Dental News - Can we use the word “permanent” when it comes to what we do in dentistry?

Dr Scott D. Ganz

Thu. 8. April 2021

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As we all know, dentistry is dedicated to understanding the workings of the oral cavity, the maxillomandibular relationship, the repair of tooth decay, the reconstruction of partially or completely fractured teeth, the replacement of missing teeth, aesthetics, smile design, the creation of proper tooth alignment, the fixing of bite discrepancies, and much, much more. Regardless of what we as clinicians do for our patients, are there any solutions that should necessarily be described as being permanent?

We are all aware that the oral cavity is constantly under attack from the foods we eat, the liquids we drink, abrasive toothbrushes, parafunctional habits, accidental trauma, etc. And as a result of these constant attacks, teeth can break, decay can occur, and teeth can be lost. If we do a full coverage crown on a second molar, how long should it last our patient? How about a denture? Cosmetic bonding or porcelain laminate veneers? What about a dental implant? How long should these restorative solutions last?

If you read advertisements for dental services, listen to the radio, read the newspaper, or watch cable TV, the word “permanent” is often applied to what we as dentists do for our patients. Therefore, with all due respect my colleagues around the globe, why do we often see dental professionals advertising services that are permanent? In the world of dental implants, the concept that dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth is a common one that has inhabited print media, social media, television commercials, websites and radio advertising. A simple online Google search for dental implants using the word “permanent” will reveal an almost endless list of entities who promote this concept. While we all know that dental implants are perhaps the most predictable biological replacement in all of medicine, they are not truly permanent replacements. In today’s world of misinformation, is the dental industry being prudent when promoting services that are permanent? This is some food for thought.

The use of technology and our digital workflow have created methods which can aid clinicians in providing an extended timeline for the care delivered to their patients. Digital dentures are an example. Once the digital STL file has been designed and finalised, it can be stored on a local or remote computer server to fabricate the definitive prosthesis that will be provided to the patient. In the past, we would need to start over again if the patient accidentally dropped the denture and it fractured or lost the prosthesis, as the analogue process often destroyed the working cast used for the fabrication of the denture. Using today’s digital workflow, we can retrieve the STL file and fabricate a new prosthesis without the need for additional impressions or many office visits. The same can be stated for implant-supported restorations fabricated with an intra-oral scanner and designed using CAD software and milled with CAM technology. If we can hang on to the files, when unforeseen events happen, we can recreate a lost implant crown with clicks of a mouse instead of many patient visits.

Therefore, as the profession of dentistry has been highly successful in providing long-lasting treatment to our patients, the digital workflow has provided new and exciting opportunities to extend the true lifetime of restorations, saving both time and money for the clinician and the patient. While still not permanent, digital technology does give us additional and important solutions to the potential lifespan of the restorations we provide to our patients.

Editorial note: Ganz is the Editor-in-Chief of digital―international magazine of digtial dentistry, in the most recent issue of which he already addressed this topic.

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