Emerging Realities
Each year in our Tech Issue, Inside Dental Technology features articles from four experts on forward-thinking topics involving technology in the profession. For 2020, perhaps not surprisingly, three of the topics focus heavily on 3D printing, while the fourth discusses the potential for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). We are honored to present the expert input of Jed Archibald, CDT; Chuck Stapleton; Chris Brown, BSEE; and Kevin Reck.
Archibald is the Owner and Founder of the dental laboratory Archibald Digital as well as the Archibald Institute, a new educational venture. He has worked extensively with Gordon J. Christensen, DDS, MSD, PhD, and now is a pioneer in next-level digital technology.
Read Archibald's article: Alternate Realities? Yes, Please!
Stapleton is the General Manager of West Coast Dental Labs and former Advanced Applications Engineer for 3D Systems, among many other roles. He is recognized as a leading voice in the realm of dental 3D printing.
Read Stapleton's article: Multimaterial Printing: On the Horizon?
Brown is the Owner of Aclivi, LLC, a consulting and engineering company for dental professionals. He serves on IDT's Editorial Advisory Board and is respected as an authority on CAD/CAM technology as well as regulatory issues pertaining to technology.
Read Brown's article: The Next Layer
Reck is a dental technician at Bella Vita Designs, where he has helped open two new departments since joining the team. He is regarded as one of the top young technicians in the profession.
Read Reck's article: 3D Printing in 4 Dimensions
IDT asked these leaders in the profession to not only report on what developments are occurring in the aforementioned areas, but also speculate about the potential and the impact based on their own expertise. Some of these developments might be imminent, some might be a few years away, and still more may never come to fruition. However, these articles offer a glimpse into what the future might look like: A world in which dental professionals can utilize augmented/virtual intelligence to plan and design restorative treatment before 3D printing high-quality products that adapt positively when placed in the oral environment. It is our hope that this exploration proves beneficial as you prepare your own laboratory for the next decade and beyond.
