We live in a time where access to information is relatively straightforward for most people. Type any phrase into an internet search engine and hundreds upon thousands of pages will be offered as potential sources of useful information. However, when it comes to something as important as dental health, it’s always wise to rely upon the advice of the experts.
For patients in need of restorative dental treatment, whether partial or full dentures, veneers, crown or bridgework, it is now likely to be the case that they would have made the effort to pre-research their options before visiting the practice. They may have selected your practice over another based on the fact that you offer the service they have decided they want. In a society that is becoming ever more familiar with the power of the internet, and a market place driven by consumer choice, this will be a trend unlikely to change.
For the general practitioner, this raises an important question. What range of services does the dentist provide and does it match the needs of the patient? Communicating with the patient in this respect is important to the practice. Most dentists are probably aware the changes in materials and technologies over the past decade have revolutionised the restorations and prosthetics they are able to offer patients. However, some dentists are still relying on their ‘tried and tested’ methods of giving patients solutions which, although they invariably meet their needs, may not exceed patient expectations in a way a more modern alternative might.
An example of the modern materials now being discovered by GDPs is zirconia. Whereas before bridgework needed to be porcelain bonded to achieve the strength required, modern dental laboratories can now construct large span bridgework without a metal sub-frame. As a result, the aesthetic disadvantages from using metal are avoided, as are the problems with biocompatibility.
As GDPs are aware, gum resorption is a common problem for patients with metal copings. Fortunately, attempting to mask the black lines often seen with metal bridgework is no longer an issue when using zirconia.
Perhaps the concerns practitioners had when zirconia was initially introduced have yet to be assuaged; there were many fears about stability, resistance to fracturing and longevity. However, over the past 20 years, with the highly advanced scanning and milling technology available to premier dental laboratories, along with the improvements in refining the material, the suitability of zirconia for dentistry has been widely demonstrated and clinically tested.
The amount of knowledge and information any dental professional has to retain is immense and it’s understandable if a dentist is not fully aware of every subtle detail regarding the materials and technologies being used by dental technicians. To combat this problem, and help raise the profile of the newer technologies on the market, many laboratories are happy to visit practices, and speak to practice staff or patients about the options available and the different benefits that new materials and technologies can offer. After all, developing a mutual working relationship with dentists is at the heart of leading laboratories. As fellow professionals, recognised by the GDC, there is a shared interest in providing patients with the highest standard of care.
The importance of this relationship is highlighted in the rare instance of a patient having an issue with the work conducted by the practitioner and dental laboratory. Fortunately, thanks to the accuracy of the computer aided scanning and milling technology now used by dental laboratories who have invested in the future, the likelihood of a poor fit at the try-in stage is now greatly diminished. However, in the worst-case scenario, working as a unified professional team only makes both parties stronger and more likely to reach a solution that is mutually acceptable.
The technology available to dental technicians has advanced immeasurably in the recent past, which means the restoration solutions open to patients has developed substantially. By working in partnership with the laboratory, dental professionals can ensure everyone involved is fully aware of the benefits available to the patient, so they can make an informed decision based on expert knowledge.