interview | “Digital dentistry also the captured patient data quickly and easily for different indications. supports patient communication, as the dentist can easily use software for demonstrating the desired end result before starting the actual treatment.” Why should dental professionals go digital—and who would you recommend it to? General practitioners, dental specialists and techni- cians as well as dental hygienists can all benefit from digital workflows. With CAD/CAM technology, a dental clinic can offer its patients new services and better treat- ments—even during a single visit. CAD/CAM allows den- tists to design and manufacture inlays, onlays, crowns, veneers, bridges, dental implants and surgical guides in-house and to plan orthodontic treatments and maxil- lofacial surgery directly in the clinic. Digital dentistry also supports patient communication, as the dentist can easily use software for demonstrating the desired end result before starting the actual treatment. As I see it, the increased predictability of treatment is one of the most important benefits of digital dentistry. I believe CAD/CAM technology will become more com- mon even when performing dental check-ups. For ex- ample, digital impressions can be used to capture the patient’s current oral health condition and for treatment follow-ups. Why should a dental professional choose Planmeca’s CAD/CAM solutions? Going digital can be a big step for a dental professional. However, there is nothing to be afraid of—it is not even necessary to digitalise the complete treatment workflow at once. One can easily start by taking digital impressions and integrate the intra-oral scanner with other Planmeca devices later. The open Planmeca ecosystem allows dental professionals to proceed at their own pace. I worked with another dental equipment manufacturer for several years, so I know other systems well too. What distinguishes Planmeca is the unique Planmeca Romexis software platform. It is the biggest competitive advantage for clinics as well, as it integrates all different workflows into a single software program, making dentists’ work remarkably easier and allowing them to treat more patients in less time. With Romexis, dentists can utilise The integration of different devices with one another has a great number of benefits, starting from the compatibility of different data. However, purchasing all dental equip- ment from one manufacturer does not automatically mean that all collected patient data actually works to- gether without any problems. In this regard, Planmeca’s complete solution is indeed unique, as all Planmeca de- vices are connected to a single software platform, guar- anteeing seamless compatibility of the different data. This way, CBCT and CAD/CAM data can be easily and seamlessly combined in Romexis without error-prone and time-consuming data transfers. Additionally, all treat- ments can be planned and designed in Romexis, so no separate software is needed for different workflows, and as a result, the personnel do not need to learn to use mul- tiple software programs. However, all Planmeca solutions are open and thus compatible with other services, such as orthodontic applications, which means dental profes- sionals can work exactly as they prefer, if they choose Planmeca. You have been following the development of CAD/CAM technology for over ten years now. What does the future of dentistry look like? I believe that workflows will be digitalised to an even greater extent in the future. Both dentists and patients benefit from automated workflows, which reduce the risk of human error, increase the quality of the treatments and make the work more efficient. The digitalisation of workflows is happening all over the world, and Planmeca Romexis offers excellent tools for this. “I believe that workflows will be digitalised to an even greater extent in the future.” At the moment, there is already a clear consensus on the benefits of guided implant treatments among dentists, so they will become more common in the near future. Implants and surgical guides will be increasingly fabri- cated chairside so that dentists can treat their patients even faster and more safely. In addition to implantology, I believe guided treatments will become the standard for other indications as well. For example, I believe guided root canal therapy based on radiographic and CAD/CAM data will become more common soon. 4 2020 41