Yana Subocheva is a certified dental assistant with over 13 years of experience working in Greenwich, a suburb of New York City.
According to a Delta Dental study, approximately 90.25% of respondents believe that oral health affects the health of the entire body.
This indicates a growing public interest in maintaining personal health. And our task as specialists in this segment is to assist clients—not only through our services but also by raising awareness about modern dental practices.
Today, we will take a closer look at current medical solutions and discuss the role of support staff in patient treatment.
Advanced Dental Practices
Medicine is not always about established practices and traditional treatment. Diseases progress, creating new challenges for the specialists who fight them.
Dentistry may not be at the forefront of this struggle, but it also requires modernization — primarily to personalize the patient experience, regardless of their age or oral health issues.
Considering current progress, we can identify five inclusive practices worth exploring in more detail:
- CAD/CAM systems for digital restoration modeling.
- 3D scanners and printers.
- Laser dentistry.
- Biointegrative materials.
Of course, these are not all the innovations in the segment, but they are currently able to offer a truly personalized treatment experience. Let’s examine them in more detail.
CAD/CAM Systems for Digital Restoration Modeling
Previously, physical dental impressions were used to create prostheses and adapt them, but with modern CAD solutions, the process has become much simpler. The advantages have also increased:
| Accuracy and predictability | High-precision digital scanning ensures perfect fitting of restorations |
| Speed of production | Crowns, inlays, and veneers can be created in a single visit (chairside workflow) |
| Patient comfort | Without impression trays — digital scanning is less invasive and faster |
| Aesthetics | Ability to fine-tune the shape, color, and translucency of restorations |
| Integration with other systems | Compatibility with 3D printers, milling machines, CRM, and laboratories |
| Reduction of human error | Fewer mistakes during data transfer between the dentist and the technician |
| Time and resource savings | Fewer repeat visits, lower material costs |
| Archiving and analytics | Preservation of digital models for reuse, analysis, and training |
At the same time, CAD/CAM systems are mainly designed for modeling. Additional tools are still required for scanning and reproduction.
3D Scanners and Printers
If you were making dental prostheses ten years ago, you know how uncomfortable even the process of scanning the oral cavity could be. With 3D scanners, this problem is eliminated. A digital model of the cavity is created contactlessly, without discomfort, in just a few minutes. And the most interesting part — it allows immediate transition to treatment or prosthesis creation.
Modern systems are compatible, so the obtained scan is instantly converted into a format suitable for CAD/CAM products. This means a technician can model a prosthesis in minutes and even start printing it immediately.
3D printers in dentistry are sophisticated systems that work with ceramics, metals, and various types of polymers. Combine this with an accurate digital model, and you get a rapid prosthesis.
Laser dentistry
Mechanical methods in dentistry are also losing relevance. Instruments not only can further damage a tooth, but they are also often a source of discomfort, gag reflex, and, let’s admit, simply fear.
Laser technologies, which were previously used mostly in cosmetology, have now become a part of dental treatment — from cavity removal to shape correction and other procedures. And almost painlessly, without tactile sensations, and so on.
Biointegrative Materials
Today, biointegrative materials are increasingly used, particularly for tooth fillings, shape correction, and other types of treatment. First and foremost, this is safer for the body, as the material has better compatibility with the oral cavity’s features, bioflora, and so on.
These solutions minimize post-treatment discomfort and do not require additional procedures.
The Role of the Dental Assistant in Modern Practice
Today, a dental assistant is no longer only about routine tasks. More precisely, preparing instruments and the workspace is still part of their responsibilities, but the overall scope and complexity of their duties go far beyond that of a conventional “assistant.”
At the time of writing this material, a dental assistant performs a wide range of tasks, namely:
- Assisting during procedures (four-handed dentistry)
- Working with digital systems (X-ray, CAD/CAM, CRM)
- Providing psycho-emotional support (especially to children and anxious patients)
What’s the problem? There isn’t one — it’s simply an explanation of the staff’s role in modern dental practice.
Assisting During Procedures (Four-Handed Dentistry)
The dentist performs precise work, but routine support is managed by the assistant. Removing moisture from the oral cavity, holding a clamp, removing excess treatment material, curing a filling with a UV lamp — these are all responsibilities of the assistant. Direct treatment may also fall under their duties if required by the methodology.
Working with Digital Systems (X-ray, CAD/CAM, CRM)
The dentist only analyzes digital images and scans, while the assistant actually performs these procedures on the patient. Moreover, a dental assistant-technician can literally model and produce a prosthesis immediately and assist with its installation. Thus, having the relevant experience makes the assistant even more valuable in dental practice.
Psycho-Emotional Support (Especially for Children and Anxious Patients)
People are still afraid of dental procedures — not only children but also adults. Here, the assistant acts as a psychologist, calming patients and redirecting their thoughts elsewhere.
The Assistant — A Key Element of Innovative Dentistry
Undoubtedly, technologies are important. The dentist’s skills are important. But it is the assistant who takes responsibility for the workspace, routine processes, and even documentation. Therefore, the role of this profession should not be underestimated, as it is often perceived as secondary rather than a vital part of modern dental practices.