Dentsply Sirona

www.dentsplysirona.com

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Jeremy Booth, Dental Tribune International

Fri. 8. November 2024

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The launch of Primescan 2 in September was one small step for Dentsply Sirona and one giant leap for digital dentistry. It being the first cloud-native intra-oral scanning solution on the market, dental professionals are curious about the benefits of the device and the broader implications of intra-oral scanning that is powered by the DS Core cloud platform. Dental Tribune International spoke with two of the leading technical minds behind Primescan 2—Manfred Müller, vice president of software engineering and user experience, and Niels Plate, head of equipment research and development and launch management—and learned that it opens the door to a number of new possibilities.

Mr Müller, Mr Plate, how were you involved in the development of Primescan 2?
Müller: The project goes back further than one might think. It was years back that we assessed our portfolio and asked how we could make it future proof. This was around the time that DS Core was getting started. From a user perspective, DS Core consolidates everything on to one platform, and this has become the future standard for devices at Dentsply Sirona. Primescan 2 is the first cloud-native device that aligns with this target environment and that has been developed for it.

Plate: Manfred and I worked on Primescan 2 from the start. It was clear that software was central to this product, and so we had a dedicated software team. Nonetheless, we worked very closely together to integrate the hardware and the software into one product. In terms of hardware, there was advancement in optics, and we made the sleeve smaller and slimmer in comparison to Primescan; however, we focused on being able to compress the data and send it to the cloud and, of course, on logging into the Wi-Fi network and establishing the link between the camera and the internet. Primescan 2 is wireless, so we also had to move the battery into the device and think about charging. This was quite a substantial change but not as comprehensive as the changes on the software side, where we moved into an entirely new territory. The whole team was behind it, because we considered that the move into the cloud was overdue.

According to Manfred Müller, the development of Primescan 2 involved a complete renovation of the software stack and resulted in a device that never needs updating. (Image: Dentsply Sirona)

What are the immediate implications of these changes?
Müller: It was a complete renovation, from the ground up, of the software stack that we have. This has formed the foundation for the next decade, also considering the constant maintenance that software typically requires. What we have achieved is the development of a device on which the software does not age; it is always kept fresh. This is really important, and I think it provides the biggest advantage for the customer. Customers will never have an old product.

Plate: By keeping the software fresh in the cloud, instead of asking the customer to download updates for the device or the hardware, we have removed much of the complexity for the customer. Traditional devices—a scanner connected to a laptop, for example—will at some point require a new version of Windows, and the laptop will become outdated and need to be replaced. We have simply put it in the cloud and generated a comprehensive platform where everything is always fresh.

What can you tell us about the user experience design that has gone into Primescan 2?
Müller: Basically, at Dentsply Sirona, user experience design is a functional organisation of one team led by one person, which extends to various other areas, such as hardware design, equipment and platform software. A key goal was to have one user interface, and I think this was realised quite satisfactorily.

Plate: It is a modern user interface that is closer to consumer software. It is not made by the mechanical engineer who places a button on a touch screen; rather, it is closer to the experience that we expect when using a mobile phone or driving a Tesla. With user interface and user experience design, there is always feedback from users, and this is natural because different people use the product differently. The important thing is that we can constantly update the user interface and user experience, based on how the product is used, and this is really a great opportunity.

Müller: I think Apple taught the world that good user interface and user experience design means something. Previously, technical products were not really designed with the users in mind, and different styles and approaches were evident. It has since become a very important topic, and we now have one style, one approach and one philosophy on how to use Dentsply Sirona products.

How does being cloud-native change the user experience?
Müller: First and foremost, the cloud is available everywhere. This is one of the main differences when comparing Primescan 2 with devices that require a dedicated workstation with a dedicated piece of software that must be maintained and updated. Thinking cloud-native has raised the bar in terms of expectations. We expect that the device will also require less training, at least for the most common applications, and this will make a big difference.

Niels Plate pointed out that moving to a cloud-native intra-oral scanner means that clinicians do not have to adapt their existing workflows, ergonomic settings or devices to the new technology. (Image: Dentsply Sirona)

Plate: We can also turn your question around and ask what the dentist would not have to change because of the cloud-native device. Dentists will not have to change their ergonomic settings, screen or beloved iPad. They can use their current clinical set-up without changing anything. Previously, when buying a new device, users were basically forced to adapt their workflow to that of the device. Now, with cloud-native, users can use any device for screening. If working in the 12 o’clock position with a PC in the cabin, dentists can simply use that screen without worrying about cables or connections. Change is not always perceived as positive, especially when it comes to changes in the workflow, and we must consider that dental schools train dentists differently from country to country, using different protocols. We know that dentists are perfectionists who never stop developing their workflows, and many do not like to stray from their preferred methods and protocols. We did not want to force them to do that, so being cloud-native also brings convenience!

What exactly are the restrictions on the viewing device?
Müller: What is important is that, with Primescan 2, users do not need to consider where they do certain things. For example, in the past, it was a given that certain equipment was needed for viewing certain file types. This is just not necessary anymore. Wherever users are, they are free to access the resources in the cloud using whatever browser they have. If the hardware can run YouTube, it can run DS Core. It could be ten years old, so long as it can run the latest version of Chrome.

Plate: This is also very important when we consider the patient experience. I had a medical MRI scan last year, and they gave me a QR code so that I could look at the image. When I opened the link, I was told to download a viewer for the software and install it on my computer. As a private patient, I have to say I’m not interested in downloading viewer software for viewing one image. The difference here is DS Core. Patients can just open the web page and view the image right away.

How does Primescan 2 align with the vision behind DS Core?
Müller: The ultimate vision with DS Core is that clinicians only have end user devices in the practice—no servers, no high-end computers whatsoever. An iPad or a cheap Chromebook is completely sufficient. This means that the clinic could be independent of the physical hardware environment. Even the server set-up would no longer be needed, as users would not need to back up the devices. Dentists currently invest a lot of time and money each year in servers, and this is unnecessary. I remember when iCloud was introduced and, suddenly, my photos were saved and even transitioned with me to another phone. It was super easy, and the same is true for DS Core. There is no need to migrate data physically from one device to another. This is a big difference compared with the old way of doing things.

What about equipment management in cloud-based clinical environments?
Plate: This is another big topic. The cloud allows us to access equipment, if the user allows, in order to analyse its situation. I believe that three-quarters of challenges that customers experience can be solved remotely. This is the best way to answer questions or resolve concerns with devices, and it means no waiting time or downtime for the customer. We have all experienced customer hotline scenarios in which the technician cannot connect to your device. It is very valuable when service personnel know what the issue is and can easily and quickly resolve it. With DS Core, this connectivity applies to our whole portfolio, and we are currently connecting one device after another. This helps us a lot in the area of service and is also a topic that is very interesting for our dealer partners.

“The ultimate vision with DS Core is that clinicians only have end user devices in the practice.”—Manfred Müller, Dentsply Sirona

Considering the recent workflow integration between 3Shape and Dentsply Sirona, will users be able to take advantage of DS Core and Primescan 2 as an open system?
Müller: That is also an important question. In that context, what we are also adding to the platform is application programming interfaces (APIs), which basically means that others can also create workflows and connect their solutions to our platform. We will start small, but the idea has always been to be open. Think about the connection to patient management systems, to dental laboratories and so on. We will be opening our system with APIs so that our programs can easily be integrated into workflows from other providers.

Plate: Yes, this is another instance where we are breaking from the past. Dentsply Sirona was previously known to have a closed system, and that was a necessity to keep the process slim, smooth and quick. Now, we can do both and be both. We can be open and can have a very smooth user experience. We believe that our customers benefit from this approach, which is why we are committed to working towards an open system. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the provision of oral care for dental professionals.

Lastly, where does cloud-based technology bring us in terms of the future implementations of artificial intelligence (AI) in oral care?
Müller: When customers are not restricted by local hardware, much more AI-based functionality is possible. This could start from diagnosis and extend to, let’s say, restorative tasks. I see huge potential in using AI in the cloud and making it available to everybody without the need to invest in local equipment. This is one of the biggest opportunities, and I think Dentsply Sirona is very well positioned to deliver it, given that we have deliberately parted ways with the old technology. We made the big decision to go with a different technology stack, to use a different architecture and to make sure that we are not carrying the past into the future. When we started DS Core, what we really did was push “play” on the future. Primescan 2 is a continuation of our work in this direction, and the whole team is very excited about it.