Digital Orthodontics. Why adopt?

Vol. 16 – Number 61 – 2023 Aligners Page 83-90 Digital Orthodontics. Why adopt? Renato Mussa¹ After almost five years as Clinical Director for Latin America at Align Technology, I see up close, on a daily basis, the impact and opportunities of digital technology in orthodontics. The first orthodontic book I read, “Diagnosis and Clinical Planning”, was by Master Dr. Flavio Vellini. I will never forget my first classes, in which Dr. Vellini said that we had the “honor to win the trust of patients to treat them, and the first step to show respect for that trust would be to understand the problem, keeping in mind that we treat human beings and not just mouths.” I carry this teaching with me throughout my career. Besides orthodontics, technology is my second passion. It is a powerful tool that reveals incredible potential to transform smiles and change lives. It allows orthodontists to create a better experience for patients by offering a more predictable and convenient way to make their desired smile a reality. And at the same time, it can help doctors achieve the planned result. I have no doubt that through digital orthodontics I have become a better professional. But it is important to remember that technology is a tool. It does not replace the skills of the doctors and the basic fundamentals of orthodontics: diagnosis, anamnesis, planning and decision making. These are the sole responsibility of the professional, including treatment outcomes. The introduction of technology into daily dental practice brings undeniable benefits, but it may still meet with some resistance from some colleagues. I have always believed that, when faced with change, the first move is to consider the opportunity this change presents. This analysis helps us get out of our comfort zone and, when it comes to digital adoption, understand that we need to absorb new knowledge, go through new learning curves and invest time, to be ready to enter this world. We talk a lot about digital flow, but what does it actually mean? Conceptually, it means “continuous movement that follows a course, a current”. So it should happen continuously, without interruption. More than providing a complete digital flow, at Align we empower orthodontists, every day, to deliver quality treatment experiences coupled with clinical outcomes by reimagining the digital flow and providing a unique experience for doctors and patients. We do this through the Align Digital Platform™, our integrated suite of unique technology and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and orthodontists throughout the entire orthodontic treatment process. ¹ Sr. Clinical Director, Align Latin America DOI: 10.24077/2023;1661-ad23206678