We live in a
virtual/digital world so I am not surprised when asked, “Dr. Kelley do you use
digital scanning when making impressions?” My answer is usually, “not yet, but
for a very good reason.” I then proceed to explain why. Well my “why” is the very reason I blog
today. And I am excited to share some new developments on this topic.
My team would
love to be able to utilize a digital scanner instead of alginate
impressions. There actually are several
digital scanners on the market today. We have always been committed to bringing the most innovative approaches and technology
to our practice. So why haven’t we introduced digital
scanning? Unlike most orthodontic offices, our team specializes in the care of a
diverse group of patients, patients ranging from birth to senior adults. We gladly embrace and consider it a
privilege to treat the most complex and challenging of orthodontic cases. Thus,
Kelley Orthodontics is waiting to invest in a digital scanner that can meet the
needs of all our patients (babies born with cleft lip/palate, traditional
orthodontic patients, and patients wearing Incognito or behind the teeth
brackets.) Unfortunately, as of today, accurate digital scanning is only
available to traditional orthodontic patients. However, we believe we are on
the verge of a technology break through and Kelley Orthodontics is at the
forefront of this discovery! I could not be more excited about this
development.
Currently, we
take traditional impressions of our cleft babies at Cook Children’s Hospital in
an operating room. The cost
incurred by these families is astronomical, not to mention the discomfort and emotional
strain caused to both baby and parents. Thus, the ability to take a digital
scan in our office would be a gigantic step in the right direction. Because there is no scanner on the
market able to accomplish this task, we are partnering with Sirona, an amazing company
that has a reputable presence in medical and digital imaging, in hopes of
making this happen.
A couple of
weeks ago, our representatives from Henry Schein dental company brought the Sirona
scanner to our office to try on one of our cleft patients. We attempted to take the scan utilizing
the current scanner and software.
We were extremely pleased that we were able to get a significant portion
of the scan. However not all of the critical areas were accurately recorded. Thus, we are requesting the software
engineers at Sirona Germany to rewrite a portion of the software to allow us to
retrieve the data we need from the scan.
Since we are the first orthodontic office in the country to attempt
this, we are breaking new ground.
I believe the wait and effort is worth it. Cleft lip and palate families around the globe will greatly
benefit with this new technology along with the specialties of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery, Plastics, and Otolaryngology.
The potential
ripple effects of this type of development are indescribable. Babies failing to
thrive because they are unable to eat could be orally scanned and fit for an
orthodontic feeding tray days, instead of weeks, after they are born. These
little ones, with lengthy roads of surgeries and therapies, could begin eating
sooner, leave the hospital earlier and begin their long term treatment and
healing process; all while deterring major medical costs and emotional and
physical discomforts.
So how does this
affect you, our general population, our mainstream and most encouraging orthodontic
patient-group? Once a scanner and
software are developed that will meet the needs of our entire patient
population, we will invest in it. We will be able to scan all patients here in
our office! Thank you for waiting
this out with us. Thank you for
having hearts for those born with special differences. Thank you for
sacrificing the good today in order to possess the best tomorrow. I have no
doubt this will happen in the near future and we as an orthodontic community
are all a part of making it happen.
That is exciting! Kelley Orthodontics will indeed throw a party when
this day arrives.
I am very
thankful for families like yours who are willing to partner with us. I have included a couple photos from
our first attempt of getting a scan of a baby born with a cleft
lip/palate. The success of this
appointment will be the springboard to success for our office and offices
around the world. We are making
history. You are making history. #inthistogether!
Stay tuned. The best of orthodontics is in our
future.
