When it comes to maintaining bone loss, the ability to chew and enhancing your smile, implants have
become the gold industry standard for treating a litany of oral health issues. But the most common
misconception is the cost associated with an implant. This leaves many patients feeling their dreams of
achieving a perfect, healthy smile are too far out of reach.

Implants are the preferred treatment for many dental issues, especially because of how easy they are to
maintain. Digital technology, which includes 3D printing, intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM systems and
planning software, is steadily lowering the expense and also reducing the chair time for patients, which is
always a win.

If you believe that getting implants is out of reach for any reason, but especially financial, I
recommend that you get a second opinion to confirm whether implants are the right course of
treatment and to see if there are other options available. Dentists have many options available today,
and I feel it’s important to pass them along to my patients on a regular basis.

The ability for dentists to incorporate digital technology and planning software allows additional control
over the implant treatment plan for each patient. When a patient comes in, I perform a thorough exam
and take CBCT scans (X-rays) to discover how to best serve my patients. Once completed, I upload all of
the relevant files and any notes through the digital software and work with the lab to create a treatment
plan. In just a few days, I will receive a surgical guide so that I know exactly where to place the implants.

While I originally learned how to place implants without these new tools, I started incorporating digital
dentistry more and more because it provides a treatment plan that is equally as effective and easy to
use—and it becomes more affordable since it tends to take less time than traditional treatment options.

Why a digital workflow?

This is a broad term encompassing any dental technology that involves the use of computer-based
components, including hardware devices and software solutions. The technology provides a clear plan
on how to complete the work.

The digital workflow is the automation of any process that a dental office uses. So not only can I devise
an implant treatment plan, I am able to use this workflow to create orthodontic trays, as there are some
cases in which this is needed prior to the implant being placed. I believe that it is an added benefit for
my patients, who generally come from underserved areas in the Los Angeles area.

The process allows me to receive treatment plans more quickly and the patient may experience less
time at appointments getting the work completed.

3D printing

This has become a fixture in dental offices because it allows dentists to print models, aligners, dentures or individual teeth. They tend to be more specialized and are made of high-quality materials.

Intraoral Scanner

This is an oversized pen with a camera on the end that takes high-resolution images in a patient’s mouth and shows conditions and how they may either be prevented or treated. It can diagnose disease before it is visible to the naked eye.

CAD/CAM systems

This is the software that makes it possible for dentists to perform restorations effectively, more
accurately, and sometimes faster because they can be done in fewer visits.

If you have recently gone to a dentist, but think that implants are out of reach, please get a second
opinion. During the process, make sure to ask questions so that you understand the process as it varies
depending on your specific needs. The more you know, the better the decision-making process will be
and the better outcomes you will have.

To take the next step in your implant journey, visit:

Dr. Anthony Bordas, DDS, FAAID, specializes in providing beautiful smiles with cutting-edge dental technology. He focuses on cosmetic and implant dentistry in Los Angeles and Orange County. His involvement in education has led him to teach over 5,000 dentists in the field of implant and cosmetic Dentistry. He has lectured for the past ten years in the United States as well as Internationally.

Dr. Anthony Bordas graduated from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry (USC) and continued his studies at the Misch International Implant Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, a Diplomat of the International Congress of Oral Implantologist, a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.

For more information, contact Dr. Bordas at justclickdental@gmail.com