The innovations happening in the entertainment industry are having a growing effect on more than just the virtual world. As augmented and virtual reality moves beyond popular mobile apps and video games, it’s creating amazing opportunities in the medical industry. This technology has found a place in medical education, treatment, and how we take care of ourselves between visits. The impact VR/AR is having cannot be underestimated, and you may be seeing the results in your dental office in the near future.
The entertainment industry is often the source of some of the greatest advances in digital tech
How Virtual and Augmented Reality Is Changing Dentistry
The past twenty years have shown an increasing overlapping of the digital world with the one we live in day today. Augmented reality or AR, a concept originally introduced in science fiction, has now become a part of our everyday reality. AR is a term that describes the overlay of reality in the virtual world with access points and things we can interact with. Everything from information, purchases, and art installations have used AR. Recent innovations have seen it introduced into the medical industry to provide new treatment and education opportunities. Consider the ways its been implemented in dental medicine:
- Dental Education – Medical professionals have been benefiting from virtual training procedures that create more realistic scenarios. This kind of training results in new dentists entering the field with more hands-on practical experience than ever before.
- Teaching Good Dental Habits – Educating our children about dental care practices and getting them to care about them has always been a challenge. AR integration with their brushing habits turns these practices into an educational game that ensures they’re brushing properly and long enough. Entertaining visuals and music are sure to engage even the most stubborn young brusher.
- Virtually Enhanced Procedures – Another way that these technologies have been impacting dental care is through the implementation of AR-enhanced procedures. Overlays of dental imaging, tracking of oral structures, and more have all made it possible to give dentists a responsive treatment method that catches problems that might have gone overlooked.
As this technology advances, we are sure to see greater integration with and improvement in dental care practices.
Robots and drones may make remote dental care possible, bringing your dentist office to you
A Hopeful Future For Patients Through Technology and Dental Care
AR and VR aren’t the only ways that technology is improving your dental care. With the integration of 3D printing, dental offices are able to create restorations the same day, making implants, crowns, and inlays more accessible than ever. Smart toothbrushes are available that will track how long you’re brushing your teeth and offer suggestions on how to improve your technique. Research is even currently underway that may make it possible for patients to actually regrow dental material!
