teeth at the age of 80?
Let’s explore how these might become true in the future due to the following technologies.
Artificial intelligence
Dentists are utilizing software to enhance clinical decision-making insights, yet AI is revolutionizing dentistry as it does in numerous other sectors. A dentist in Spokane explained, ‘It's revolutionizing diagnosis, decision-making, and treatment strategies. It offers patients more precise treatment and improved results.’ This research outlines how AI enhances different areas of the sector.
Operative dentistry: detecting cavities sooner
Despite using X-rays, dentists can occasionally overlook small cavities, particularly in challenging areas such as between teeth. AI can identify early-stage dental cavities and vertical root fractures with greater accuracy than conventional techniques, while also being cost-effective. Addressing issues promptly reduces the necessity for extensive procedures down the line – a significant benefit for us as patients. This is not science fiction; using neural networks can identify dental decay (and periodontal disease) in radiographs more efficiently.
Periodontics: safeguarding your gums
Periodontal disease (periodontitis) can be difficult to detect in its initial phases, yet it is a significant contributor to tooth loss. AI aids dentists in detecting it early, allowing for simpler and more effective treatment. It’s akin to bringing a skilled gum expert on board.
Smart toothbrush
Though AI assists dental experts in delivering improved treatments, intelligent toothbrushes allow everyone to maintain better oral hygiene. In the future, our homes will have smart, connected devices everywhere, so why should our bathrooms be different? Initially, it could seem somewhat odd to incorporate a sensor into one of your most personal routines, brushing your teeth, but it significantly simplifies the process of upholding oral hygiene and avoiding plaque or cavities.
These offer instant feedback through a companion app alerting you if you are exerting excessive pressure, monitoring your brushing location, and even guiding the user on how to brush correctly. And there are numerous devices like that available in the market.
Augmented Reality
You may recognize Augmented Reality (AR) from social media applications; it’s the same technology that Snapchat employs to overlay filters on your face while you capture a guilty selfie featuring a dog face filter. However, AR has also established a presence in dentistry for both educational and clinical use.
In dental practice, technology is increasingly common in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures to assist patients in visualizing their appearance post-treatment. SmartTek created an AR application that uses your phone’s or tablet’s camera to overlay virtual representations of the improved set of teeth prior to the procedure.
This enables patients and dentists to adjust aspects of their teeth like height and spacing according to their preferences even before stepping into the surgery room.
Virtual Reality in Dentistry
Do not confuse it with AR; Virtual Reality (VR) fully isolates the user from the real world through a specialized headset and immerses them in a digital setting. By putting on a headset, students and future dental surgeons can be transported to the OR from their couch; meanwhile, patients can envision a soothing landscape while sitting on the dentist’s chair to improve their experience.
Currently, only a limited number of students are allowed to observe the surgeon's work during an operation, making it difficult to acquire the nuances of the profession in this manner. Surgeons can broadcast surgeries around the world with a virtual reality camera, enabling medical students to virtually participate in the operating room with their VR headsets.
Teledentistry
If you feel hesitant about visiting the dentist, think about how challenging it is for kids, individuals with special needs, or seniors living in nursing homes. Another concern is distance: individuals residing in rural regions seldom have access to a dentist and rarely have the option to choose. This may alter considerably with the growth of teledentistry.
Teledentistry services from firms such as The Teledentists and MouthWatch enhance accessibility to dental care; are considerably more affordable for patients; promote cost-effective preventive measures; and enable patients to connect with medical experts who may otherwise be inaccessible.
Regenerative dentistry
We tend to anticipate that our teeth will deteriorate due to age or injury and that they will be substituted with artificial replacements. Nevertheless, regenerative dentistry contests this established notion with advancements that may result in self-repairing teeth and biological treatments for damaged teeth.
Researchers from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University have previously created dental fillings that enable your teeth to self-repair. These fillings activate stem cells to encourage the development of dentin, which is the primary component of your teeth. This allows patients to regenerate teeth harmed by dental issues and possibly remove the necessity for root canals!
Isn't it nice to imagine that you may not require dentures to substitute your own as you age, but rather, you could regenerate new ones?
