Howard S. Glazer, DDS, discusses the latest technologies and dental materials for the general practice.
Q: As the author of the popular AGD IMPACT column “What’s Hot & What’s Getting Hotter!” and a frequent lecturer, how do you go about finding new products, materials, and technologies to evaluate?
A: There are several ways this happens. Usually, manufacturers will send products to me for evaluation during or prior to launching them to the dental profession. In some cases, I am part of the development process for new materials and products. I will say too, that many times, it is the members of our profession that are developers of the products and materials we need, since we (clinicians, assistants, hygienists, dental laboratory technicians) see what the problems are and what solutions are necessary.
Another way is by attending many dental meetings and trade shows where products are launched and introduced to the profession. Such was the case with my recent visit to the International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany. Billed as the world’s largest dental trade show, I was very impressed and simply overwhelmed with the number of new products and technologies that are coming to market and will be available shortly here in North America.
Q: What is “hot” right now relative to dental materials?
A: Today’s materials leave little doubt that we have turned the corner and are now focused on bioactive materials that allow us to truly restore the tooth, rather than simply repairing the tooth. Consequently, we are seeing the development of new composite resins that will allow us to achieve a healthier aesthetic result. We see the continued efforts to provide us with composite shades that will mimic gingival shades, as well as those that will allow us to restore teeth to lifelike appearance by replicating natural opalescence and translucency. Add to this the value of low-shrinkage composite resins and you have a formula for success.
Q: What is “hot” right now in the arena of dental technologies?
A: What impressed me the most at the IDS exhibition was the large number of companies that are now offering intraoral scanning (both wired and wireless), and 3-D printers that will produce everything from provisional restorations, nightguards/bruxism splints, surgical drill guides, orthodontic aligners, and, in the not-too-distant future, final crown restorations. While prices now may seem high for such devices, they will undoubtedly fall as the demand increases and the market becomes more competitive.
Q: What can dentists and their teams do to prepare for the future?
A: Invest wisely! Be sure to do your homework when it comes to determining what will help you and your patients the most and still provide a good return on investment.
Q: Do you foresee any overall changes in the dental industry?
A: The industry is consolidating. Research and development is expensive, and it is very often a necessity for manufacturers to consolidate their resources to continue to bring valid materials to market. This is true not only in dentistry but also in most other businesses as well.
Q: Is the public aware as to what changes are happening now and what will be coming in the future?
A: The public is absolutely aware. The Internet makes that a reality in every way. Patients today know what to ask for when it comes to whitening, restoratives, and implants. There is no doubt that we have a more educated patient population that is demanding a higher level of service and a larger variety of treatment options.
Q: Are third-party carriers keeping up with acceptable procedures that will require investments in materials and technologies?
A: In my opinion, they are not. I understand that third-party carriers are in business to make a profit; however, by not keeping up with what dental materials and technology allow the up-to-date clinician to provide, in terms of the best possible treatment options, they interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. In the end, they may be disallowing the best care possible for the insured patients, and that is unfortunate.
Q: What role will continuing education (CE) play in helping clinicians implement technology and material advancements?
A: CE is key for the practitioner to keep current on the rapidly changing scene in dental materials and technology. Now more than ever, clinicians and their teams need to attend trade shows and CE courses! In my opinion, online courses cannot replace live peer-to-peer discussions; direct contact with the manufacturers of the technology and materials; and the vital exchange of information between attending clinicians relative to the usage, pros, and cons of materials, products, and equipment.
Q: What is forthcoming that you are you most excited about?
A: As a practicing dentist for 42-plus years, I am now more excited about practicing dentistry than ever before. This is a wonderful time to be involved in a profession that embraces the future and aspires to make it a current reality. I am eager for, and looking forward to, 3-D printing and better diagnostic tools. Certainly, anything I can do to increase the longevity and health of patients’ dentition, viz. bioactive materials, incentivizes me to want to be practicing for many years to come!
Dr. Glazer is a Fellow and past president of the AGD, a Fellow of the American and International Colleges of Dentists, and a Diplomate of the American Board of Aesthetic Dentistry. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and is Deputy Chief Forensic Dentist to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York. Also an attending dentist at Englewood Hospital Medical Center (Englewood, NJ), he is an international author and lecturer and a former assistant clinical professor in dentistry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). He can be reached at hglazer264@gmail.com.
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