Departments

Evolving Technology and AI Innovation Will Change How You Care for Your Oral Health 

Caring for your teeth involves employing good oral habits like brushing, using antimicrobial mouthwash, flossing, and scheduling routine dental visits. While these daily tasks and checkups are crucial, technology is now significantly influencing dental health trends and transforming how patients receive care.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), yearly dental exams can facilitate early detection of oral conditions such as Gingivitis – a gum disease, tooth loss, and oral cancers. Still, cavities are the number one mouth issue that bring patients to the dental chair and 90% of U.S. adults over the age of 20 have experienced one.

The 2024 State of America’s Oral Health and Wellness Report, a nationwide analysis of consumer opinions and behaviors related to dental health, further revealed a strong consumer understanding of the vital role oral health plays in one’s personal wellness. It revealed that 91% of individuals believed that their dental visits were just as important as an annual physical with their physician.

At The Forefront of Current Industry Trends

Going to the dentist is not what it used to be and many individuals are now optimistic about their dental hygiene. This impressionistic shift is leading to visible trends in the dental industry, and some may feel rather nostalgic.

Dr. Matthew Scheske of Pynenberg & Scheske DDS, SC in Little Chute, believes this particular change stems from the availability of new technology and from practices prioritizing patient-centered care.

“The dental industry has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by technological advancements, changing patient expectations, and increased awareness of oral health,” said Scheske.

Pynenberg & Scheske DDS, SC is a family dental practice that includes Dr. Matthew Scheske, Dr. Dann Pynenberg, Dr. Brandon Coppersmith and six talented hygienists.The team treats patients of all ages and offers a full assortment of preventative services, digital x-rays, and state-of-the art ultrasonic scalers.

“From a patient care standpoint, I would say clear aligner therapy for adults to go back into orthodontics and for adults to go back into bracketed braces is very common,” said Scheske.

Scheske feels that certain orthodontic movements performed 20 years ago can ultimately have deleterious outcomes for patients including tooth wear, recession, and complications with sleep apnea.

“Patients going back into orthodontics to fix some of these concerns is definitely a trend,” said Scheske.

Dental implants are also trending amongst patients. Not only do they replace missing teeth for necessary functions like chewing, they dually serve a cosmetic purpose for enhancing one’s smile.

“We do far less dental bridges or removable partial dentures or full dentures anymore,” said Scheske, “if you have a one tooth problem, dental implants are 9 times out of 10 going to be your best solution.”

CAD/CAM equipment modern extraoral laboratory dental scanner. Selective focus.

Another trend that goes beyond generalized cosmetic or routine procedures is the concept of focusing on a patient’s overall wellness, not just their mouth.

Dr. Logan Van Hoof, owner of Van Hoof Dental in Appleton offers preventative oral maintenance and individualized restorative treatments.

“Right now treating the body as a whole is becoming much more popular in the medical community and dental care is no different,” Van Hoof said, “here at Van Hoof Dental, we focus on not only your oral health but also your overall health.”

According to Dr. Van Hoof, many people do not realize how important good oral health is for the body, and that remaining diligent with routine dental visits can actually have a profound impact on your well-being.

“Our most popular service is a professional dental cleaning at which our trained hygienists will individually coach each patient toward their path to health,” he said.

Dentists are now seeing a decrease in visit anxiety thanks to changes in procedures and patient comfort levels, both of which are influencing factors for recent trends.

“The rate at which things are changing is fast,” said Van Hoof, “there is a good chance that if you have not had dental work done in the last 10 years your experience could be much different today.”

Both practitioners say they hope to see their patients more frequently in order to prevent future problems.

“It is surprising to me how many people have dental insurance that covers all of their preventative care including examinations, x-rays, and prophylaxis, yet, many don’t utilize their dental benefits,” said Scheske, “most major dental issues can be addressed sooner with more regular dental care and earlier detection leads to less invasive and less expensive outcomes.”

Van Hoof agrees and says communicating with your dentist about concerns is imperative.

“Take care of the teeth that you have because they are the only ones that you will get!” said Van Hoof, “the truth is, if you are in pain or discomfort, an easily preventable event just becomes more complicated; get into your dentist and get a professional cleaning and exam to ensure that there is not anything going on you may not know about.”

Technology is Revolutionizing the Practice of Dentistry

The adoption of technological advances have allowed dentists to be able to diagnose and treat patients more accurately and efficiently, resulting in more desirable outcomes.

“There’s a growing focus on conservative treatments that preserve natural tooth structure, aided by advances in laser dentistry and biomaterials,” said Scheske, “additionally, the use of cone beam CT radiographs allow us to digitally plan, leading to quicker healing and increased precision.”

Digital scanning has replaced manual impressions, an aspect of dentistry that many patients feel has always been inconvenient. Instead, computer-generated models digitally scan a tooth to create a three-dimensional impression that can be used for dental bridges, veneers, porcelain fillings and beyond.

“It is used every day in our practice,” said Scheske, “making crowns chairside for patients eliminates the need for a second visit and those goopy impressions.”

Advancements in the technologies used in the industry have also aided practitioners in performing more intricate procedures faster. Through the use of tools like CBCT, or cone-beam computed tomography, a type of x-ray machine used to make 3D images of a patient’s face, jaw and teeth, discomfort and anxiety is often minimized for patients.
“I use a CBCT with scanning and 3D printing to perform guided dental implant placement,” said Scheske, “dental implants are used as a replacement for a single tooth or multiple teeth and placing implants guided allows for accuracy and ideal placement.”

Along with a 3D cone beam x-ray machine, Dr. Van Hoof has also introduced an intra-oral scanner into his practice, giving patients an opportunity to feel more informed and involved in their care.

“The intra-oral scanner works by taking live video feed of your mouth and then creating a digital model allowing us to make all sorts of dental appliances from crowns to dentures, without having to take those traditional and messy impressions that many of us are used to,” Van Hoof said.

The future of dentistry has also unveiled the use of artificial intelligence (AI). AI can be used for analyzing dental images to help identify bone loss, tooth decay and tumors. It can also predict a patient’s likelihood for developing conditions like periodontal disease or caries. For patients, AI serves as a visualization of how their teeth, mouth, and face could look after their dental work is complete.

“When we are designing cosmetic mock-ups for patients that want to go through a smile upgrade, the AI involved in our dental software allows the patient to begin with the end result in mind,” said Scheske.

While technology can offer some rather magical features, it is important for patients to maintain realistic expectations.

“Be open and honest with your dentist about what you want because the end result needs to be understood in order to select the right treatment options that will make you happy,” said Van Hoof.

Upgrading Your Smile in Comfort 

For decades, the practice of cosmetic dentistry has inspired patients to improve their looks with veneers or by straightening their smile with clear aligners.

“There is now a stronger social media influence on how patients want their teeth to look like,” said Dr. Stephen Moore of Grand View Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in Appleton.

“There has always been a demand for veneers,” he said, “the benefits are to improve or change someone’s smile which can be life-altering for some patients.”

Good candidates for veneers must have healthy, well-maintained teeth and gums. Strong enamel is also essential as veneers, made of tooth-colored composite or porcelain, are bonded to the teeth using dental cement.

“Keep in mind that some procedures are reversible, others are not,” advises Moore, “choose your dentist wisely.”

Some cosmetic options, like teeth straightening with aligners like Invisalign, are less invasive. Invisalign is a custom-fitted, removable aligner made of medical grade polyurethane resin designed to gradually adjust teeth over time.

“This area of dentistry has continued to grow exponentially,” said Dr. Patricia McConnell of Artistic Smiles Dentistry, SC, in Appleton.

McConnell said Invisalign, along with whitening procedures, have continued to be a popular treatment option in her office and is a great choice for patients who have noticed slight shifting or desire a better smile.

During a cosmetic dentistry consult, McConnell and Moore both take on a personalized approach. They give consideration to any work their patient has previously undergone and factors like large fillings, old crowns, teeth color, and space.

McConnell also extends a critical piece of advice to individuals considering aligner systems.

“I would advise them to stay away from “do it yourself” orthodontic companies in the mail,” she said, “these treatments are not supervised by a dentist.”

Instead, patients should seek care from a licensed professional. With many advancements in the field, dentists are able to ensure patients feel minimal discomfort during their procedures.

“We have so many ways of making people feel comfortable during a dental procedure,” said McConnell.

McConnell works to mitigate fear in her patients by creating a culture of a “dental family” in her practice. Patients are also presented with a comfort menu allowing them to pick from selections such as cozy blankets, headphones, and nitrous oxide. A strong numbing gel is also applied and a vibrating technique is used to numb the tooth, extending extra relief to anxious patients.

“We take time to listen to patient concerns when they first come in and before starting any procedure,” she said.

There is also a luxurious side to dentistry; Moore ensures his patients are at ease by providing massage chairs, a calming view of the backwoods, creek, and local wildlife in a spa-like atmosphere.

“There are many advancements that help with pain management, but we want our patients to be as comfortable as possible,” said Moore, “it shouldn’t have to be unpleasant when visiting the dentist.”