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Digital workflows in dentistry and the future of oral care

DentLab strives to be the epitome of modern dental technology. (All images: DentLab/Kuraray Noritake Dental)

Fri. 17. January 2025

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In March last year, Dr Ahmad al-Hassiny, director of the Institute of Digital Dentistry, noted that over 90% of US dental laboratories and nearly 50% of dental practices have already adopted digital technologies and workflows. Being dedicated to developing high-quality products and streamlining procedures in the dental laboratory and practice, Kuraray Noritake Dental stays in close dialogue with experts in the field. Recently, we had the chance to sit down with a leading figure in Turkey’s digital dentistry transformation, Dr Efe Çelebi, to discuss the current landscape and future of digital innovation in dentistry.

Dr Çelebi, you are known as a pioneer in digital dentistry. What drove you to establish companies that have a strong digital focus?
As the founder of Dentgroup, Turkey’s largest dental support organisation, I have always believed in the power of digital dentistry. My goal was to establish digital workflows for producing indirect restorations, beginning with intra-oral scanning, at our practices. Initially, we sought laboratory partners in Turkey who were willing to make this transition with us; however, at that time, none of our partner laboratories were prepared to take the leap, so we decided to build our own. Digitalisation, after all, is simplifying work in almost every field, and dentistry is no exception. So, in 2015, we founded DentLab to provide cutting-edge digital laboratory services.

How did you go about implementing digital workflows?
From the very beginning, we aimed to digitalise every aspect of our work, including production, data management and communication. Our practices already used our own practice management software, DentSoft, successfully. To connect our clinics with the laboratory, we developed a specialised laboratory module. This allowed our dental practitioners to submit every order electronically. It was a huge improvement over the old process, for which forms with sketches were mailed physically, just as they had been in the old days. Now, practitioners can select the teeth in need of treatment, specify restoration colour and design, and upload radiographs, photos and intra-oral scans with just a few clicks. Over time, we have continuously enhanced communication features between clinics and laboratories, adding things like delivery date notifications for orders so that patients can book their next appointment before they even leave the clinic. These tools have greatly improved coordination between our dentists and laboratory technicians.

DentLab initially only served Dentgroup dental practices; however, the laboratory eventually offered its services to other clinics.

DentLab initially only served Dentgroup dental practices; however, the laboratory eventually offered its services to other clinics.

How is communication organised in the software?
We created a chat-style communication area where team members can talk and where all records are saved and accessible to anyone involved in the respective treatment. This set-up is a major improvement over phone calls, as every detail—including treatment notes, radiographs and photos—is stored and easy to reference. We even enabled practitioners to rate the products they receive, and every necessary remake is documented by the technician responsible. This feedback system has allowed us to maintain high-quality standards, identify issues and provide targeted training where needed.

Have you made other improvements in workflow and communication between clinics and laboratories?
DentLab initially served Dentgroup practices exclusively, but we eventually opened its services to other clinics. In this context, we set standards for incoming orders—covering everything, including the required data and impression quality. If an order does not meet these standards, we reserve the right to reject it, explaining why so that the submitter can make improvements. We also implemented a loyalty programme and developed a special, trackable package with a QR code to prevent loss of items in transit. This innovation lets both the lab and the clinic track each package’s location in real time, solving common logistical challenges. We have even patented this unique packaging system.

Do you provide guidance on materials and tools for clinics?
Yes, we do. As part of our commitment to quality, we recommend specific intra-oral scanners and distribute them to customers outside our network. We also advise clinics on material choices, pretreatment needs and compatible resin cements for permanent placement of the restorations produced. Our protocols cover the entire restorative procedure. For aesthetic cases, we recommend starting with a smile design and using mock-ups. The mock-up evaluation allows practitioners and patients to provide feedback, enabling the laboratory technician responsible to produce the final restoration with precision.

Beautiful, precisely fitting ceramic restorations produced at DentLab.

Beautiful, precisely fitting ceramic restorations produced at DentLab.

Given that digital workflows are well established, do you think that technicians still benefit from meeting patients face to face?
Not necessarily. Occasionally, a dentist may request that a patient visit the laboratory, and we accommodate this. However, digitalisation has made physical distance irrelevant, as clinics and laboratories can now work seamlessly from anywhere. In fact, we serve offices in Europe without any face-to-face interactions between patients and technicians. For patients, especially those living in a city like Istanbul, avoiding long travel times is a big plus, and we can still ensure high-quality outcomes.

Would you say that digitalisation has improved treatment quality overall?
Absolutely. It takes time and effort to learn to employ digital processes, but once practitioners adjust, the quality is noticeably higher. In traditional workflows, practitioners might bend the rules, asking technicians to work with suboptimal impressions, for example. Digital systems do not allow for such shortcuts. Preparation quality is clear from the scan, and impression errors can be corrected instantly before submitting to the laboratory. Additionally, digital scans will never shrink, distort or tear during production, unlike physical impressions.

What are the main challenges associated with digital dentistry today?
The biggest challenge is simply taking the first step. Dentists have been hesitant to change, especially after decades of doing things a certain way. Going digital requires investing both time and money; however, those who make the switch find that the rewards are well worth it, and these include better outcomes and more efficient procedures.

What is next for digital dentistry?
With artificial intelligence advancing quickly, dentistry is evolving in exciting ways. Today, we can combine digital impressions, facial scans, photographs and 3D imaging to create a virtual patient. Some clinics are already using software to analyse digital data, such as dental radiographs, and I predict that robot-assisted or even autonomous clinical procedures are on the horizon. Imagine robot arms taking impressions or patients scanning their own teeth with smartphones. Impression-taking procedures carried out at home already support aligner treatments in some cases. As these technologies advance, the need for dental assistants will likely decrease. The future of digital dentistry is incredibly promising and will likely be filled with tools that can transform patient care and practice efficiency on a global scale.

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