UAB Shares 3 Things That Your Dentist Wants You to Know

By Kaitlin McKelvy | UAB News Organized dentistry has not always been the straightforward practice we know today. Many years ago, it was seen as rudimentary and sometimes downright painful. Nowadays, rapid innovations in the field allow for state-of-the-art diagnostics and care that put patients’ comfort at the forefront. Nate Lawson, DMD, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Division of Biomaterials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Dentistry, provides some insight into the world of modern dentistry and the three things everyone should know about dentistry. Dentistry has gone digital Dentists know patients do not favor the “goo” that is used to take impression — but Lawson says neither do they. With improvements in 3D-scanning technology, it is eliminating the need to take impressions with the gooey materials used in the past. “Digital impressions are more accurate and usually faster, not to mention that patients really seem to prefer them,” Lawson said. “They use light and cameras to take the images, just like your smartphone, so there is no harm to your body when taking these scans.” 3D scanners have many advantages, such as allowing digital planning for more complex treatment, fast communication with labs who...