The oral care and orthodontic industry have continued to grow through technological advances despite the ongoing pandemic. From virtual dental appointments to digital scans, there are several developments to consider bringing into your dental practice in 2022. In this post, we have compiled a list of the most anticipated dental technology advancements that can improve your practice’s efficiency and your patients’ experience.
Zirconia Implants
Titanium and titanium alloys have been the go-to materials for fabrication of dental implants for several decades, but demand for alternatives have been steadily growing. Due to aesthetic compromises and increasing risk of allergies with other materials, zirconia implants and anodized titanium implants have become a reasonable alternative. These options offer some advantages over traditional titanium, like good soft‐tissue integration, lesser amounts of inflammatory infiltrate, and a low affinity to bacterial plaque.
Increase in Demand for Aligners
More and more patients are seeking aligners to fix their teeth misalignment, especially for those who used to wear braces when they were younger. One study says that 27% orthodontic patients seeking adjustments are adults. If you haven’t already, this is a good time to consider expanding your office’s product offering.
Direct-To-Consumer Aligner Kits
The COVID-19 pandemic has proved that patients no longer need to visit the doctor’s or orthodontist’s office to receive care. Patients who want to conduct impressions at home and receive aligner treatment can do that now. There is actually a growing demand for this service and in 2022, many dental practices are expected to expand their offerings (including zirconia implants) to meet patient needs and entice them to come into the office.
Teeth-Whitening Products
With the focus on constant visibility and social media, more people are now visiting cosmetic dentists for whiter teeth and brighter smiles, especially those who wear retainers. According to this study, the teeth whitening market is expected to grow by more than $840 million by 2024. There is a robust demand for foaming and gel products that can be applied directly to the teeth at home, as well as professional teeth-whitening treatments that can be performed quickly.
LED Treatments
Patients who are especially concerned about their oral health are turning to treatments to improve their gum function, which is where LED therapy comes in. LED devices using infrared light are becoming popular among patients to increase gum circulation and boost overall oral health.
These devices are going to become more mainstream since they are not only easy to use, but extremely beneficial for lasting gum health.
Adults Seeking Orthodontic Care
Before the pandemic, several reports suggested that many adults suffered from lower levels of self-esteem due to misaligned teeth. The COVID-19 happened and we were all forced to use video conferencing software like Zoom to interact with each other.
The Zoom Effect is a very real phenomenon. It refers to the effect of staring at someone’s face (and teeth) closely for long periods, which intensifies those self-esteem issues mentioned above. As a result, the number of adults visiting cosmetic dentists has increased exponentially and it is estimated to continue rising.
Looking for Affordable Alternative Implants For Your Patients? Contact Us!
Trident Dental Laboratories provides highly aesthetic implants, bridges, crowns, and other dental products so you can offer the strongest possible full arch restoration to your patients. Our implant specialists will be happy to help you with planning, fabrication, and complex case designs at the most competitive prices in the industry.
If you would like to schedule a free consultation or if you have any questions, contact us online or call us at 800-221-4831.