The best gift for the holidays — technology

Dr. Justin Moody suggests that now is the time to invest in practice-changing technologies

It’s crazy to think that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year are just mere days away. Many of us are looking forward to the start of the New Year, while some of us have not given up on 2014 just yet. Throughout my columns this year, we have talked about how technology is here to stay in implant dentistry; we have reviewed the features of today’s dental implants and discussed various ways that we can change people’s smiles and lives.

With the knowledge that the demand for dental implants is not slowing down, there is still time to take that leap into the world of technology to make placement easier, and more efficient. You cannot just sit on the fence and wait for a lull to happen to add these innovations; you have to pick a time; and just do it! Sure, you will feel that the minute you buy that cone beam CT machine, it will be replaced by an updated model, or that the implant company has a better surface treatment coming soon, or that software just can’t provide all of the applications that you need. These may all carry some truth, but upgrades and updates to technology are a fact of life and will be undergoing changes for the rest of your career.

I was lucky enough to have just returned from Silicon Valley where I visited the headquarters of medical technology firm,
Anatomage. This company is not just listening to the needs of the implant doctor, but is also trying to make a difference in the way we practice. I predict that the categories of accuracy and efficiency will make the biggest strides in 2015. The ability to gather all the needed data to diagnose, treatment plan, and execute in one appointment is making implant dentistry safer, more efficient, and downright fun again. Cone beam CTs, digital impressions, surgical guides, and the delivery of dental implants using a surgical guide made by Anatomage and fully compatible with the BioHorizons® surgical kit in as little as 48 hours excites me and keeps me on the edge of my chair as we move forward. So if you want a tax-related purchase, give an early Christmas present to yourself, or some technology to get the New Year off to a good start. Embrace it; use it; and have fun!