The Future of Digital Dentures at exocad Insights 2022

exocad will host its third Insights event on October 3–4, 2022, in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. At the event, dental industry headliners will present their restorative cases and share insights with other dental technicians, dentists and industry partners in attendance. Dr. Lori Trost, a comprehensive restorative dentist from the St. Louis, Missouri area with more than thirty years of experience, will share an exciting presentation on why colleagues can “Start Loving Dentures.” Dr. Trost took a few moments to talk about how digital workflows are improving denture work and why Insights is a must-see event.

What will you present at exocad Insights 2022?

The Insights event is an amazing opportunity to share patient cases with the audience, show the steps and the digital workflow, and demonstrate the results that can happen when you lean on technology. I’ll talk specifically about digital dentures and how that process has greatly improved. In the past, there were many hands-on steps for dentures. The process was laden with issues of inaccuracies. Now, with digital technology, we can produce something that's more accurate and do so more efficiently. And accuracy in the real world translates to happier patients, fewer adjustments, and fewer appointments. We are now able to deliver results faster, easier, quicker, better, and patients are thrilled.

Can you share some examples of how your work has improved with digital workflows?

Last week, I delivered two immediate dentures, and I saw both patients 24 hours post-op. Neither needed adjustments. To get those results and to have patients be that satisfied is amazing. I'm going to share those types of experiences at Insights and hopefully build excitement because this is the forefront of what's coming, and it will only get better.

Any other advice for colleagues looking to evolve their practice?

I believe that it's such an exciting time to be a dentist now. For instance, if you look at the past 15 to 20 years, we had an onslaught of adhesive dentistry. Almost everyone can now do really refined bonding. We've mastered that. Now let's back up and take a look at those patients who need dentures. In the same way that adhesive dentistry developed, technology is now merging for these edentulous patients. I see a lot of excitement with other doctors who support this population of patients. We can offer them substantially better care now and to be able to deliver a high-quality product is very motivating.

What do people gain from attending Insights?

Any time that you can gather with colleagues and further your process, knowledge, and understanding is worth it. Going to a meeting like this is important because it sets the stage for collaboration across the aisle—by that, I mean with labs, software platforms, and clinical dentistry. It's a wonderful merging of interests that no other meeting offers right now. I find it really exciting.

At Insights, you have some of the best minds in our profession come together and have open conversations. I encourage everyone to take advantage of that and to have one-on-ones with your peers.

Any final thoughts?

If you’re on the fence about whether you should go - go! Because you'll come away with a great sense of what's coming. These developments are going to be a tidal wave and really push dentistry in a great direction.