Renee Knight is a freelance writer and editor who's been covering the dental industry for 15 years. 

Renee Knight

The technology in which you invest says a lot about your practice and what is important to you as a clinician. Keeping your practice updated with the latest advancements shows you care about the patient experience and want to offer the best care possible. You are a modern dentist who is focused on efficiently providing high-quality care, saving your office and your patients time, and detecting issues early to minimize pain and treatment costs.

Technology can be a real practice differentiator, but only if current and potential patients know about it. That means you and your team need to spend time educating patients chairside about the technology you offer, as well as finding ways to get the word out to the rest of your community. When you do, you will find higher case acceptance and more new patients visiting your practice each month.

Too often, the technology in which dentists invest stays tucked away behind closed doors, says Gauri Mona Patel, DDS, a general dentist at Bayshore Dental in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin. She makes a point of putting her technology front and center, so when patients walk to the operatory for an appointment, they see her Dentsply Sirona Orthophos XG 3D cone beam computed tomography unit (CBCT), Primescan digital scanner, and CEREC CAD/CAM on display, along with her 3D printer from SprintRay. She even has her sterilization unit out for all to see, as it shows her commitment to infection control and patient safety. An integrated digital workflow Dr Patel is especially proud of is her SureSmile Clear Aligners orthodontic treatment, in which she uses her Primescan and CBCT to capture records in 10 minutes during a consult.

Gauri Mona Patel, DDS keeps her technology front and center in her practice in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, including the Orthophos XG 3D CBCT unit from Dentsply Sirona.

Technologies that make digital imaging and scans possible are impressive, but they also help dentists provide better patient education. Showing patients digital images gives them a much better idea of what is going on in their mouths, Dr Patel says. That leads to more confidence in the dentist and the diagnosis—making them more likely to pursue treatment and to refer your practice to family and friends.

“These tools help us provide better care,” she says, “so why not share that with patients and show them our thought process? We put a lot of financial investment, time, and training into technology, and it’s important that patients see our commitment to incorporating a digital workflow and providing them with a better experience.”

There are many opportunities to talk about technology with patients during their appointments; you just need to determine which approach works best for you.

Dr Patel suggests taking new patients on an office tour during their first appointment, using the opportunity to point out various technologies and review their benefits. For example, if you offer CAD/CAM, talk about the fact that you can produce a crown in about an hour, eliminating the need for multiple appointments. During the examination, hygienists should show patients any technology being used and explain why, reinforcing the benefit it provides.

Russell Morrow, DDS, who practices at Black Mountain Dental Care in Cave Creek, Arizona, and is the chief dental officer for BIOLASE, Inc, uses a variety of technologies including CBCT, 3D printers, and the Waterlase dental laser from BIOLASE. He talks about technology when reviewing treatment plans and describing procedures to patients. He will let them know which technology will be used and why, and often shows short videos that give patients a better understanding of the benefits and what to expect during the procedure.

“I help patients discover they have a need they didn’t know they had before they saw me,” Dr Morrow says. “You have to get to the point they know you care or there’s no reason to present any treatment. They have to identify their own problem. When they do that, they’ll ask, ‘How can we fix it?’ Then I bring in the technology.”

Black Mountain Dental Care in Cave Creek, Arizona, uses a variety of technologies including the Waterlase dental laser from BIOLASE.

If a patient has a cavity, Dr Morrow might say he can fix it quickly, without pain, using laser technology. He will also explain the consequences of not going forward with treatment, which in this case could be a broken tooth and more pain. He spends time reviewing the benefits of treatment and how the technology he uses helps patients avoid unwanted consequences.

Although every scenario is different, Todd Snyder, DDS, FAACD, FIADFE, ASDA, ABAD, a lecturer and cosmetic dentist at Aesthetic Dental Designs in Laguna Niguel, California, tends to talk with patients about technology just before using it during an exam. For example, when he uses the DEXIS CariVu from Kavo Dental and The Canary System from Quantum Dental Technologies, he lets patients know he has diagnostic tools that allow him to find and quantify caries early so he can address problems with a minimally invasive approach. He explains that radiographs make it possible to extrapolate images onto a computer screen so he can see things from a different viewpoint that might help influence his diagnosis, and artificial intelligence (AI) might give him additional information.

If Dr Snyder discovers a procedure is necessary, he will let patients know about the technology that allows him to do it better. Lasers, for instance, make it possible to complete procedures more efficiently while patients experience less pain. All this information prepares patients for the appointment, he says, and helps to ease concerns about the procedure.

John Flucke, DDS, chief dental editor and technology editor of 

® who practices in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, also talks with patients about the technology he uses at new patient exams, including the CamX Spectra Caries Detection Aide from Air Techniques and Pearl AI x-ray analysis software. He wants patients to know from the beginning that his practice is committed to being as conservative as possible. He will also talk about the technology during restorative appointments, letting patients know what he is using and how it might make the experience different (and better) than previous appointments.

Todd Snyder, DDS informs his patients at his Laguna Niguel, California practice, that he has diagnostic tools that allow him to find caries early, including the DEXIS CariVu from KaVo Dental.

The team takes 3D scans of every patient who comes in for a hygiene appointment using an iTero digital impression system, Dr Flucke says, and that provides another opportunity to talk tech. Patients watch as their teeth appear on the screen in real-time, with many impressed by the technology. They can see what the team sees, making it easier to educate them on their condition and the need for treatment. And of course, patients like the fact that the scans are quick and goop-free.

Many patients do not realize just how far dentistry has come and what dentists can do to improve their experience, Dr Flucke says. That is why you should explain it to them. These advances allow quicker treatments and let you diagnose problems earlier when solutions are easier—and less expensive.

“We routinely have patients that come in with small areas of decay that we can restore using a laser or air abrasion,” Dr Flucke says. “Last week I did a filling on a patient that took about 15 minutes, and the patient said, ‘I can’t believe it was that simple and easy and I didn’t have to get numb.’ When people make comments like that, that’s when I get into the tech of what we’re doing and why it’s a benefit for them. It’s not just bells and whistles; it really is good for the patient.”

Once you invest in technology, do not wait; introduce it to patients immediately, especially if it is something they will be interacting with, says Matthew Brignoni, business development manager for Zeeno Robotics. Technology such as the Zeeno Robot is an extension of your team, for example, and can help streamline your workflow. The autonomous robot can greet patients and take them back for their appointment or deliver supplies from one operatory to another. Patients will see it moving around the practice and wonder what it does. Let them know what to expect during their first visit and how it benefits them, beyond just being cool. Generate buzz and they will talk about the new robot or any other technologies you take the time to show off, to family and friends—and that will help attract patients to your practice.

It is also OK to talk about the office vision for purchasing technology, says Lisa Thompson, CDA, RDA, CDIPC, manager, clinical services, for Midmark Corporation. If you are planning to purchase a 3D imaging unit like the new EOIS 3D from Midmark in the next 6 months or so, for example, tell patients about your plans and how the investment will elevate the level of care, such as providing high-quality images for better diagnosis and clinical outcomes.

“When you’re introducing the technology, emphasize the benefit it brings to the patient,” says Robert Kolts, DDS, MBA, head of the customer experience at Overjet, noting many doctors use Overjet’s AI technology to encourage co-diagnosis and patient engagement.

Before Dr Morrow even steps into the room, his team has talked with patients about what was found during the exam and the technology used. They have explained everything that happened during the appointment, serving as an extension of the doctor so he has more time to talk with patients about treatment.

For example, the hygienist might highlight an area on a scan that shows extra gum tissue around the tooth. After pointing it out, the team member tells the patient that Dr Morrow can remove it using a laser, describing it as an advanced technology that allows for a quick, painless procedure. Dr Morrow then comes in and spends time answering any patient questions about the procedure, emphasizing the benefit. This allows him to move quickly, and to spend more time addressing concerns patients have.

The Zeeno Robot is a patient-facing unit that can greet patients, escort patients to the operatory, carry instruments, and even play educational videos and music.

Dr Morrow’s team uses weekly meetings and morning huddles to run through role-playing exercises to prepare for any situation.

Creating a unified message through training is critical, Dr Patel says, adding that her team members do a lot of talking for her. The hygiene team takes intraoral photos and shows patients their perio condition or plaque levels, for example, giving patients a good idea of what is going on before she even sees them. The front desk can talk about the benefit of scheduling a CBCT scan and go over insurance, while the assistants and hygienists can explain imaging technology and the critical information it provides chairside—with Dr Patel later reinforcing that message.

It is not just team members who need training—dentists do too, Thompson says. If dentists are not trained in using and discussing the technology, chances are their team members will not be, either.

Thompson recommends ensuring the technology in which you invest has good manufacturer education attached to it, as well as planning team training days for everyone to learn and keep their skills up-to-date. This helps ensure team members can communicate properly with patients.

When Dr Patel incorporates a new technology into her office, she introduces it to her team during their daily huddle or monthly meetings. She walks them through the benefits, the cost for patients, and why she has decided to add it to the office.

“Once everyone understands what the technology does, we discuss how to explain it to patients and come up with a concept of what we want to get across,” says Dr Snyder, who also uses team meetings to get members up to speed. “Everyone uses their own words based on that concept. We all highlight what we’re doing and why and how that helps the patient as opposed to just treating someone, and that makes us stand out.”

Many companies, like Overjet, include scripts in their training, Dr Kolts says. Having a script to reference can make team members feel more comfortable talking about new technology and will ensure everyone stays on message.

Once team members are trained in using new technology, Dr Flucke reinforces it. He might take a few minutes during the morning huddle to remind team members to use the new caries detection device, for example. He will also point things out to patients. If the decay shown on an x-ray is detected by AI, he will tell patients and ask whether they have questions about how it works. His team members, whom he describes as good communicators, are trained to do the same.

Another way to get team members to effectively talk about new technology to patients: Show how it positively impacts them, Brignoni says.

“You need to build excitement with your staff and show them you’re investing in the technology not only for the patient but also to benefit them,” Brignoni says. “You also have to be consistent in your meetings. Touch on technologies like Zeeno and remind team members what you’re doing to make your practice cutting-edge. It shows your practice is not only a great place to work, but you’re also investing in the coolest technology to make their job easier and your patients happier.”

Of course, you want to create buzz about your practice in the community, and that means marketing the new products and technologies you offer. One of the best places to start is your website. How? Add a page that features all your state-of-the-art technology, says Beth Gaddis, director of content marketing for Overjet.

Taking advantage of social media is also necessary. Dr Patel suggests posting before and after images as well as 3D and 2D scans of the same patient, side by side. This is “eye-opening” for patients, she says, as many do not realize there is such a big difference.

“You should start telling patients about the technology you offer before they even walk in,” Thompson says. “It should be on your website and in your newsletters, blogs, and podcasts. Explain how the technology helps with treatment whenever you’re communicating with patients.”

If you have a technology like a Zeeno robot, Brignoni recommends posting images and videos of patients interacting with it on social media to generate buzz. Potential patients will see the cool new technology and want to learn more, maybe even prompting them to make an appointment.

Doctors who post videos on social media platforms tend to stand out, especially with younger patients, Thompson says. These videos might show a day in your office, one of your team members using technology, or the introduction of technology you recently purchased.

“Videos become very advantageous because so many doctors don’t want to do them,” Dr Snyder says. “So, it instantly sets you apart. I’m a huge believer in social media to put things out there for the world to see what differentiates you.”

TV and radio spots, magazine ads and articles, and podcasts are other ways to get the word out about your technology, Dr Snyder says. He also likes to speak at local events, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, and chamber of commerce meetings. These organizations are always looking for speakers, and you can use the 15-minute time slot to promote your innovative technology.

Asking happy patients to write reviews also will help create publicity, Gaddis says. You can share reviews on your website and social media channels. She also suggests sending an email highlighting innovative technology with a link for scheduling an appointment to your patient base and putting signage in your practice promoting new offerings.

Remember to let referring doctors and peers know about recent technology investments, Brignoni says. One way to do that is through email blasts. This sets you apart, making it more likely for other clinicians to refer patients to your practice, but it also encourages others in the area to follow your lead.

Educating patients about the technology you offer also can help boost case acceptance. They will know you are trying to provide better care and will put more trust in you and your team.

“Perception is a big component to case acceptance,” Dr Snyder says. “If you have technology that allows you to fix the problem quickly and it’s not as invasive, and if you’re weaving that into the conversation, it can bolster their mindset and reassure them that they’re in the right place and getting the right care. It builds value and sets you apart.”

Digital scans and images are also powerful, Dr Patel says. They help patients understand what is going on in their mouths, giving them more confidence in your diagnosis and recommendations for treatment.

If you take a CBCT scan of a patient considering implants, for example, and explain the technology and what it shows you, patients understand you are using state-of-the-art tools, Dr Flucke says. They can see your investment and the difference it can make for their treatment.

Technologies like Overjet AI can change the way you present treatment, again providing patients with a deeper understanding of their condition, leading to case acceptance.

“Instead of just telling them what I see, this shows them what is happening in their mouth. It improves the patients’ understanding and makes them more comfortable asking questions and having a conversation about their health,” says Brandon Ryff, DDS, the owner of Scottsdale Smile Center in Paradise Valley, Arizona, who implemented Overjet’s AI last summer. “I can even pull up radiographs from past visits and compare them with the new radiographs to determine if there are any changes. This has blown people away. I’ve had countless patients thank me for investing in this technology to keep them healthy.”

Leveraging AI also shows patients your recommendations are based in science, Dr Morrow says.

“I use a digital AI program to help with caries detection, and when it pulls up on the screen, patients realize it’s not just me being subjective, it’s me being objective,” he says. “We’re co-discovering issues. If there’s a cavity, it shows up colored on the x-ray. And if AI is saying it, they believe it. It takes my opinion out of it.”

There are plenty of technologies dentists can integrate into their practice to elevate patient care. From CAD/CAM to intraoral scanners to 3D printers to AI software, the list keeps going.

A lot goes into adding technology to a practice. You invest time in researching its benefits and finding the best option for your office. You must train yourself and your team to use the technology, and, of course, you must make the financial investment. Do not let all that time, money, and energy go to waste.

You must educate patients about how the technology allows you to be more efficient, shortening procedure times, catching problems before they require more expensive treatment, or simply making patients more comfortable during appointments. Show patients you have invested in technology for their benefit, and you will earn their confidence, loyalty, and referrals.

“Patients are incredibly savvy these days,” Thompson says, “and they want to know their provider can handle any situation that might come up. They want to know the latest technology is there for them and any of their future needs.”

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As your patients age, their needs change. Elderly patients may struggle to get to the office for care, and once they do, they may find the experience uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, from patient chairs that cause body aches to loud instruments that interfere with hearing aids. They also have more complicated health issues to manage. Many are taking multiple medications, leading to dry mouth and recurrent caries that they just can’t seem to get under control.

Declining dexterity and arthritis pain can negatively impact their home care habits, fueling problems with caries and periodontal disease. Some elderly patients are also dealing with cognitive issues and may struggle to remember and then follow through with your recommendations. Educating patients and their caregivers is critical to helping them maintain their oral health, as is focusing on prevention.

Quality of life becomes an issue for many of these patients, and although some see the value of investing in their oral health to change that, others simply don’t. They expect to lose their teeth, to have pain as they age, and to wear dentures just as their parents and grandparents did. Many are on fixed budgets and don’t have the money to pay for expensive treatments and aren’t aware that there might be other more affordable options.

Older patients come to your practice with different concerns and perceptions of dental care that are difficult to change. They often require extra care and a different approach to treatment than your younger patient base. Unfortunately, many dental offices simply aren’t prepared to meet that challenge, which simply must change—and fast. The number of older adults who need access to high-quality dental care will only continue to grow, with the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics projecting that there will be 72 million adults aged 65 or older in the United States by 2030, making up nearly 20% of the total population. That’s almost double where we were in 2000.

To provide this patient base with the best care possible, it’s critical to start investing in products that promote prevention and equipment that enhances comfort, as well as to provide treatments that can enhance their quality of life. There’s also a greater need for mobile dentistry, as many of these patients will be living in nursing facilities or will be unable to easily leave their homes to get to a dental office.

Of course, training is crucial; dental teams must understand how to effectively talk to senior patients about their treatment options and have the skills to provide the care they need. Then there’s the human element. Many of these patients are struggling financially or with their health (or both) and are frustrated when the same dental problems keep coming back. Showing them compassion is important and will go a long way in earning their trust.

“Get down to their level. Sit, don’t stand, when you’re talking to them. Lower or raise your voice as needed and make eye contact,” William Paveletz, DMD, clinical educator for VOCO America, says. “Really listen to them and realize they might need extra time. Put that time in the schedule—just an extra 5 or 10 minutes. That interaction could make the biggest difference in their day, whether you’re just being human or you’re providing dental care.”

In 2020, the American Dental Association (ADA) recognized access to care for the aging population as a national health care concern, and supports developing policy at the federal, state, and local levels for the “fair, equitable, choice-driven provision of dental care to promote improved health and well-being in elderly patients.” There’s a lot you can do to help ensure the elderly patients in your community have access to dental care, and it starts with properly preparing your practice to treat them. 


There are many ways to create an exceptional experience for your senior patients. You can help them feel a connection to the practice by asking about their day and educating them about their treatment options. Take the time to build rapport. You also can show them you care by focusing on their physical comfort.

It may take these patients longer to get from the reception area to the operatory, for example, and once they do, they may struggle to get into the chair, says Lisa Thompson, CDA, RDA, CDIPC, manager of dental clinical services for Midmark Corp. She suggests making space in the room for items such as canes, walkers, and wheelchairs and to look at flexible patient chair configurations that are easier for patients to navigate. Flexible headrests can ease discomfort for patients who have arthritis, and adding heat and massage can also help them relax. Midmark offers a variety of chair configurations, Thompson says, and the company’s designers can work with you to ensure the chair you invest in creates a comfortable space. 

Some older patients simply can’t lean back all the way, which can make treating them challenging, says John Flucke, DDS, chief clinical editor and technology editor for 

He suggests offering Tempur-Pedic lumbar neck pillows to give them more support when they’re reclined, and to invest in cordless products such as prophy handpieces. Hygienists then have the freedom to move around patients as needed without cords getting in the way.

The technology you invest in can also add comfort. For example, Thompson says intraoral scanners eliminate the need for polyvinyl siloxane impressions, making the process faster and goop free. Using electric handpieces can also create a more comfortable experience, as they reduce unpleasant noises and vibrations that can be even more intense for elderly patients.

Some handpieces use ultrasonic sound waves that may be bothersome to patients with hearing aids, Paveletz says, so you might have to turn them down or use another type of instrument.

It’s also important to remember that older patients may not be able to tolerate procedures that require them to keep their mouth open for long periods, says Tina Saw, DDS, CEO and clinical director of Oral Genome. Take their tolerance level into consideration when recommending treatment and make adjustments as needed.

“Keep in mind the materials you choose may help reduce treatment time. Let’s say you’re working on a Class V restoration for a geriatric patient. A single-shade composite like Admira Fusion x-tra from VOCO offers a chameleon-like behavior that allows it to match the entire range of tooth shades, allowing your restoration to blend right in without the shade matching step. This simplifies and speeds up the procedure process which in turn reduces chair time,” Dr Paveletz says.

Older adult patients will also feel more at ease in your practice if they’re involved in their care, Dr Saw says.

 are on a tight budget and naturally have concerns about the cost of treatment. Phasing treatment can certainly help, according to Lisa Thompson, CDA, RDA, CDIPC, manager of dental clinical services for Midmark. You can prioritize and present what needs addressed first so they don’t become overwhelmed with the price tag. This is a difficult skill to develop, but it is one that will help ensure patients get the care they need most without being strained financially, and it allows dentists to add other services down the road.

Third-party financing is also an option, Indraneel Kanaglekar, senior vice president and president of ZimVie’s Dental Business says. The treatment plan can be adjusted based on what the patient is able to pay, for example placing implant-supported overdentures instead of a completely fixed denture.

John Flucke, DDS, a practicing dentist from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, often offers senior discounts, but when finances are really an issue, he’ll perform some procedures for free. “You don’t have to charge for everything,” he says. “As a doctor, you can [decide to say], ‘You know what, I’m doing this filling for nothing, or for 50% just to cover my costs.’”

“They want to have a sense of control, so it’s important to go at a pace they can handle. Independence is really important to them,” she says. “It also helps with their mental health. Often older adult patients bring in a caregiver, maybe a son or a daughter, but it’s important for the caregiver not to take over.”

And of course, it’s important to listen. Give these patients a reason to entrust you with their care. Remember, many are juggling different doctors and appointments, and they need to feel like you understand their concerns and can help. “Sometimes there’s quite a lot of past dental experiences in the patient’s history that may be stressful to them, and sometimes they are guarded, especially about change,” Amy Varshock, Licensed Denturist, DPD, says. “Listening is an easy way to understand them better, thereby making it easier to educate them on newer materials or processes that may meet their needs.”


Dry mouth can be a big problem for your older patients, Dr Saw says. They typically have more health issues and take more medications than younger patients, and that often results in xerostomia.

Elevate Oral Care’s Allday line, which includes a spray, gel, and prescription-strength toothpaste, is designed to provide long-lasting treatment for dry mouth.

Not only is dry mouth uncomfortable for patients, it can lead to rapid caries progression, Dr Saw says, with problems developing in a matter of months. Some patients may resort to chewing on candies for temporary relief, which helps with saliva production but also becomes a constant source of sugar—only adding to problems with recurrent caries.

“We have to educate our senior population on the appropriate ways to address dry mouth,” Dr Saw says. “They don’t see it as a medical or a health issue; it’s more of an annoyance to them.”

Elevate Oral Care offers a variety of products to properly treat dry mouth through its Allday line, which includes a spray, gel, and prescription-strength toothpaste. Each product has a 44% xylitol content, which offers a huge benefit for patients with root caries, says Arika Luskin, product and business development manager at Elevate Oral Care. The gel and spray feature an adhesive that holds xylitol in the mouth, providing long-lasting relief.

Elevate products offer a neutral pH of 7. Xerostomia leaves patients with a naturally acidic mouth that’s ripe for caries formation, Luskin says, and the products they use to treat it shouldn’t add to that (though many others do). The prescription-strength toothpaste features a mild surfactant, which patients with dry mouth appreciate because their tissue tends to be sensitive, Luskin says.

Patients need various treatment options for conditions like dry mouth, as they’re more likely to use a product if it comes in a form they’re comfortable with, says Brooke Crouch, RDH, professional education specialist for Elevate Oral Care. Some may prefer the spray, whereas others who have caregivers helping with their oral care routine might find the gel easier to use, for example.

“It comes down to provider knowledge and how the hygienist or dentist talks to patients,” Crouch says. “If providers tell patients they may need to use the Allday spray or gel multiple times a day, that helps with [adherence] and sets appropriate expectations.”


As patients age, they tend to have more exposed root surfaces, Flucke says. Dexterity issues that make it difficult for patients to brush properly and the lack of saliva production from dry mouth create an environment where teeth break down easier and faster. These areas are difficult to restore because the roots are curvy and are in places that are hard to reach, Flucke says. He puts glass ionomer restorative materials on roots because they offer fluoride release. He also recently began using Infinix by Nobio, a new universal composite that contains a bacteria-killing molecule.

Brooke Crouch, RDH, professional education specialist for Elevate Oral Care, says high-risk elderly patients should come in every 3 or 4 months for recall visits. This allows you to recognize and address issues earlier. 

“When you restore root caries for older patients, because of dry mouth, they [often] can’t [it] keep clean, so it breaks down again,” Flucke says. “If bacteria gets in, Infinix will kill it, so the incidence of break down is much less.”

Having older patients switch to an electric toothbrush with a large grip may help improve their oral hygiene and slow the spread of caries, as will using a water flosser at home and addressing dry mouth with appropriate products, Flucke says. He also sometimes prescribes chlorhexidine to help control bacteria.

Dealing with recurrent caries can be disheartening. Restorations don’t last nearly as long as they should, so senior patients find themselves in the dental chair way more often than they’d like. And if money is tight, it just adds to the stress. Helping them find products that can address dry mouth and caries while also keeping a positive outlook are critical elements of their care.

“No patient likes walking into the office and always getting diagnosed with a cavity, but because of medicine-induced dry mouth issues, we see a lot of caries and periodontal disease in elderly populations. Add poor dexterity and poor oral hygiene habits, and it just compounds,” Thompson says. “A lot of patients feel like they can’t get ahead of it, so you almost have to overcome their feeling of ‘I’m never going to have a good checkup.’ We become coaches. We’re dental health care providers who offer solutions, but we also have to be that morale coach, saying, ‘You can do this. You can get ahead of this.’”


Because of the elderly population’s high risk for root caries and recurrent decay, it’s critical to focus on prevention, Crouch says. There are plenty of products available to do that, and most of them contain fluoride.

Flucke is a big believer in fluoride and now offers varnish to every patient, whether insurance covers it or not. After he explains the benefit, most patients will pay for it out of pocket. If it’s for an elderly patient he knows is on a fixed income, then he’ll apply fluoride for free.

Some of your senior patients know exactly what they want and can afford treatment, and you need to be prepared for them, too. They don’t just want a partial denture, they’re interested in solutions like implants, says William Paveletz, DMD, clinical educator for VOCO. They’ve done their research and are ready to get their smile back, or to once again be able to eat pain free. Some are even interested in orthodontic treatments, such as clear aligners, and want the confidence boost that a beautiful smile will bring. It’s important to know how to talk to these patients about their treatment options and to draw more of them to your practice by offering the services that interest them most.

“VOCO’s Profluorid 5% sodium fluoride varnish is among the options and comes in 7 flavors—with options like Cola Lime and Pina Colada geared more toward older populations. While many individuals think of fluoride varnish as a necessity for adolescent patients (and it is) it is even more beneficial for older patients trying to ward off recurrent decay,” Dr Paveletz says. “Profluorid varnish contains xylitol, has a high immediate fluoride release, and sets in seconds after contact with saliva.”

Elevate offers FluoriMax fluoride varnish, which Crouch says should be applied at least every 6 months on high-risk patients, but every 3 months if possible. The company’s 38% silver diamine fluoride, Advantage Arrest, is another option that can be used to arrest caries. It should be applied at 2 separate appointments for best results.

“If a patient comes in and has root caries or a cavity under a crown or bridge that can’t be replaced, this can be used to slow the progression of the cavity,” Crouch says. “This is used frequently in older populations, because cost is [often] a big concern for these patients. If an 80-year-old [patient] comes in with decay under a 3-unit bridge, the cost to replace it could be $4000. This option only costs whatever the provider sets the fee at.” The provider cost is approximately $0.80 per drop; however, most offices’ charges vary quite a bit, Crouch adds.

High fluoride toothpaste can also help protect teeth from caries, which is why Flucke typically prescribes it to patients who are susceptible to decay. There are many toothpaste options available, including FluoriMax 5000 from Elevate, which is for patients who are high risk for caries but don’t have dry mouth.

“A product like Remin Pro [VOCO] is another way for older patients to get the fluoride they need,” Dr Paveletz says, “as they can actually brush with it. The tooth cream contains 1450 parts per million of fluoride, xylitol and nano-hydroxyapatite, which together stimulate saliva production without any abrasiveness and helps to restore the mineral balance.”

“Any sort of proactive treatment we can do like applying fluoride and having older patients come in for additional cleanings will help,” Dr Saw says. “I’m also a really big believer in saliva testing because as we age, our saliva changes.”

Dr Saw believes in this so much so she’s started her own company, Oral Genome, and is developing saliva tests for early oral disease detection. The tests will help dentists bring comprehensive, connective care to their patients, pairing a proprietary computer vision algorithm with spit test cards to analyze saliva. With the results, dentists can create more personalized treatment plans.

“The computer vision we’re developing will help make predictions and take into account all those different risk factors,” Dr Saw says. “We’re decoding the mouth.”

Test cards will be made available at dental offices as well as nursing facilities for patients who can’t come in for appointments, Dr Saw says. One goal is to engage in remote monitoring at nursing homes, and to improve care coordination with the staff for better diagnosis and care recommendations.

The test measures a variety of health indicators, Including acidity, buffering capacity, enzymes and inflammatory markers that can indicate caries and periodontal disease, Dr Saw says. Based on test results and known health conditions, treatment recommendations can be better tailored to patients while allowing for more collaborative care between the dental and medical communities.

“I like to address the whole picture, not just dental health,” Dr Saw says. “There are other health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure that might impact oral health. When patients with periodontal disease have high blood pressure and diabetes, we need to treat them in conjunction with their physicians.”


Implants can be life changing for anyone who has lost teeth, but particularly for older patients who may not realize that this is a viable treatment option. Many may not understand that poor chewing function impacts their overall health, according to Indraneel Kanaglekar, SVP and President of ZimVie’s Dental Business. Kanaglekar also explained that implants will not only give patients a confidence boost, but they will also allow them to chew comfortably again, improving their nutrition. Education is key to changing that perception so more patients can benefit from this treatment.

Keep in mind placing implants for this population is more complicated than when working with younger patients. These patients likely have experienced bone loss, Kanaglekar says, and much of the remaining bone is weakened because of higher instances of osteoporosis. And in some cases where patients have been wearing dentures, the bone has possibly receded and could require bone augmentation.

It's critical for trained healthcare professionals to enhance their skills so they can properly treatment plan these advanced cases, Kanaglekar says. Clinicians can stay sharp through ZimVie’s different educational offerings, including web, Institute, and field-based learning opportunities. Additionally, ZimVie’s Smile Today program provides clinicians with turnkey marketing tools to educate patients on the benefits and risks of implant therapy and full-arch restoration to help support patient acceptance.

Investing in the right education and the right products will help make even more complex implant procedures seamless, Kanaglekar says. ZimVie offers an end-to-end solution with a range of products, including implants, abutments, bone grafting materials, overdentures and surgical guides—basically, anything you need for successful implant cases.

The company’s RealGUIDE software suite makes it quick and easy to plan an implant case and design the guide, Kanaglekar says, but if the healthcare professional would rather not be involved with the planning, they can send all the data collected for the case to the company’s Implant Concierge. This service will develop the plan and, once approved, send the guide and everything needed for surgery.

Of course, you will have patients who prefer to go with traditional dentures because that’s what their parents had, Varshock says. If you show them pictures of what porcelain denture teeth can do to the alveolar ridge without implants, they will better understand the benefit of going with implants instead.

Keeping Implants and Other Appliances Clean


Once patients have their new implants or implant-supported dentures, remind them they must be cleaned by a hygienist, even if they’re fully edentulous, Varshock says. “A lot of patients are surprised to learn that,” she says. “I explain [that] the calcium and plaque that would have to get removed from [the] lower front teeth will now try to collect on the dentures and the implants, so maintaining the implants with regular cleanings with the hygienist and a deep cleaning of the prosthesis followed by a polish should be part of their semi-annual routine for the best long-term benefit.”

Poor eyesight and arthritis can also make it difficult for patients to clean implants and removable appliances at home, Varshock says. Removables, such as partials and occlusal guards, don’t get fully clean in an oscillation denture cap, and the tablets simply don’t remove the plaque that collects on the lingual of the lower appliance and the buccal flanges of the upper appliance.

Varshock uses the Sympro from Renfert USA to clean these appliances in-office. “In 15 minutes, I can get any prosthesis, occlusal guard, or retainer looking new,” she says. “It’s exactly enough time to explain why it’s important to come in and have us decontaminate the prosthetics any time the patient has an illness, such as candidiasis, pneumonia, or even COVID-19, for example.”


Educating elderly patients about their condition and the various causes behind it can help get them to accept recommended treatments such as bridges, implants, and crowns. The more they know about the benefits these treatments can provide, the more likely they are to move forward. However, it’s also important to educate them about changing their home care habits and to recommend products to help them find better success.

For example, instead of telling patients to look for a dry mouth spray or gel at the store or online, which can be quite overwhelming, consider offering them in your office, Luskin says. If it’s easy for patients to buy the products, they’re more likely to do it.

Because older patients often take so many medications, you have to make sure any pain medication or antibiotic you prescribe won’t interact with them. John Flucke, DDS, chief clinical editor and technology editor for 

®, a practicing dentist from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, uses an app called Lexicomp, which is an online drug database that will tell you whether it’s safe to add a certain drug to what the patient is already taking.

“Remind the patient that you know their medical history,” Dr Paveletz says, “and it’s best to come to you when they’re ready to purchase a tooth cream or a sonic or motorized toothbrush, rather than buying a product over the counter that may do them more harm than good. Another benefit? Your team members can explain exactly how to use the products and why you recommend them over others.”

Keeping team members on the same page is also critical, Paveletz says. During your morning huddle, go over that day’s patients and talk about any special needs they might have. Maybe one of your elderly patients is coming in for an extraction and you know it will take them a little extra time to get to the chair. Beyond the physical limitation, the patient is nervous and could benefit from a more gentle approach. Make sure your team members know when a little extra compassion is required.

Nutrition also can be an issue, especially if it hurts to eat, Dr Saw says. The way they’re chewing food could lead to digestive issues, so be sure to educate them on how to adjust their eating habits both before and after treatment.

It is important for dental companies to provide top-notch education to not only trained healthcare professionals but also patients. ZimVie, for example, offers patient education materials through its Smile Today program, Kanaglekar says, including clinic-customized marketing materials that review the benefits and risks of full arch rehab, including better chewing function and enhanced esthetics.

“This is a population that’s really high risk [and] needs more attention as far as what we’re offering and what we’re recommending for them,” Crouch says. “If there’s a caregiver with an older patient, we have to make sure we give them the same home care instructions we give the patient, because the patient may not be able to relay it back. It’s so important to educate the patient and anybody helping with their oral health.”


Transportation can be a challenge for seniors, which means they often go without treatment that can make their lives better. The dental industry has to find a way to reach these patients, many of whom live in nursing homes.

“There’s a tidal wave coming because our health care system is so good [that] people are living a lot longer,” Flucke says. “You can take a pill no matter where you are, but dentistry doesn’t have a way to work with elderly patients unless they’re in our offices. We [must] figure out a way to do that, because a lot of [patients] out there need our help.”

 ASI’s portable self-contained dental equipment comes in various models and can be customized. It can help with offering care outside of dental offices.

Teledentistry can fill in some of the gap, and sending auxiliaries to nursing homes to gather images is another step forward. But mobile units, such as the ones from ASI Dental Specialties, make it possible for dentists to go to patients and provide treatment anywhere, even in their homes. The equipment contains its own internal vacuum and compressor and can plug into any standard electrical outlet.

ASI’s portable self-contained dental equipment comes in various models and can be customized, according to Dana Kjerstad, director of corporate development at ASI. The units provide the same instrumentation you would find in a traditional dental office and can be set up to include high- and low-speed handpiece connections, saliva ejectors, instrument trays, curing lights—whatever you need to provide optimal care. Sales consultants will sit down with you to determine the best configuration, whether you’re looking to set up dental suites in a mobile van or visit nursing homes with a unit a few days a month.

“It overcomes the challenge of elderly patients having to find transportation to a dental office or having to be lifted from a wheelchair into a patient chair,” Kjerstad says. “It can also decrease the fear some patients have about going to a dental clinic, reducing patient anxiety and allowing for better treatment outcomes. It makes dental care more accessible to the elderly population, which can improve their health and significantly improve their quality of life.”


Patients are living longer, but that also means they’re likely dealing with multiple health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They’re taking more medications to manage these conditions, which can lead to dry mouth and problems with recurrent caries. Many have accepted dental pain and, eventually, dentures as just part of aging. But of course, you know that isn’t true, and it’s time for the dental industry to focus on showing these patients what’s possible.

As the elderly make up more and more of the patient base, dental teams must be prepared to properly care for them. That not only means getting advanced training, focusing on educating them about how to care for their oral health as they age, and offering the services they need most, but it also means investing in the right products and technologies, from preventive fluoride varnish to digital technologies that streamline appointments and make patients more comfortable.

“Adding a knowledge base in specific procedures that improves the quality of life for this age group or helps with pain management is beneficial,” Thompson says. “We know we’re living longer and have patients on medications that might affect the oral environment. We all need to stay up to date, advance our skills, and learn to better serve this patient population.”

Products, Services, and Strategies to Help Improve Access to and Enhance the Quality of Dental Care for Older Patients.

Growing Wiser

The Road to a New, Powerful Curing Light


To truly understand what makes the new VALO X so exceptional, you must go back to the early 2000s when Ultradent introduced its first wand-style curing light with blue LEDs. These corded lights had a clunky plastic body and copper rods to drive heat away from the LEDs to the body of the wand so they would not burn out, which was far from ideal. They were among the first of their kind, and although they were a step in the right direction, they certainly needed work.

After living through these pain points, the engineering team at Ultradent set out to reinvent the curing light—and that is how the VALO line was born.

To address the main quality issues of these early LED lights, engineers at Ultradent’s Utah facility replaced the plastic body with aircraft aluminum for improved heat transfer and moved the LEDs to the end of the light, says Neil Jessop, VP of research and development. They also designed the VALO with a unibody construction that was sleek yet durable, providing dentists with a true workhorse light that could survive drops. Improved thermal management and a 9.7-mm lens size (other lights were at 6 or 7 mm) were among the features that set this light apart, along with a low-cost battery that was easy to replace.

The next iteration in the award-winning line, the VALO Grand, available in corded and uncorded versions, improved upon the original with a nearly 12-mm lens. This created a product with enough LED power to distribute light over a 10-mm molar for a uniform cure—a significant advancement.

That brings us to the latest version: the VALO X. The biggest enhancement is the 12.5-mm lens aperture that allows for an even more complete cure. A powerful custom LED chip delivers optimal curing depth and beam collimation with better thermal management. Other features include aerospace-grade aluminum construction, a low-profile wand design that allows for comfortable access to all regions of the mouth, optimized power output, an accelerometer that easily changes modes, and 12 LEDs (8 curing lights and 4 white lights).

VALO X is a powerful broadband curing light with new capabilities, with features like its new 12.5-mm lens and custom LED chips. These features allow for optimized curing depth and beam collimation, as well as better thermal management. The light itself is constructed from space-grade aluminum for durability. It also contains an accelerometer designed to make it even easier to change between Standard and Xtra Power curing modes, giving clinicians a new flexibility in the curing process.

“The engineering process is typically several years long, and it stands on the shoulders of what VALO already built,” Jessop says. “Everything that VALO was, VALO X is just a better version. I’m really proud of that because it’s hard to do year over year. In 2008 there was nobody like us, but the world has changed in so many ways following VALO. Everything compares against VALO because we’re the target, we’re the ones who stand out front.”

That puts the pressure on the team to get it right, Jessop says, and he knows they have with VALO X.

“VALO X is that next step forward,” he notes. “It truly performs clinically better and is a better user experience top to bottom.”

The goal with VALO X is to allow clinicians to cover an entire molar for a more uniform, complete cure, which the 12.5-mm lens achieves. It offers better polymerization than the competition, and that expanded beam coverage is what Jessop is most proud of with the VALO X.

“Doctors don’t want to play target practice with a small light,” Jessop says. “They want to be able to cure a bigger area.”

There are other lights on the market that have a 12-mm lens, but they don’t properly distribute the light over the entire area. All the energy might come out of the middle 6 mm, meaning you are not curing the entire restoration like you think. If almost no energy comes out of the perimeter, that could lead to incomplete cures and trouble with your restorations down the road, including cracks and even failures, leading to additional chair time and costs, as well as unhappy patients.

“Doctors typically don’t know this is what’s going on. It could be 6 months or a year later when something fails and they don’t know why, especially with deeper boxes,” Jessop explains. “We want to cover the whole tooth every time. We can maximize the curing footprint with a uniform blend of light so dentists can have confidence their light is hardening the composite.”

Taking the light from 9.7 mm to now 12.5 mm required more driving power, Jessop says, and one of the challenges was keeping the light from becoming too big and clunky to accommodate that power. The engineering team focused on giving the VALO X a low, narrow profile so it is easy for clinicians to reach and cure posterior restorations with the light, while remaining a comfortable experience for patients. Ergonomics was also a priority.

The aluminum body gives the light durability and helps manage the LEDs, keeping them from overheating, Jessop says. Unlike many other curing lights, the VALO line does not have vents, simply because it does not need them. The VALO X, like its predecessors, is also sealed incredibly well, further enhancing its durability.

“The unibody construction has better seams and matching of machining,” Jessop says. “All the VALO lights have incredible craftsmanship, but that’s taken to another level with the VALO X.”

Although all VALOs come with an inexpensive long-lasting battery, engineers created a new version for VALO X to help ensure customers don’t mistakenly buy a nonrechargeable battery that could lead to problems with the light. The single battery comes with circuit protection and costs about $25.

The accelerometer function is new to the VALO X, and makes it easy to change between the 2 curing modes, Standard and Xtra Power. You can go back and forth by flipping your wrist instead of having to find and push a button, eliminating awkward fumbling during procedures and reducing the likelihood of dropping the light. This time-saving feature allows you to stay focused on the task at hand, improving efficiency.

The light also comes with both black light and white light diagnostic aid modes, Jessop says, and you can go back and forth between them by drum tapping forward and sideways. When changing modes, whether diagnostic or power, the light makes sweeping tones rather than beeping so it stands out from other common office sounds.

“The accelerometer was hard to accomplish,” Jessop notes. “A lot of people said it wouldn’t be successful, but it has been. It never accidentally changes modes. It’s an intentional movement and incredibly reliable. We’re the only curing light that has it, and it’s definitely one of those things that’s going to be hard for anyone to replicate. It’s a nice, novel feature that just makes the curing light easier to use.”

With the VALO X, Ultradent engineers wanted to give dentists an experience they couldn’t find with any other light. They have accomplished that with the larger lens size and beam power, the accelerometer, the low-cost battery, and the sleek and durable design.

VALO X is by far the most powerful light available today, Jessop says, putting out more total energy than anything else on the market. And, most importantly, it does its job, properly polymerizing restorations in a short amount of time so dentists know they are getting a complete cure every time.

Each new generation of curing lights must prove it is performing the polymerization task better, Jessop says, and the VALO X certainly does that. And in the end, that is what really matters.

“The world is changing and expectations for customers are increasing,” Jessop explains, noting there are now other high-quality lights on the market, though none quite on the same level as VALO X. “Ultradent has driven change in the space. If VALO didn’t exist, I don’t know if these products would have stepped up. It’s good to know we have worthy adversaries, and the world is becoming a better place because of what we’re doing.”

Of course, there are still the cheaply made curing lights that dentists might be tempted to order from the internet. Don’t make that mistake. They will leave you with restorations only partially cured and will only cause headaches for your practice. For a relatively small one-time investment, you can have a powerful VALO X that is built to last.

“It’s a beautiful piece of engineering,” Jessop says. “When you amortize it over all its uses, it’s a pretty low-cost device. Not many products get used that frequently, so you need durability and quality. You don’t want to compromise.”

A look at the history behind Ultradent’s VALO line of LED 
curing lights and what it took to create the newest addition, 
the VALO X. 

The Road to a New, Powerful Curing Light

A Look at What’s on the Dental Implant Horizon. Image courtesy of edwardolive/stock.adobe.com. 


Fifteen years ago, you wouldn’t find many general dentists placing implants. Specialists handled the bulk of these cases as most GPs just didn’t have the training or skill level required. That has shifted in recent years, with more general dentists now comfortable keeping cases in house—largely thanks to the technological advancements that have streamlined treatment planning and placement.

These advancements, along with more access to education, have made both restoring and placing implants much easier than in the past, allowing the treatment to become mainstream.

There’s also more demand. Today, patients have a better understanding of the benefits implants provide over other restorative options, and more are seeking them out. And, of course, patients are more likely to accept treatment if they know they can have the work completed by a dental team they already trust, rather than going to a specialist they’ve never met before, expanding access to more people who need this treatment.

“Implants have become so much more accessible for patients,” says Neil Park, DMD, vice president of clinical affairs for Glidewell. “Word has gotten out that if you’re missing a front tooth, you don’t have to have the teeth on either side cut down to make a bridge. You have a 1-tooth problem; let it remain a 1-tooth problem rather than turning it into a 3-tooth problem.”

More clinicians are surgically placing dental implants, Jim Janakievski, DDS, of 35Newtons

 says, and they are also often completing the treatment in a shorter amount of time. Implant companies have focused on making this treatment more routine, with advancements in implant design that have allowed for more predictable immediate implant placement and immediate installation of a provisional prosthesis.

Adjustments to implant designs and surface treatments also have improved predictability, while digitizing the process has taken the stress out of placement. Dentists no longer have to guess where the implant will go; they know before they start the procedure.

As the technologies, techniques and systems continue to evolve, the process will become more streamlined and outcomes even more predictable, creating a huge opportunity for GPs to offer a new, revenue-boosting service in their practice.

“We have broadened the horizon on who can place implants, and now we have the majority of implants being placed by general dentists,” says Ole Jensen, DDS, MS, Ditron founder and chairman of the board. “They’ve progressed into the area of full arch treatment and couldn’t have done it without using technologies like guided surgery.”

Digital technology has changed how implants are placed. Intraoral scanners and CBCT units make it easy to acquire images and upload them into treatment planning software for diagnostics and to create a surgical guide, either in-house or through a third-party service. Most dentists are using a lab or digital planning company to create these guides, says Stefan Holst, vice president of product and strategy for Nobel Biocare, at least for now, making the digital service aspect an important piece of implant dentistry.

Stackable guides are now a possibility as well, Dr Park says. Often, after extraction, the bone must be shaped, leveled, and reduced. Dentists can create a bone reduction guide and then create another guide that stacks on top to show where to place the implant, making surgery more predictable and faster. Implant surgeries once three hours long now typically take one.

“When you have all that digital data and know where the implant will be placed, you can make the provisional ahead of time,” Dr Park says. “Patients are going to be happy they can walk out of surgery with teeth, making them more likely to accept treatment.”

The goal with all these advancements is to capture digital technology for every stage of the workflow, from treatment planning to placement to creating the prosthetic, says Alon Mozes, CEO and co-founder of Neocis. There’s an opportunity to provide these solutions in one ecosystem, which is what he plans to offer via Yomi, a computerized navigational system for dental implant surgery, in the future. For now, the robotic system has been approved to guide dentists through implant surgery.

Dentists can load CBCT and intraoral scans into the Yomi software to create a treatment plan, Mozes says. Yomi then physically works with dentists during placement to ensure they drill according to that plan. It’s important to note the robotic arm doesn’t perform the drilling, but rather “forces dentists to color inside the lines,” Mozes says, based on the plan created in the software. The plan also can be changed during the procedure if needed, adding flexibility.

“Surgery is the riskiest part of the workflow,” Mozes says. “By introducing robotic surgery, you avoid hitting nerves, sinuses, and anatomical structures and ensure you place the implant exactly where you want it. This enables more flapless procedures, so you don’t have to make a big incision and fold the gums back to expose the bone, which is painful for the patient.”

On the material side, while most implants are still titanium, there’s been an uptick in zirconia restorations in recent years, a trend Nobel Biocare’s Stefan Holst expects to continue. Zirconia is strong, positively interacts with soft tissue and now features higher translucency for better esthetics, making it an attractive option for single-unit and anterior restorations.

A process called photogrammetry is also starting to gain steam, Dr Jensen says, particularity for taking impressions after multiple implants have been placed. It has been leveraged in industrial processes for years, recording relationships to mechanical parts using thousands of photographs taken at different angles. It’s not used widely in dentistry just yet, but he expects it to be in the future.

“This is the perfect technique to see the relationship between multiple dental implants in the arch,” he says, noting anyone on the dental team can take the photographs. “It’s on the scale of about 3 times more accurate than a traditional dental impression.”

Intraoral scans have helped improve impression accuracy for single units, he says, but that accuracy decreases when there are multiple. Photogrammetry doesn’t give the soft tissue morphology, however, so it’s important to take a small wash impression and merge the images digitally.

Technologies will continue to evolve, further streamlining the process and enhancing implant predictability in the future.

Immediately placing and loading implants is also a trend, Holst says, as there’s now a much better understanding of the biology and what it takes to make it possible. This significantly cuts treatment time and makes the procedure more efficient, according to Indraneel Kanaglekar, Senior Vice president and President, Global Dental, for ZimVie, a company that offers a variety of end-to-end tooth replacement solutions that include implants, biomaterials and digital workflow solutions. Patients can receive the implant and a temporary restoration on the same day, supporting preservation of soft tissue architecture which results in fewer visits overall.

While immediate loading is the direction the industry is going, there are a whole checklist of things that need to happen for that or any type of implant case to be successful. Achieving initial stability, of course, is one, as is factoring in the patient’s health, and compliancy, says Scott McNally, MegaGen vice president of sales, East. Achieving initial stability, of course, is one, as is factoring in the patient’s health, and compliancy.

Every patient is different and taking a more holistic approach to treatment is another trend in implant dentistry. The end goal is to deliver an implant that functions for 20 to 30 years, and to do so as minimally invasively as possible. 

Advances in Implant Systems and Components

Changes, such as improved surface technology and macrogeometry, have been made to the implants themselves over the years with the goal to consistently achieve immediate/primary and secondary/long-term stability. Doing so helps improve longevity and lowers the risk of problems, such as infection and bone loss, that can lead to failures.

Tapered implants with more aggressive threads are providing that primary stability, Dr Park says.

Access to high-quality education for GPs has significantly improved in recent years, but the choices can be overwhelming. Do your research to find the best options possible. Start with companies like MegaGen and Glidewell.

“Every study you read, the first thing that’s mentioned is primary stability. Through the patented thread design of the AnyRidge implant, you can attain that ideal stability. Better surface technology such as the X-Peed surface is key,” says Joel Gonzales, vice president of sales, West, for MegaGen America, noting that’s a focus at the company. “We can’t control the patient’s physiology, but we’ve done everything we can to stack the cards in our favor to make sure there’s safe and better osteointegration. If you have primary stability everything else falls into place, and the thread design is what definitely provides it.”

There’s also now more focus directed on long-term maintenance, Holst says, to avoid complications down the road. Clinicians are recognizing that screw-retained implants are more predictable than cemented restorations, for example. Soft tissue is becoming more relevant as clinicians now understand it’s not just the implant but the whole system that determines long-term success.

The trends, technologies, materials, and techniques that will make implants even easier for clinicians to place and provide patients with better outcomes. 