The Align Oral Health Suite offers a comprehensive portfolio of innovative digital tools, which not only help clinicians diagnose dental issues more accurately, but also help patients to better understand – and consent to – their treatments.
I explored the benefits of harnessing this new application on the iTero Element 5D Plus imaging system in a presentation at the Digital and Implant Dentistry Show 2024 in London. I also showcased two case studies to demonstrate how I use the scanner to secure treatment uptake, patient engagement and compliance.
People think an intraoral scanner is just taking digital impressions of the teeth - and yes, it is, but it is so much more than that. You will never get permission to carry out your proposed treatment - unless your patient agrees with you. So, it all starts with patient visualisation, but there is so much more you can achieve by scanning every patient at every appointment. Be prepared for them to be amazed.
My top tips:
- Every appointment should start with a scan. It is going to be the gateway to opening up a discussion, diagnosis and case acceptance.
- Patient engagement is key. Assess and discuss oral health issues and treatment options using the iTero digital scanner’s Each scan is listed under the patient’s name with a choice of which area to focus on: overview, gum health, tooth health, alignment, and bite.
- Accurately detect interproximal caries. To aid your diagnostic workflow the suite allows you to monitor any progression over time with iTero NIRI (Near Infra-Red Imaging) technology.
- Take screenshots of scans and annotate them. The snapshot tool allows you to send the scans directly to patients as a follow-up after the appointment. These can also be easily saved to your patient’s file.
- Compare Before and after treatment, you can consult scans from the same angles and perspectives so your patients can clearly see the difference in their dentition.
- Use visual information. This will help you better explain dental issues and proposed treatment to patients.
For more information visit https://www.itero.com/en-gb