We hear from Marcos White on why integrating digital technology into his dental practice has revolutionised his patient care and workflows.
In an age where technology advances accelerate more rapidly every year, dental practices are evolving in ways which are benefitting more and more clinicians and patients.
Dr Marcos White, a dentist based in Huddersfield, has pioneered a fully digitised practice, a transformation that enhances treatment precision, patient experience, and operational efficiencies.
Following his webinar on complete practice digitisation, Dr White shares his insights into integrating digital technology – specifically, iTero scanners – and how it has reshaped his approach to patient care, clinical workflows, and practice management.
The value of iTero scanners in every treatment room
Dr White’s practice boasts an iTero scanner in each of its seven treatment rooms. These scanners allow his team to scan every patient undergoing restorative procedures. From crowns to veneers, the iTero scanner enhances Dr White’s workflow, enabling his team to streamline patient visits and even perform on-site restorations.
Initially, his practice invested in digital scanners to replace traditional impression materials. However, the iTero scanner offers a more immersive experience, allowing patients to see their dental issues in real-time, which strengthens their understanding of treatment options.
‘When it’s all up on screen, patients see their problems for themselves and are compelled to take action,’ Dr White notes. This ability to visually convey dental concerns on a screen has not only replaced the outdated method of sketching explanations but also increased treatment acceptance among patients.
Seamless workflow and cloud-based convenience
One of Dr White’s priorities in selecting the iTero scanner was its ease of use. Unlike other devices that require extensive setup, iTero scanners provide a plug-and-play experience.
One benefit is their cloud-based storage, which is absent in many other scanners. This feature allows Dr White’s team to quickly access patient records, preserving every scan, prep, consult, and check-up in a historical timeline linked to the patient’s file.
This continuity aids in accurate diagnostics and offers valuable insights, especially when patients return with issues that may relate to earlier treatments. This cloud integration makes the iTero scanner an indispensable tool in his practice, allowing his team to instantly reference historical scans and analyse potential causes of dental issues in returning patients.
Empowering the dental team and enhancing patient communication
Another significant advantage of iTero scanners in Dr White’s practice is the autonomy it provides his clinical team. With digital scans available in every treatment room, treatment coordinators and dental therapists can independently discuss treatment needs with patients.
By scanning each patient annually, his team can monitor subtle changes in their oral health, detecting early signs of inflammation, wear, or movement, as well as early caries. This approach shifts traditional diagnostic power to a visual, data-driven method that patients appreciate and understand, which has ‘transformed the patient check-up experience’, Dr White notes.
Revolutionising restorative workflows with digital tools
For Dr White, iTero scanners are not just diagnostic tools; they are integral to his high-volume restorative workflow. His practice handles around 50 porcelain veneer cases and multiple full arch implants weekly, all prepped and scanned with iTero scanners. The practice has also embraced exocad software, which enables on-site lab technicians to design restorations directly from iTero scans.
This integrated system has enabled Dr White’s team to offer same-day restorative options, such as the ‘one-hour crown’, a concept inspired by the speed of photo processing in the past. Using the iTero scanner, Dr White’s team can now design, 3D print, and fit a crown in under an hour.
The role of 3D printing in complete practice digitisation
Dr White’s practice recently adopted 3D printing for on-site restorative fabrication. Despite initial scepticism from some in the sector regarding resin materials, his practice has successfully used 3D-printed composite crowns, achieving durability comparable to traditional materials.
His ‘one-hour crown’ workflow has yielded impressive results, with a fracture rate of only three cases out of 1,500, demonstrating that modern 3D printing materials can meet high clinical standards.
Dr White also acknowledges that this transition requires dentists to evaluate who within their team will handle the design and fabrication process. With the intuitive design capabilities of iTero scanner and exocad software, practices can assign design tasks to trained clinical staff or even treatment coordinators, maximising efficiency and allowing dentists to focus on high-skill clinical procedures.
Looking ahead: the future of digital dentistry
The integration of digital tools into Dr White’s practice has not only transformed the way his team delivers care but also redefined the modern dental consultation.
His experience underscores that the journey to complete practice digitisation is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in how dentistry is practiced.
Watch Dr Marcos White’s webinar on demand.
This article is sponsored by Align Technology.
