Dentistry 2010 or Pulp Fiction?
Written by Jay H. Garlitz, D.M.D. (Consulting Editor) for "Today's FDA" March 1998

Dental Techno-Assistant
Hard to come by and highly valued, an important staff member. Breed of
dental assistant unknown in the last century, became a trained staff member
in the last decade. Duties range from organizing data to being involved in
interactive marketing. Hard to believe this auxiliary position did not exist
when the millennium started. The Dental Profession has transformed into a
high tech juggernaut while still maintaining the warm compassionate
character of it's past life. Effective dental techno-assistant team-members
utilize their talents in allowing the dentist to benefit from a world with
fingertip interaction while affording them the ability to concentrate on
quality care for the patient.

The Patient
Television, printed media, mail service, computers and telephone
technologies merged to create a megalopolis of the digital age. Patients
utilize electronic agents to search out their needs and desires. Information
and access is their dominion. Technologies that push information to the
home multi-media center has replaced traditional advertising to a great
extent. The plethora of programming choices in the entertainment realm
has competition from the interactive world of information access, which is
equally cherished by the average citizen. Choosing a personal dentist can
be as simple as evaluating the information provided by each office, while
never leaving home. Multi-media accolades of each office fill the screen
with words of comfort and knowledge, portraying the personality of each
dentist. Total quality of care and marketing includes electronic support
such as personalized answers to inquiries, patient education materials,
home care instructions and at home consultations. Twelve years brings so
much change to the dental landscape...

The Dental Landscape
Insurance modalities changed to processing and remuneration at the time of
care, with instant information access obtained from this real time world.
Payments and financing for care are handled immediately and by a key
stroke. Universal data standards for charting and digital radiographic
exchange exist, which includes data access of records including digital
radiography from central storage sites. Traditional hanpieces and dental
exist but are active microprocessor controlled devices. Laser use is
common. Research in the areas of bio-technology, biomimetics, molecular
biology, genetic engineering and nanotechnology has yielded practical
treatments for many oral maladies. Implant dentistry includes implants from
biologically derived sources. Prevention modalities dominate. Replacement
therapy has provided the populace at high caries risk with a strain of
non-cariogenic Streptococcus Mutans (no acid production). Dentists are
very busy, even with these changes in the tools made available for use in
practice of general dentistry
.

The Practice of General Dentistry
The vast majority of dental care is still provided by general practitioners.
Today's FDA and JADA reach the office in electronically interactive form.
Continuing Education is a plethora of distance learning course choices, all
available on your home or office Multimedia center. Dentists tend to share
facilities to utilize expensive technologies efficiently. Each dentist has their
own staff which works in shifts. This allows every patient the pleasure and
of having a personal dentist with a traditional relationship, with the
convenience of expanded hours. The dental team adapts to a schedule
which varies, allowing them more flexibility in their personal lives. Record
keeping is paperless, and smart. Clinical decision making software
automatically makes suggestions. Clinical data collection is aided by
electronic digital assistants. Entry is voice actuated by small hand held units
which update the main office computer with wireless transfer. Even
periodontal probing is accomplished digitally, with the use of force
standardized electronic probes. Advances in computing power and digital
radiography allows affordable three dimensional analysis of dental
structures, including comparisons of decay and bone loss over time.
Consultations are accomplished in the operatory. Getting to know patients
well is no longer a problem for the specialists.

The Specialists
Complete access to all records allows specialists and their staff the ability
to get to know their patient and relate to them on a level previously only
possible between the patient and their primary provider. Oral surgeons,
periodontists and prosthodontists utilize biomimetically produced oral
tissues, including tooth buds for implantation. Periodontists identify
localized offending organisms by virtue of their DNA, and selectively target
them. Endodontics has "smart" instrumentation and obturation, through
canals negotiated and mechanically prepared by endodontists using digitally
aided devices, microprocessor controlled heating of gutta purcha to fill a
canal system scanned and . Pediatric dentists have better pain control,
laser drills, bacterial replacement therapies and virtual dental education
(brushing instructions) programs. Orthodontists benefits better diagnostic
tools and from longitudinal evaluation of bone density changes and tooth
movement, with more controlled force application.

Far-Fetched?
The purpose of this article is not to predict the future, but to pique your
interest. Many of these changes are already underway and beginning to be
available. Research in many of these areas is taking place at the College of
Dentistry at the University of Florida. Dentistry as a career may evolve
rapidly in a short period of time. The half-life of current dental knowledge
and business practice may shorten as modern technology becomes an
integral component of every day life. Hermits no longer, timid souls who
avoided microprocessors may comply gladly as by 2010 barely any daily
task allows segregation from the electronic world.

Your Input
Please e-mail us with your thoughts about the future of dentistry. Your
vision can help to shape the future!
E-mail: fda@floridadental.org


Satiate your Appetite
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Biomimetics and dentistry
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