Digital technology has changed the way we live, work and play. And dentistry has evolved right along with it. Strange to consider, for those of us who spent decades restoring smiles with hand-layered ceramics over precious metal copings, confident we were supplying our patients with the very best that dentistry had to offer.

How far we’ve come in just the last 10 years! Everything about dentistry today is faster, more precise and more consistent than what human eyes and hands could achieve prior to digital innovation. Yet, it remains a very personal industry, with positive outcomes heavily reliant on communications between patients and their treatment providers. Anything technology can do to bridge those gaps results in a smoother, simpler, more pleasant experience for all involved.

I’m reminded of the evolution of cameras. Photographers never really knew if they’d captured the desired image until they developed the film and thumbed through the final prints. By then, if they’d missed the mark, it was too late to correct it. Then along came Polaroid^® instant cameras, providing confirmation within moments. What a remarkable achievement at the time! Of course, the increase in speed brought with it a notable compromise in image quality, so innovation continued. Fast forward to today’s handheld camera devices, and individuals not only know immediately what they’ve captured, but are able to apply amazing graphical effects, at incredible resolutions, and share their memories with the world — all in real time.

Faster and better

Dentistry is evolving along similar lines, as digital technology empowers us all to be better and more efficient. When I look at innovations like the glidewell.io™ In-Office Solution, which enables clinicians to produce and seat a BruxZir^® crown chairside in as little as an hour, I see improved communications, enhanced capabilities and swift results. Patients have come to expect this in other areas of their lives. Why should we not strive to deliver the same elevated experience with dentistry?

At Glidewell Dental, we long ago discarded the notion that speed and quality live on opposite ends of the spectrum. We’ve seen firsthand that continuous technological advancement is the key to improving both elements simultaneously. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to becoming experts in the digital space. It’s why we’re on the leading edge of innovations made possible by CT imaging, artificial intelligence and robotic precision. Because what was acceptable to us, to dentistry and to society yesterday looks meager and limiting in the mirror of today.

Thank you for joining us in this pursuit. Without your support, we couldn’t possibly remain at the forefront of this demanding curve, where we’re constantly searching for the next big advancement in dental technology.

For your practice, and for dentistry as a whole.