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Savannah Fuller
Mrs. DeBock
English 4 Honors
14 April 2016
Technology in Dental Practices
According to Merriam-Webster, technology is the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes. As time continues, technology becomes more efficient and equipt. One
location where one can see these advances of technology is in dental offices. Technology plays a
huge role in dentistry when it comes to fixing and cleaning teeth and gums. These technological
advances can help to improve dental health and open up new options to keep teeth healthy and
beautiful. Dentists rely on the equipment to get the job done fast and efficient and to leave their
patients feeling comfortable. In dental practices, one can see how technology has advanced over
time, how it is used, and how it is beneficial to the practice.
Dentistry has grown and evolved with technological advances for many years. The field
of dentistry is always changing and progressing to best suit patients needs. Advancements are
made to dental equipment making the dental visit better overall and allowing the dentist to
perform certain tasks effectively. In Opportunities in Dental Care Careers, Kendall discusses
that in dentistry along with many other scientific and health-related fields, advances in science
and technology lead to new concepts of care. For example she states that lasers are used to
remove tooth decay, and computers can be programmed to design precise crowns to fit teeth
(136). These procedures are made possible due to advancements in technology. Dentists are able
to benefit both themselves and patients due to the latest technology in diagnostic and therapeutic
tools. These tools can radically change the way dentists and dental hygienists practice. An

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example of diagnostic technology is a probe. According to New Technologies in Dental
Hygiene, Automated probes have been around for several years, but have never really become
part of routine dental hygiene practice. Until now, they've been bulky, time consuming, no more
reliable than manual probing, and painful for the patients. Improving and advancing probes has
made assisting patients easier. An example of therapeutic technology is endoscopes. An
endoscope is tiny camera on a probe or power scaler that can help dentists see when working in a
small pocket of the mouth (New Technologies in Dental Hygiene). This is made possible due
to technological advances. Advances in dental technology continues to evolve causing the field
of dentistry to transform. In Dental Technologies: The Leading Edge of Dental Care, the author
discusses that new technologies are developed with a focus on creating products and developing
techniques that can be used to prevent, diagnose and treat dental conditions and diseases early
and effectively (Ranft). Technological improvements offer dentists modern solutions to dental
problems. Advancements in dental technology play a huge role in getting the job done correctly
in dental practices.
Technology is incorporated in every modern dental practice. Dentists are always on the
lookout for new and emerging technology to make patients experience as comfortable as
possible. Dentist all over the world use some sort of technology in their offices. According to
Adoption and Use of Digital Technologies among General Dental Practitioners in the
Netherlands, with few exceptions, all dentists use some or a substantial number of digital
technologies. The article states that 93.2% of dentists use digital registration of patient
information (Van der Zande). Digital registration is the most common type of technology
associated with dentistry. Along with digital registration, dentists and hygienist also handle many
different types of technology. In The Impact of Technology in Dental Hygiene Education, the

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author explains that The infusion of technology in the dental hygiene profession can be seen all
around a dental operatory from bringing up patients records and digital X-rays on the laptop,
to Googling a new medication a patient is taking, to showing a YouTube video on proper flossing
techniques on your iPad (Patel). The incorporation of technology in dentistry improves the way
dentists and hygienist serve patients. The future of dentistry contains tools such as new drills and
better X-rays. Kendall explains that new tools do not have a metal drill bit but instead use a highpowered spray of sand like material to remove cavities. She also discusses that digital X-rays use
10 percent as much radiation to make an exposure as the traditional x-ray (Kendall). New and
safer concepts of care are available due to technology. Some of the more popular technologies
include air-abrasion, electric handpieces, dental implants, and optical scanners. In Dental
Technologies: The Leading Edge, Ranft explains that electric handpieces assist in hygiene
procedures, can be used with rotary cutting instruments, and offer a smooth delivery of material.
This all puts less stress on the healthy tooth structure. All throughout a dental practice one can
see how technology is incorporated and used.
Technology that has and continues to advance is beneficial to both dentists and patients.
With all the advances and improvements, dentists are better equipped to detect and treat teeth and
perform other dental procedures, leaving the patient comfortable and satisfied. According to
Technology in Practice: Its Impact on Dentists, Patients, & the Profession, broadening the
horizons have led to discoveries. Technological advancements can be applied to everything from
diagnostics to impression taking, restoration design and fabrication to 3-D imaging, and beyond
(DiMatteo). Technology can be seen in just about every operation or cleaning performed in the
practice. Exciting technological changes provide dentists and dental hygienists with longoverdue tools that ensure successful patient care. In fact, one example is that technology allows

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dentists to produce ceramic restorations in the operatory at the time of treatment (New
Technologies in Dental Hygiene). Technology makes work easy for dentists because it is doing
most of the work for them. Dentists are able to use a countless number of dental technologie that
contain benefits and provide more comfort and ease during treatment for patients. For instance,
The Wand is a computerized tool that can deliver anesthesia in a slow and methodic manner,
making the injections painless (Ranft). This particular technology benefits the patient by making
their experience pain free. Without technology, dentists and hygienist would not be able to
perform as properly as they could in certain situations. The advantages that dental equipment
offer is rewarding for dentistry. Technology is beneficial because it allows dental treatment to be
performed in a more efficient, effective, and comfortable manner.
If one were to visit a dental practice, he could see how technology has advanced over
time, how it is used, and how it is beneficial to the practice. Over time dental practices have
evolved and that is all due to technological advancements. Technology has made dentistry safer
and more efficient. Patients can now receive treatments and cleanings at the dentist feeling
comfortable and clean due to the advances made in dentistry. Technology can be seen anywhere
in the practice from recording patient record on a computer to drilling cavities. The future of
dentistry relies on the incorporation of technology to get the job done. The role of technology is
crucial to dentistry.

Works Cited
DiMatteo, Allison M. "Technology in Practice: Its Impact on Dentists, Patients, & The
Profession." Inside Dentistry. AEGIS Communications, July-Aug. 2010. Web. 16 Mar.
2016.

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Kendall, Bonnie L. Opportunities in Dental Care Careers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.
"New Technologies in Dental Hygiene." Registered Dental Hygienist. PennWell Corporation.
Web. 12 Mar. 2016.
Patel, Christine. "The Impact Of Technology In Dental Hygiene Education." Registered Dental
Hygienist. PennWell Corporation. Web. 12 Mar. 2016.
Ranft, Lesley. "Dental Technologies: The Leading Edge of Dental Care." Dental Technologies.
Ed. N. Summer Lerch. Ceatus Media Group LLC. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
Van der Zande, Marieke M., et al. "Adoption and Use of Digital Technologies among General
Dental Practitioners in the Netherlands." Plos ONE 10.3 (2015): 1-13. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.