19 JANUARY 2025iTero can show the patient an estimated simulation of how their teeth may look after alignment through the `Outcome Simulator Feature'. We can now go one step further with for our patients with the `Outcome Simulator Pro' ­ this allows the patient to visualise how their aligned teeth would look facially, by taking a smiling facial photo on the Invisalign Practice App, this instantly transfers to the iTero screen and uses AI to create the aligned smile right in front of their eyes. This is a great motivational tool and can evoke an emotional response at the very first appointment. Many patients attend consultations feeling nervous, not even knowing if treatment is possible, and leave feeling excited at the prospect of what may lie ahead for them. This is the power of digital dentistry.THE TREATMENT PLANNINGClinCheck is the treatment planning software used for Invisalign. It allows clinicians to form a bespoke 3D treatment plan to cater for their patient's needs and concerns. With ClinCheck, clinicians can visualise how the teeth are likely to look at the end of alignment before beginning. This is a more precise prediction tool compared to the outcome simulator pro. The majority of Invisalign patients are adults and will have tooth wear because of a pathological occlusion over many years. ClinCheck will allow us to see which teeth may require restorative work post-orthodontics. This can then be relayed to the patient, further enhancing the patient's experience and consent. The patient also feels more involved with their treatment leading to higher satisfaction and compliance.The software also has many features which allow us to assess the movements required and how challenging they may be e.g. large rotations/torque. A very useful feature is found in the `tooth movements table' tool. This tool illustrates every single movement to every single tooth during treatment ­ it is not necessary to analyse all the values available, however, a value will be highlighted in bold and underlined. This is known as the `leading movement' ­ the requested movement in the current treatment plan which is deemed to be the most challenging. Clinicians can then alter the plan to enhance efficiency, or they can relay this information to the patient and manage expectations.REMOTE MONITORINGInvisalign has recently updated its remote monitoring software known as `Virtual Care'. It is a telehealth tool integrated into Invisalign's workflow and is designed to allow remote monitoring and communication between patients and their clinicians throughout treatment.The patient uses their smartphone and the Invisalign app to take photos of their teeth generally weekly. The app prompts the patient to take photos from different angles using cheek retractors. The clinician instantly receives the photos and can assess the patient's progress remotely. The fit of the aligners is generally assessed and the patient can be prompted to move on to the next set of aligners if everything is satisfactory. In the case of any issues, the clinician can advise the patient on how to rectify this e.g. return to previous aligners for a few days or book an appointment to have things checked over.From a patient's point of view, this is a much more convenient way to have their treatment monitored. It avoids regular trips to the practice, time out of work, and time out of their life outside of work. Because checks are taking place every week as opposed to every 4-8 weeks, issues can be picked up immediately and corrected, not giving things a chance to progress further. IN CONCLUSIONAs aforementioned, it is an exciting time to be practising dentistry/orthodontics. Technology is developing at a rapid rate, and it has never been easier to diagnose, create personalised treatment plans and improve patient outcomes. Digital dentistry is here to stay; the shift towards it encourages continual education and growth across the world. You can find educational courses all over and the majority will be utilising some form of digital workflow. Technology has not only made the dental field more efficient and effective but has also reinvigorated the profession with new possibilities. Get on board or get left behind! DIGITAL DENTISTRY IS HERE TO STAY; THE SHIFT TOWARDS IT ENCOURAGES CONTINUAL EDUCATION AND GROWTH ACROSS THE WORLD. YOU CAN FIND EDUCATIONAL COURSES ALL OVER AND THE MAJORITY WILL BE UTILISING SOME FORM OF DIGITAL WORKFLOW
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