Yes, an iTero.
Transforming Lives with Preventive Dental Care: Why It Matters
Did you know that prioritising your oral health could actually save your life? No, really. As someone deeply immersed in the dental industry, I’ve witnessed how transformative advancements in dental technology like the iTero can be. At XYZ Dental, our mission is to equip the industry with cutting-edge tools to deliver faster, better, and more accessible care.
The Financial and Health Benefits of Preventive Care
One late Sunday night, while eagerly awaiting a Tottenham Hotspur Football Club game—shoutout to the legendary Ange Postecoglou—I stumbled upon a study from the University of Illinois. It revealed something remarkable:
- Every dollar spent on preventive dental care can save $8 to $50 in restorative and emergency treatments, along with additional savings on related medical expenses
- Sealants, such as fissure seals, can reduce caries in children by up to 80%
These findings highlight the immense value of prevention in reducing public health burdens. Adopting modern tools like intraoral scanners and embracing CAD-CAM workflows enhances the delivery of these critical preventative measures. Early, consistent, and proactive care is the key.
Early Intervention: A Parent’s Perspective
As a father, I understand the importance of starting early. Teaching children about flossing, brushing, and avoiding sugary foods is foundational, but it goes beyond that. Engaging kids at a clinical level, showing them their oral health progress on-screen in vivid colour, can inspire lifelong healthy habits.
This passion drives my professional goals:
- Advocating for oral health equality across regional and urban communities
- Encouraging regular dental visits to shift from reactive to proactive care
- Supporting dental professionals with innovative technology to improve patient outcomes.
Oral Health and Overall Well-Being
Your oral health impacts your entire body. Studies link poor oral health to several serious conditions:
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Inflammation from gum disease can lead to hardened arteries and increase heart attack risks
- Respiratory Infections: Oral bacteria can reach the lungs, causing pneumonia, especially in aged care settings
- Diabetic Complications: Gum disease can worsen diabetes control, as poor oral health raises blood sugar levels
- Pregnancy Complications: Gum disease increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Mouth bacteria have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, suggesting a potential link
The Role of Technology in Preventive Care
Preventive care starts with regular visits to a clinician. Monitoring and charting patient progress requires advanced tools. Intraoral scanners like iTero, for instance, enable time-lapse technology to compare a patient’s oral health over months. This fosters accountability and encourages preventive measures like basic oral hygiene.
Why Invest in an Intraoral Scanner?
Intraoral scanners, like the iTero, represent the forefront of dental technology. At XYZ Dental, we offer iTero intraoral scanners that empower clinicians to:
- See More Patients: Faster workflows free up time for more appointments
- Improve Accessibility: Scalable solutions make advanced care feasible for all practices
- Enhance Patient Trust: Visual tools engage patients in their oral health journey, fostering understanding and commitment
The iTero scanner, with its NIRI caries detection technology and time-lapse imaging, is one of the best-selling scanners worldwide. It empowers clinicians to detect issues early, monitor progress, and promote proactive care.
Scaling Preventive Care with Chairside CAD-CAM Workflows
Integrating Chairside CAD-CAM workflows into your practice can revolutionise patient care. Here’s how:
- 3D Printing: Using Asiga 3D printers, create surgical guides, orthodontic aligners, and custom trays quickly and affordably
- Chairside Milling Machines: With solutions like imes-icore and Roland DGSHAPE milling machines, produce same-day crowns and more, saving time and costs that mill VOCO Grandio and HASS Amber Mill materials
- Comprehensive Workflows: Streamline complex treatments with systems like CLAUSS Chairside CAD-CAM, ensuring efficiency without sacrificing quality
At XYZ Dental, we’re proud to offer CLAUSS™ Chairside CAD-CAM solutions, which integrate seamlessly with in-house workflows. Combined with powerful software like exocad, these tools provide unparalleled support to dental professionals.
Building a Healthier Future
My dream is an Australia and New Zealand where oral health disparities no longer exist. Technology like iTero intraoral scanners and Chairside CAD-CAM systems bridge the gap between underserved and affluent communities.
By adopting these tools, we can:
- Improve access to quality dental care
- Reduce the burden on the healthcare system
- Empower patients and clinicians alike
For me, this mission is personal. As a parent and advocate, we are committed to making oral health a priority for every individual. Together, with the right tools and a shared dedication to prevention, the outcomes of oral health can be transformed for all.