Technology is shaping the future of dental implants, and the possibilities for innovations are endless. In the United States alone, over 100 million people are missing at least one tooth. Dental implants are predicted to be worth over $4.4 billion dollars globally by 2020. Due to this growing number, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest techniques and devices used in oral implantation.

Head-and-neck cancer is the most common cancer worldwide with an estimated global incidence of 500,000 new cases annually. The term "oral cancer" is used to define any cancer that develops in tissues of the mouth, face, salivary glands, throat and neck. Patients with oral cancer are generally treated with a combination of radiotherapy and ablative surgery.

Technology is helping dental and oral health clinicians provide faster, more accurate, and well-rounded treatment to their patients. The dental world is undergoing major changes thanks to advancements in new technology.

If your patient suffers from tooth loss, they probably desire a restorative solution that will help them eat their favorite foods again and smile with confidence. In the past, the only option for replacing teeth was dentures. Patients would have to cement their dentures into their mouths using a temporary glue and then remove them at night, repeating the same tedious process over and over again. Not only was the installation and removal process tasking, but dentures often came loose, causing bits of food to get under them.

Technology is helping dental and oral health clinicians provide faster, more accurate, and well-rounded treatment to their patients. The dental world is undergoing major changes thanks to advancements in new technology. When dental implants were invented by a Swedish medical researcher in 1952, the procedure was considered a modern-day miracle. Now, seven decades later we’re experiencing another massive breakthrough in the form of digitally guided implants. With the right tools, dentists can virtually diagnose and treat cases before ever touching the patient. This lessens the margin for unexpected errors and outcomes during surgery. Dentists can design and print surgical guides from their office or outsource it to a dental laboratory.

With the growing popularity of dental implants, can you afford to ignore this service and revenue source? Some of the misconceptions associated with dental implants might deter you from adding implant placement to your skillset. However, with advances in technology and changes in your patients’ mindsets, this might be a good time to re-examine how you think about implants.

Surgical guides allow doctors to plan an implant virtually and then accurately place an implant in the most safe, predictable, and efficient manner. In addition to increased accuracy, patients will also save chair time.

The total edentulous population worldwide is approximately 6-10%. The demand for implant-supported prostheses is anticipated to expand considerably over the coming years for several reasons, including the aging baby boomer population.

Screw-retained and cement-retained restorations each have specific qualities. Your choice of which restoration will best suit the patient depends on several factors.