As digital imaging and digital workflows empower clinicians to better streamline their dental care, the accessibility of technologies becomes key. In the past, there may have been a high barrier of entry to solutions and systems that could provide a variety of benefits for dental patients. These barriers often included high costs, complex implementation processes, and a steep learning curve for dental professionals.
Three Core Aspects
According to Eric Relyea, vice president of marketing at Glidewell, dental practices are often faced with 3 main concerns when it comes to implementing digital dentistry and new technologies: affordability, disruption to the workflow, and concerns around ongoing support and training.
The initial investment required for purchasing advanced digital equipment and software can be substantial, making it challenging for some practices to justify the cost. Additionally, there are ongoing expenses associated with maintenance and updates that can add to the financial burden. Meanwhile, disruption to the workflow is another critical issue. Integrating new technologies often requires changes to established procedures and practices, which can initially slow down operations and reduce efficiency. Dental teams must adapt to new systems, which can take time and may temporarily affect patient scheduling and overall productivity. This transition period can be a source of stress for both staff and patients.
fastscan.io
The fastscan.io™ Scanning Solution is optimized for dentists to easily submit cases to Glidewell and save $20 or more per unit on restorations, and comes fully integrated with the glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution to fabricate same-day BruxZir® crowns right in their office. With no monthly subscription or licensing fees, fastscan.io is an ideal solution for those seeking an innovative and cost-effective scanner for their practice. Designed for an optimal user and patient experience, the scanner features an innovative touch band control interface with real-time haptic feedback, an optimized lens for edentulous and metal scanning, and a light weight of only 165 grams. The scanner comes bundled with a portable cart, monitor and laptop that meets the recommended—not minimum—specifications for the best out-of-box experience and highly accurate scans every time. Manufacturer-direct training and support from Glidewell ensures easy implementation for any practice.
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Finally, dental professionals need adequate training to effectively use new technologies, and they require continuous support to troubleshoot issues and maximize the benefits of these tools. Without reliable support and comprehensive training programs, the adoption of new technologies can lead to frustration and underutilization of the equipment. Ensuring that staff members are confident and proficient with new systems is crucial for a smooth transition and long-term success.
Glidewell’s fastscan.io, integrated with the glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution, aims to reduce the stresses of these 3 core concerns through its advanced features.
The fastscan.io Solution
The fastscan.io harnesses the power of Medit® i900® hardware to ensure not only fast scanning, but also the precision required for same-day restorations. This technology is designed to capture highly detailed digital impressions of a patient’s teeth and oral structures quickly and accurately, at a speed that allows dental practitioners to reduce chair time and enhance the overall patient experience.
According to Relyea, the i900 was a perfect match for the workflow Glidewell wanted to provide for clinicians.
“We saw Medit as an ideal partner, as they are very much moving forward on the technology side,” he says. “We are providing a system that has no fees and no extra subscriptions associated with it, which is something very positive to the doctors.”
Also key to this decision was Medit’s frequency of updates, per Relyea.
“It’s a very powerful tool. They’re constantly updating it through new apps in their ecosystem,” he says. “And they were very open to integrating with both our in-office solution and our lab.”
Included with the scanner are a rolling cart, a laptop, a monitor and a backup battery—all at no additional cost to the practice. These features are complemented by the i900’s design, hosting a variety of optimal qualities for clinicians. Some of these features include the scanner’s lightweight wand, its 10.9 µm ± 0.98 accuracy, a 360º touch band, and a 3rd-generation optical lens.
“Glidewell is very much about helping make dentistry more accessible and more affordable,” Relyea says. “Medit has done that on the scanning side. So, there’s a nice synergy there.”
Accessibility Through Artificial Intelligence
The fastscan.io software harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) by using the company’s existing database of successful cases to create crown proposals. These machine-learning software components, known as CrownAI™ and MarginAI™, will auto-generate a design for the clinician. Doctors can then approve that design or make adjustments if needed. Once it’s ready, it can go straight to the mill.
“We let AI do the work,” Relyea says. “We benefit from the fact that we run millions of cases to the lab on a regular basis. There are tons of data that allow us to create proposals that, by and large, are ready to be printed or milled with very minimal adjustments. So, that makes it very accessible to the doctor.”
Glidewell’s fastscan.io is indicated for 3D printing as well, providing clinicians with the ability to fabricate their own appliances and nightguards, according to Relyea.
“On the 3D printing side, we’ve really focused on making nightguard creation very simple by using the same one-click AI design system that doctors use for crowns,” he says. “Doctors can then accept and send to print, or make adjustments as needed. The same workflow used to design crowns applies to making nightguards. So, both of those pieces link together and make them make a very complementary package for clinicians.”
And clinicians can take confidence in Glidewell’s AI and production systems, per Relyea.
“The AI systems have been in use here at the lab since before 2018. It’s something that we’ve really pioneered,” he says. “It’s more than a lab. We also have a full materials [research and development] and engineering division, so that we are truly integrated and able to do things like create the software for these systems and create the mill itself. We make it right here on campus. Our support team is here as well. The materials were all created here too. So, it’s really a purpose-built system or set of systems.”
Purpose-Built Support With Savings Potential
Key to glidewell.io as well as the fastscan.io is its support services. Installation and in-office training are provided, as well as a fully staffed technical support team that’s available any time.
“We have field service reps that are available to them at any time at Glidewell. We don’t contract any of this out,” Relyea says. “It’s all internal people, all internal training. It’s a very easy situation for clinicians to get started and to be confident in what they’re doing.”
Clinicians can also take confidence in the lab support provided by Glidewell, which can assist and support in cases where the system is unavailable. The seamless connection to the lab includes a 3-day turnaround and $20 savings or more per unit on model-free cases. The more the scanner is used to send cases to Glidewell, the more doctors can save. Because the scanner is designed as an open system, doctors also have the choice to send scans to another lab of choice.
By offering a cost-effective solution that does not compromise on quality, fastscan.io aims to make advanced digital dentistry accessible to a broader range of dental practices.
