Technology is a force that becomes more integral to our lives everyday. That means innovation affects our routine more than ever. Those pesky software updates on your smartphone don’t just mean a few more tweaks for you to get used to. There are so many of these little changes that they can be hard to keep track of, but they are constantly renovating the tech you use and how you use it. But the tech industry isn’t the only one affected by all this innovation. There are some big changes coming to dentistry too – and they just might change the way you take care of your teeth. Here is our list of the top 4 dental innovations for the new decade!
- 3D Printing: The advent of 3D printing has revolutionized just about every industry, and dentistry is no exception. The sales of 3D printers for dentistry increased 75% from 2015 to 2016, and dentists and researchers have big plans for the technology. One of the coolest 3D printing innovations in dentistry are ‘smart braces.’ An estimated 5 million people in the U.S wear braces, sometimes for more than 18 months of treatment. But innovations with 3D printing would allow for braces that contain LED lights and batteries in the brackets. These LEDs would emit light that isn’t perceptible to the eye but would enhance bone regeneration and tooth movement – potentially shrinking the time people have to wear braces. Pretty awesome, right?
- Scanning Toothbrushes: Oral health companies are continuing to come up with new technology-fueled solutions to make your oral hygiene routine easier and more effective. “Smart” toothbrushes linked to mobile apps are becoming a staple in the market now. They have features like monitoring your brushing habits, highlighting areas you don’t brush, and updates and advice through a mobile app. New smart toothbrushes like Colgate’s Plaqless Pro toothbrush can even detect the plaque buildup in real time and tell you when each tooth is clean!
- One-Day Implants: One-day implants, or ‘Same Day Implants’ are a type of dental procedure done, as you might expect, in one day. Traditional implants can take weeks or even months to be set. Depending on how many teeth are replaced, this can leave you without your smile for lengthy periods of time, making tasks like eating and brushing very inconvenient. The lack of healing time before the dentist sets the implant can increase the chances of implant failure, but increased demand in this procedure will likely lead to new innovations in the new decade!
- Holistic Dentistry: Holistic health proved to be a lot more than a passing fad, and it has made a lasting impact on healthcare, including dentistry. Holistic Dentistry is now commonplace in the U.S – and it’s beginning to change how a lot of people view their oral health, and how they get their dental work done. Holistic dentists use alternatives to dental procedures that could be potentially harmful, and are focused on caring for the mouth, body and mind through their services. Unlike the other entries on this list, holistic dentistry doesn’t necessarily innovate with technology. Instead, holistic dentists are changing how people view dentistry with the promotion and investigation of how dental health and dental procedures interact with peoples’ overall health and wellness.
But these are just a few of the ways dentistry will be growing in the next few years. To keep up with the changes in the dental industry, check-in on the ADA’s website and Solstice’s dental and vision blog every once in a while! And make sure you’re prepared to get the care you need this decade by taking our dental plan quiz below to find out which plan works best for you!