This was the theme of Dentsply Sirona World Italia, held in Bologna on October 2 and 3, bringing together more than 40 national and international speakers to explore the evolution of dentistry and the new opportunities offered by digital technologies. Alongside science and traditional clinical practice, the congress looked ahead to an increasingly connected future, in which scanning, artificial intelligence and cloud-based solutions are transforming diagnosis, treatment planning and clinical workflows, optimizing practice efficiency and treatment times while offering new benefits to patients. We discussed this evolving landscape with Prof. Alessandro Preti, Clinical Trainer at Dentsply Sirona Academy and one of the congress speakers, whose expertise includes aesthetic restorative dentistry, rehabilitation and digital techniques.
Scanning and cloud-based technologies: where are they taking dentistry?
Until recently, scanning was primarily a tool for collecting data and using it at a later stage, including for communication with the dental technician. Today, thanks to integration with cloud platforms and the ability to connect directly to the cloud, scanning has become the starting point for a much wider range of activities.
The process can begin with diagnosis and patient communication and extend all the way to the production of restorations using dedicated devices such as milling units, or to orthodontic treatmentIn addition, all the relevant information can be continuously stored and managed in a secure and accessible cloud environment.
As we move from individual digital tools to increasingly integrated workflows, what benefits and developments can dental practices—and consequently patients—expect?
The key shift is that digital technology can no longer be considered simply a tool to support the clinician or communicate with the patient. It has become an integral part of the practice’s everyday workflow.
This is increasingly important from a medico-legal perspective as well. Having a documented starting point and being able to track the evolution of a case over time is becoming essential. We are therefore moving from a tool that might once have been used simply to support the clinician or improve communication and treatment presentation to a technology that is fundamental to daily clinical practice.
Patients benefit from this evolution, first and foremost because the software is not limited to visualization tools for communication and marketing, although these remain important aspects. It also includes diagnostic tools.
Radiology tools, for example, can help identify areas requiring particular attention and provide valuable information for treatment planning. This can be particularly relevant in implant planning, where the system can identify the course of the nerve and other relevant anatomical structures.
All of this allows for more accurate treatment planning and, when required, more controlled surgical procedures. The benefit for the patient is therefore a treatment pathway that can begin with a more accurate diagnosis and lead to a more precise restoration and, where necessary, better-planned and more controlled surgery.
